Replacement windows are an excellent green remodeling option for any home. Old, inefficient windows create a significant energy drain on your home, significantly increasing the cost of utilities. Drafty windows with poor seams and seals bleed energy out of a warm home on winter nights. In hot climes, bad windows make it harder to keep your house cool.

Beyond the economic and environmental sense, replacement windows can give a home a renewed aesthetic appeal. Replacement windows can brighten up and dramatically increase the sense of space in your home. Though it is not a simple job, many experienced DIY buffs have changed their own windows, especially if the existing window frames are intact. It may take a few days of dirty work, but the improvement to your home and utility bills is well worth it.

If you don’t have the tools or the time to take on a window replacement project yourself, there are many talented and qualified green remodeling professionals who can expertly dispose of your old windows, re-frame if needed, and install functional, beautiful and energy efficient replacement windows.

ARRA tax breaks are still in effect
Additionally, the federal energy efficiency tax credit has been extended. This makes 2010 a great year to move on your replacement windows project. The government is rewarding Americans all across the country for simply installing energy saving residential windows. On top of the tax break, your heating and cooling bills will be reduced by up to 25%, and you will have the pleasure of beautiful new windows that slide, swing, or latch snugly and securely. Replacement windows can also increase the value of a home. Many home-buyers are willing to pay thousands more for a home with energy efficient cosmetic improvements.

How to approach replacement windows
If you plan your green remodeling project correctly, installing replacement windows can pay for itself in a relatively short period of time. Before you get started, do some homework about the types of windows available. After that, look up a short list of local contractors, preferably professionals who have green remodeling experience. To begin your replacement windows primer, here are some basic facts about replacement windows, including their materials, styles, and levels of quality.

These days, typical windows consist of two or three panes of glass with air inbetween that acts as insulation. Higher grade windows are manufactured with an inert gas like argon between the panes, which insulates better than plain air. Advances in technology have produced several other insulation methods, including “low-E” special coating, which uses microscopic particles of metal to slow heat loss in cold months and prevent heat gain in warm months. When shopping for windows look for a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council. The NFRC is a reliable guide to energy efficiency windows, doors, and skylights.

Window glass is mounted in a variety of sashes. The main materials for window sashes are vinyl, metal, and wood. Wood is the most energy efficient of the three materials. The highest quality wood windows are clad with metal or vinyl on the outside of the window, utilizing a combination of materials and reducing the maintenance requirements of the new windows.

Window styles
Windows come in a large variety of styles. Single-hung and double-hung windows are the most common. These are the popular windows that slide up and down to open. A single-hung window only opens from the bottom up. A double hung window will open from the bottom up, or from the top down. Beyond these common styles, there are many more artful and versatile window styles that are suited to different uses. Awning windows are great for ventilation while keeping out the elements. Hopper windows are very useful for creating ventilation and a sense of space above a doorway in a room with a high ceiling. Bay windows can help create a breathtaking view while bathing a room in natural light.

Replacement windows are a refreshing and potentially elegant way to green your home. Whether you do it yourself or hire a green remodeling professional, replacement windows are one of the most significant improvements you can make to your home, both in the senses of energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal. The money saved on utilities, recouped in the increased value of the home, and combined with the ARRA tax credit, makes replacement windows one of the smartest and most cost effective home improvement projects on the market.