Energy-efficient windows are commonly accepted as good investments because they conserve energy and protect your home from outdoor temperatures. The one perk that you may not have considered is just how much money these replacements can save you over the years.
What makes an energy-efficient window different from a regular type of replacement is the combination of materials, designs and installation techniques used to combat energy loss. This means that the windows are made with low-emissivity glass and warm edge non-metal spacers. They also should be insulated with weather-stripping, installed by trained professionals and sealed with caulking to prevent any gaps or air leaks from entering the house. As long as the windows have these important qualities and excellent vinyl frames, any style will be perfect for stopping energy-loss — you can contact us anytime for a consultation and find out what windows fit your vision for your home.
When you choose Casa Bella Windows & Doors as the supplier of your energy-efficient windows, you become eligible for a large rebate from a new program courtesy of the province of Ontario. The environmentally-friendly initiative is the Green Ontario Fund, which encourages homeowners to shrink their energy costs and combat climate change by offering financial rebates for specific renovations. The home improvements include adding insulation, sealing air pockets, purchasing a smart thermostat, getting ground-source or air-source heat pumps, and most importantly installing new high-performance windows. The savvy green home renovation program will help pay $500 for each window for up to ten replacements in total — that means that homeowners can get a total rebate of $5000 for the energy-efficient installments. This is an incredible opportunity to save money on an energy-saving investment as long as the property and the replacement windows meet certain qualifications:
- The property must be a townhouse, detached or semi-detached home in the province of Ontario
- If the property is rented instead of owned, then there must be written permission from the actual owner or landlord
- The windows must be designated as ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient Windows
- The windows should have a U-factor either at or below 4 W/m2•K or 0.25 Btu/h•ft.2•°F
- The windows need to be certified for NRCan Climate Zone 3
One of the most important qualifications is that the windows need to be purchased from and installed by a participant in the rebate program, like Casa Bella Windows & Doors. Sadly, if you choose a company that is not involved with the specific provincial initiative, you will not be able to reap the financial benefits. If you want to learn about government rebates on windows visit and browse the Green Ontario Fund’s official website — they will explain the steps that you can take to get these rebates and how to avoid accidental disqualification from the program.
Beyond this new provincial rebate program, there are still a number of ways that energy efficient windows can put money back into your bank account. This specific renovation is considered one of the best ways to lower your hydro bills in the summer because it reduces the need for air conditioning — it also helps reduce the need for furnaces, electric fireplaces and space heaters during the winter-time. High-quality upgrades will guard a home against air leaks and reduce energy consumption which means that monthly bills will be a lot less expensive. If you plan on putting your house up for sale in the near-future, new windows are one of the greatest home renovations that add value — they have an average recovery rate of fifty to one hundred percent, meaning that you are very likely to recover the costs of installing them when you sell your house.
It’s easy to dissuade yourself from getting a big renovation like window replacements even when you know the results are great because the price-tag can feel daunting. If the cost is the only thing that’s stopping you, know that there are hefty rebates, hydro savings and high recovery rates that will make this renovation much kinder on your wallet.
