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Upgrade your windows to dual-pane with Low-E

Why This is Green

Without windows, our homes would be dark caves. But the same windows that let sunlight in also let precious warmth escape, and that means wasted energy and money. In the average single-family home, 20 percent of all heat loss occurs through windows. Single-pane windows are especially problematic. They let out 20 times more heat than nearby walls. If your home has them, replacing them with double-paned, Low-E (aka low emittance) windows will cut this heat loss in half, helping the earth and your budget.

These windows sandwich argon gas between two panes of glass to provide better insulation while special Low-E coatings decrease emissivity. That just means the ability of glass to transfer infrared energy (that’s the kind we feel as warmth) from indoors to out. The effects can be dramatic. Depending on its age and construction, a typical home in the Boston area, near Practically Green HQ, for example, could save up to 21 percent on annual heating bills by installing these windows.

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How To

A window’s heat-blocking ability is measured by something called a U-factor. The lower the U-factor, the better. Your home’s location matters, too. In colder northern regions, Low-E coatings on interior glass block heat loss. In warmer southern locales, outside coatings prevent heat from entering, which lowers A/C needs.

Window replacement isn’t cheap, but new windows will eventually pay for themselves through energy savings. And tax credits and other incentives may be available to help further defray their cost.