If you have been toying with the idea of replacing your old drafty windows with new energy efficient ones, the time is now! There’s never been a better time to replace your windows and doors. Now through December 2010, you could get up to a $1,500 tax credit for installing qualifying Energy Star products.

The deadline for installing Energy Star-qualified replacement windows, storm windows, doors, storm doors and skylights for the $1,500 federal tax credit is just days away.

The tax credit is for those products certified as “Energy Star qualified,” for 30 percent of their cost, up to $1,500 but not including installation labor costs.  The tax credit is in effect for products installed in “principal residences” – not investment properties – between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010.

ENERGY STAR window standards for 2010 are based on meeting the annual heating and cooling needs of four different geographic areas.

• Northern: largely heating

• North-Central: heating and cooling

• South-Central: cooling and heating

• Southern: mostly cooling

ENERGY STAR defines window performance by two main criteria for every region. U factor, which measures the rate of heat transfer—with a lower number indicating better insulation—and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which measures the fraction of solar energy admitted into the home. The lower the SHGC, the higher the windows performance in blocking the penetration of solar heat. In each region, ENERGY STAR’s U-factor requirement has been tightened for 2010 to increase insulation value, which provides year-round benefits for every region of the U.S.

The efficiency requirements are based on four Department of Energy climate zones. Minnesota is located in the Northern Climate Zone. The government tax credit of up to $1500 is available through December 2010- as long as your new windows and/or doors are installed by December 31st, 2010 and they must have a U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) less than or equal to 0.30 to qualify for the credit. This is a perfect time to replace your windows, increase energy efficiency, lower heating/cooling costs, and save money! For the average U.S. homeowner, that can mean between $71 and $501 in annual savings, depending on the location.

U-factor: This measures the rate of heat transfer and reveals how well the window insulates.  The more air between the glass, the better insulator it is.  Other technologies are also used to lower the factor: One of the two panes is given a “low-e coating” (low-emittance coating), micro-thin metallic oxides that further reduce the pane’s U-factor. U-factor values in typical windows range from 0.25 to 1.25. The lower the U-factor, the better its insulation. In the four climate zones, windows qualifying for the credit in the Northern zone must have

SHGC: Solar heat gain coefficient describes how well the window blocks heat caused by sunlight. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits. SHGC is measured on a scale of 0 to 1 – values typically ranging from 0.25 to 0.80. Windows qualify up North with “any” SHGC and down South by having only less than 0.27.

Homeowners do not have to replace all windows and doors and skylights to qualify, and it doesn’t need to be a replacement. Installing a new window where there wasn’t one previously, as in home additions, also qualifies.

How Is The Performance Of A Window Measured?

When looking at windows, doors or skylights, or whether you are replacing old ones in your current home or buying ones for your new home, there are some factors you will want to take into consideration. These are called fenestration factors.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NRFC) has developed a rating system for you to compare the performance of different fenestration products. NFRC is a third party, non-profit organization that sponsors certified rating and labeling programs to help consumers compare the energy and performance features of windows, doors, and skylights. NFRC’s programs do not distinguish between “good” and “bad” products, set minimum performance standards, or mandate performance levels. This is where ENERGY STAR comes in. ENERGY STAR enables consumers to easily identify NFRC-certified products with superior energy performance.

There Are 5 Characteristics To Consider When Looking At A Fenestration Product

1. U-Factor - This measures how well the product prevents heat from escaping your building envelope. The rate of heat loss generally falls between 0.20 and 1.25. The lower the U-Value, the greater the product’s resistance to heat flow, and the better its insulating value. The U-Factor is particularly important during the winter heating season.
2. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) – The SHGC measures how well the heat caused by sunlight is blocked.  It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.  The lower the number, the less solar heat is transmitted into your home.  A typical range is 0.25 to 0.80. Blocking solar heat gain is particularly important during the summer cooling season.
3. Visible Transmittance (VT) - This is expressed in a number between 0 and1, and is a measure of how much light comes through your fenestration product. The higher the VT, the higher the potential there is for daylighting.  Generally, products range from 0.20 to 0.80.
4. Air Leakage (AL) -Any air which filters through cracks in the product’s assembly results in heat loss and gain.  AL is measured in cubic feet of air passing through one square foot of window area per minute (cfm/ft^2.).  The lower the AL value, the less air is leaked. Most industry standards and building codes require a minimum AL of 0.3 cfm/ft².  The AL rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it in their labels.
5. Condensation Resistance (CR) -This measures the ability of the product to resist the formation of condensation on its interior surface. The higher the CR rating, the better the product is at resisting the formation of condensation. The CR rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it in their labels. The CR does not predict condensation but rather measures the potential for its formation.

So, when you look for windows, doors or skylights, take these characteristics into consideration. The better NFRC ratings will result in increased energy savings and greater comfort for you and your family for years to come.

Save the environment AND the cash in your wallet with energy efficient windows. Find out how to choose the best energy efficient windows for your home. New windows are a great way to lower your heating and cooling bills by improving the energy efficiency of your home. You can choose from a variety of glass options that hold up to Minnesota weather, including insulating glass and double- and triple-paned windows. To help you with your new or replacement window decisions, contact to your Minnesota window contractor.