Benefits of ENERGY STAR
Qualified Windows, Doors, and Skylights
- Save money - and more.
Installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and
skylights lowers energy bills and saves you money. With more efficient windows,
you also use less energy, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions from power
plants. Feel your carbon footprint shrinking?
- Get comfortable.
Put an end to cold drafts and overheated spaces. ENERGY STAR
qualified windows, doors, and skylights keep your home’s temperature
consistently comfortable. Even your loveseat right by the window can be cozy
with ENERGY STAR.
- Protect your valuables.
Many ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights
have a special coating on the glass that is like sunscreen for your house.
How much is the credit?
The tax credit amount is now 30 percent of the cost of the material. There is a cap on the credit amount of $1,500 for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 combined; thus the credit applies to up to $5,000 in total costs.
What is a Tax Credit?
A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. You don’t receive an income tax credit when you buy the product, like an instant rebate. You claim the credit on your federal income tax form at the end of the year. The credit then increases the tax refund you receive or decreases the amount you have to pay.
What do I need to do to get the tax credit?
You will need to file IRS Form 5695 with your taxes. In addition, you will need to keep at least receipts proving that you purchased the improvements and a copy of the manufacturer’s certification.
When is it available?
The home improvements tax credit applies for improvements "placed in service" from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. The IRS defines "placed in service" as when the products or materials are ready and available for use - this would generally refer to the installation, not the purchase.
Installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows,
doors, and skylights shrinks energy bills - and
carbon footprints
- by about 7-24 percent
compared to non-qualified products.
Your estimated savings will vary depending on
current heating and cooling costs in your
region.
For a typical home, choose ENERGY STAR and
save:
$126–$465
and
980–4,545 pounds
of CO2
which is equivalent to 51
to 234
gallons of gasoline |
a year when
replacing single-pane windows |
|
$27–$111
and
82–1,233 pounds
of CO2
which is equivalent to 4
to 62
gallons of gasoline |
a year when
replacing double-pane, clear glass
windows |
|
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Savings estimates are based on
RESFEN 5.0 Exit ENERGY STAR calculations
performed by
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
View methodology.
Comfort. It’s the essential quality of home.
ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and
skylights do more than just lower energy bills -
they deliver comfort that other products just
can’t match.
PROTECTION FROM WINTER
CHILLS
On cold winter nights, do you avoid seats
near the window? The cold, inside surface of an
inefficient window pulls heat away from your
body, so you can feel chilly in a sweater with
the thermostat at 70 degrees. With ENERGY STAR
qualified windows, the interior glass stays
warmer, so you can enjoy your window seat even
when the temperature outside dips well below
freezing.
SHIELDING FROM SUMMER HEAT
Do some of your rooms feel like a sauna in
the summer? A standard double-pane window allows
approximately 75 percent of the sun’s heat into
your home.1 With ENERGY STAR qualified windows
you can stay cool all summer long. Most ENERGY
STAR qualified windows reduce the “heat gain”
into your home more than typical windows do,
without reducing the visible light. You get the
light you need without the uncomfortable heat.
1 Source: Residential
Windows. Carmody, Selkowitz, Arasteh, and
Heschong. 2007.
Drapes, wood floors, a favorite photograph:
all these things can fade or discolor after
repeated exposure to direct sunlight. Whether
their value is monetary or sentimental, you want
to protect your belongings from fading and
discoloring.
ENERGY STAR qualified windows have coatings
that keep out the summer heat and act like
sunscreen for your house, protecting your
valuables from harmful, fading ultraviolet light
without noticeably reducing visible light. These
special coatings reduce fading by up to 75
percent.1
1 Source: Residential
Windows. Carmody, Selkowitz, Arasteh, and
Heschong. 2007.
Your personal carbon footprint measures the
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions caused by your
activities. It includes CO2 emissions from such
things as driving your car or flying in a plane,
the manufacture and distribution of the products
you buy, and turning on the lights in your home.
A carbon footprint is usually measured in pounds
or tons of CO2 per year.
Home energy use accounts for about
one-quarter of your carbon footprint, but this
can vary depending on the kinds of energy
sources available to power your home. ENERGY
STAR calculates carbon savings for ENERGY STAR
qualified windows, doors, and skylights based on
the mix of fuels in a region and the estimated
energy use for a typical home.
Sources:
EPA Power Profiler (fuel mix).
Carbon Footprint, Ltd.
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