There’s no doubt that drafty windows raise your energy bills – or that an Energy Star® rated double-pane or triple-pane window is going to outperform your old single pane window.

But replacing your windows can costs thousands of dollars – an investment that would be difficult, if not impossible, to offset with energy savings alone. In fact, where efficiency is concerned, installing new windows falls quite low on the list of bang-for-the-buck investments.

So what’s at the top of the list? These money saving measures qualify:

1. Caulking spaces around windows – Applying a fresh bead of caulk around the outside perimeter of the window creates a continuous wind-blocking seal between the window frame and siding.
2. Adding weather stripping – After caulking around the outside of the window, move inside and use weather stripping to seal around window sashes (the part of the window that opens and closes).
3. Installing door sweeps – Door sweeps are designed to seal off the space between the bottom of the door and the door jam with either a vinyl or rubber seal. They’re easy to install, inexpensive, and can substantially reduce drafts.
4. Covering drafty windows – Window insulation kits block cold air by sealing the entire window behind shrink-wrap plastic (the plastic adheres to the interior window casing with double-sided tape; a blow dryer heats the plastic to seal it in place).
5. Insulating attics, crawl spaces, and voids – The average home leaks the equivalent of a large open window’s worth of air to the outside – and much of that leakage comes through your attic, crawl spaces, and gaps between your walls. If your home isn’t properly insulated, you could be paying 20-30 percent more for your energy bills than you need to.
6. Adding storm windows – A storm window is a secondary window that protects the primary window and interior of the home against cold and severe weather. Often installed inside the primary window, storm windows are a good draft-reducing option for families on a tight budget.

Knowing which of these options would work best for your home and budget comes down to understanding the unique energy efficiency challenges of your living space – which is exactly what CMC Energy Services provides with a Home Energy Assessment.

Schedule an assessment today and you’ll get an average of $1,100 worth of measures just like the ones we described above – installed by professional technicians – all for a one-time payment of just $124!

To learn more, call CMC Energy today at 203-774-4059.