• Energy-efficient windows offer comfort and value to your home.window image by photooiasson from Fotolia.com
  
  Accounting for nearly 25 to 30 percent of heat loss in the home, traditional windows have been found as the culprit behind many high energy bills. Homeowners and builders have turned to new energy-efficient windows to help address this problem. With the high cost of energy-efficient windows, however, it’s important to understand the benefits and value they offer.
  
  

Insulation

• Building materials such as insulation, windows or doors are typically assigned an R-value. Usually listed on the product, an R-value tells a consumer how much heat resistance the material has. A higher R-value means the product has a greater capacity for keeping heat in or out of your home. Single pane traditional windows have an R-value of about one, and many energy-efficient windows have R-values of up to three. The higher R-values offered by energy-efficient homes mean a reduction in heating or cooling costs. Due to warmer interior window temperatures in the winter, condensation is less likely, which will keep your home warmer and your windows free of moisture.
  
  

Light and Noise Reduction

• Reflective coatings on energy-efficient windows help block sunlight from entering the home, creating a more relaxing light level in the daytime. In the summer, this also keeps the home more comfortable and the air conditioning from running constantly. Additionally, blocking these harmful rays helps keep photographs, furniture and other belongings in your home from fading or discoloring. One benefit for homeowners on a busy street is that multipaned energy-efficient windows offer increased noise reduction. Two or three panes of glass create a higher R-value, and, in comparison to traditional windows, block more noise from outside your home.
  
  

Value

• Decreased energy bills aren’t the only monetary reward for installing energy-efficient windows in your home. Energy-efficient homes have higher value and greater appeal to buyers than homes lacking energy-efficient features. Energy-efficient windows are an investment in the value of your home and can make your home more marketable if you ever decide to sell. Although they are more expensive than traditional windows, there are tax incentives available from the federal government to help offset the cost. If purchased and installed in your existing home before the end of 2010, you can receive up to 30 percent of the cost as a tax credit. This means you can increase the value of your home while decreasing your tax burden.