Are New Windows the Answer to Energy Savings?

I start my first Patch blog with a topic that as an energy auditor is of special interest to me.  Every time I see a window truck at a home while I'm driving around I think to myself, I hope they are not getting new windows to stop drafts and save energy. 

If you are replacing your windows for aesthetic reasons, to raise the value of your home or to just be good to the environment, I say go for it if you can afford too, but don't expect them to pay you back in reduced energy bills or even draft reduction. 

You may think I am crazy because we all have seen the ads from the window companies showing that we will reduce our enrgy bills by 30% or even 95%.  Reality is a little different.  I'll put out my house as an example.  We have a small ranch in Wheaton (1000 Sq. Ft.) with 16 windows.  If we have each of those windows replaced with new windows at a bargain basement price of $300 we will spend $4,800.  Our average energy bill each month for water and electric is $100.  If we make the assumption that all of this goes to heating and cooling and we will never have another energy bill it will take 4 years to pay for the windows.  if we say that the windows will reduce our heating and cooling needs by 50% we are now talking 8 years.  When you consider that some of your energy goes towards cooking, water heating, lights and all of our other electric uses, we get into the 30-60 year payback period.

I will get into the science of drafts and what you can do to save energy in future blogs.