Here’s Why Your Old Windows Waste Energy

You turn off the lights when you leave a room, conserve water with short showers and make sure you don’t over-cool or overheat your home. What about your windows? Have you maintained them to keep them from becoming drafty or are they leaking energy all day long no matter how hot or cold it is outside?

According to the government’s Department of Energy:

“The 115 million residences in America today collectively use an estimated 22.5% of the country’s energy. Unfortunately, a lot of energy is wasted through leaky windows or ducts, old appliances, or inefficient heating and cooling systems.”

The government reveals that the average home spends around $2,200 a year on utility bills. There are many ways you can reduce your electricity bills, and making sure your windows aren’t drafty or in need of repair is a great way to make your home more efficient.

How Do Windows Waste Energy?

Many homeowners would see lower electricity bills with new windows, but it’s not only the windows that are 50 or 60 years old that waste a lot of extra energy. Windows that aren’t maintained can actually start to waste energy in as little as a decade, which means your windows don’t even need to be “old” to be costing you extra money each month.

When the weather-stripping and caulking start to fail and the panes begin to shift, your home will lose heat in the winter and gain heat in the summer. In most cases, that’s exactly the opposite of what you want to happen, and all those temperature changes mean your HVAC system is working harder than it needs to, to maintain the temperature in your home.

How You Can Reduce Energy Loss With Windows

The windows on your home often make a statement about the style and complement the architecture of the house. However, they do need to be maintained and cared for just like other major facets of your home like the roof, siding, and major appliances.

Further information from the Department of Energy reveals:

“Windows can be one of your home’s most attractive features. Windows provide views, daylighting, ventilation, and heat from the sun in the winter. Unfortunately, they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill by letting heat out.”

In addition to choosing new, energy-efficient windows, you can go even further by adding features like window treatments. Consider these additional steps for reducing energy loss in your home:

• Get custom window shades to block cold air from coming into the home.
• Open and close curtains to take advantage of warm sunlight, or keep it out when it’s too hot.
• Consider installing interior storm windows if you don’t already have double-paned glass.

Finally, it’s important to keep up with the maintenance of your windows. Your new windows will eventually need new weather-stripping, and you may need to re-caulk them. New windows are a significant investment, and keeping them in good condition is the best way to enjoy the biggest energy savings.

Common Energy Wasting Habits

After replacing your old, drafty windows, you have a variety of additional ways to save money on energy. There are also some simple habits your family can adopt to help save money on electricity and other bills.

For example, Breaking Energy reveals some surprising ways building owners waste energy, but these are common in residential homes, too.

• Running space heaters under desks while air conditioning is on because buildings are over cooled.
• Sprinklers that are not correctly aimed and are watering streets, sidewalks, and driveways.
• Keeping lights on all day even when sunlight could be used to illuminate a space properly.

Another area where homes and businesses are notorious for wasting energy is with “vampire” electronics. These are the pieces of stereo equipment, computers, and consumer electronics that remain on because of standby mode. The easiest way to prevent these devices from using energy when you’re not around is to use a power strip and turn the power strip off when you leave.

Looking for New Windows in Wisconsin?

Want to upgrade your old, drafty windows? Contact AHT Wisconsin Windows today for a Free No Obligation Quote or call 1-866-367-6560. Want more information before you choose your contractor? Download our FREE hiring guide for Wisconsin-Area residents.