Would replacing older windows help appreciably with energy efficiency?

[LoveBWVVBR]

It looks like we're definitely blowing new insulation into our attic in the next few weeks. Now I'm looking for other ways to increase the energy efficiency of our house. Would replacing older "jalousy" (sp?) style windows with new windows appreciably increase the energy efficiency of the house? Half of our windows were new when we moved in. DH is going to replace most of the others himself this spring. The jalousy windows are huge, though, and aren't something that he can do himself. I'd have to hire a specialized contractor to do this work. I am wondering if it would be worthwhile? They encompass the majority of the length and width of our family room, so maybe we really do lose a lot of heat and AC through these windows? I'm not sure if the cost of hiring someone to replace them justifies the return that we'd see on the electric bill, though

 

[tzolkin]

i suppose it depends on how inefficient your windows are now.

our house was built in the 1880s and all of the windows upstairs were original. (some downstairs too) there is literally a breeze blowing through them. (my DH taped plastic over the inside onto the trim just to see and it is ridiculous that it is puffed inward several inches and blows with the wind.) we replaced all the windows upstairs and have noticed an extreme difference. one bedroom alone has 8 windows (3' x 6') so the windows are alot of wall surface area in our home. this year we definitely plan to replace the rest of the windows in our home. for us it's worth it just for comfort-- i'm not sure what the energy savings have been because we bought a coal stove instead of using our furnace when we replaced the windows. but my DH also can do the work himself, so it's just the cost of the windows.

 

[The Moonk's Mom]

If the windows are a single pane of glass thick, then yes, you will save by replacing with a double pane window. Also, be sure that if you hire someone to do it that you have them make sure there is insulation between the window frame and the supporting studs, major air loss area in older homes.

 

[Golf4food]

Short answer - yes. Jalousy windows leak like sieves.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Short answer - yes. Jalousy windows leak like sieves.

I see that you are also from FL, so you know the kind of windows that I'm talking about! We wanted to keep them, as they are original to the home and they have a lot of character. Unfortunately, I think that that character is costing us bigtime in the electric bill. It will be interesting to see how much it will cost to have them replaced

 

[staci]

We had an energy audit two years ago on our house. The audit guy said the order of importance (in his opinion) for energy effeciency on our house was:

1. attic insulation (we had below the recommended amount)
2. new windows (we had 1967 original single pane with added storm windows)
3. new furnace (ours is 1982)

He seemed to think the windows were important. We replaced ours! Our energy bills did seem to go down a bit but its hard to tell as we have had a rough winter here.

I can say though, that our livign room was always drafty (it had big windows) and now it is not.

 

[Metro West]

I have the jalousie windows and would like to change out for more energy efficient windows. The only part of the house that has newer windows is the dining room addition. I like the jalousie windows but they don't help with the heat retention.

 

[tzolkin]

I see that you are also from FL, so you know the kind of windows that I'm talking about!

i wasn't sure where you lived from your original post, so the energy savings will vary. we live in central NY: it was -15 here on friday, so the new windows may not make quite as much difference for your location. but i still believe they are a good idea.

the insullation will also help in the summer. when we moved to FL when i was a kid everyone thought my parents were crazy for insulating the house above the standards for the northeast. but they also saved money in the summer as they rarely used the AC. we were very comfortable year-round.

 

[NCRedding]

It was for us. We had original to the house windows (1932) which were a bear to open and close, together with storm windows. The house was always drafty, and I never felt like wrestling with the windows to put them up or down, so I would just run the AC. We replaced them, and noticed an immediate reduction in the money to heat or A/C. Then we replaced the oil furnace with a new gas system, and the savings and comfort level were amazing. This is in NC--fairly moderate climate.