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Homeowner guide

New windows or insulation? Where the money goes furthest

The question every homeowner asks before a big winter project, answered with typical numbers.

The arithmetic

Replacing the windows in a typical older New Hampshire home costs well into five figures and trims the heating bill by a modest share. Air sealing plus attic and wall insulation on the same house costs a fraction of that, the program pays most of it, and the fuel savings are commonly 20% or more. That is why energy auditors say the same thing everywhere: envelope first, windows later, if ever.

UpgradeTypical cost to homeownerTypical heating savingsNHSaves rebate
Air sealing + attic + wallsA few thousand dollars after rebates20% or more100% air sealing, 75% insulation, up to $6,000
Replacement windows, whole house$15,000 and upSingle digits to low teensNone
Weather-strip and storm panelsA few hundred dollarsMost of the window savingsNone

Ranges are typical for southern New Hampshire homes built before 1980; your house will differ. NHSaves® is the energy-efficiency program of New Hampshire's electric and natural gas utilities: Eversource, Liberty, Unitil and the New Hampshire Electric Co-op. Program eligibility requirements and restrictions apply. Rebate amounts are set by the utility program, depend on each home's assessment results, and are subject to change or cancellation while funding is available. Granite Hearth Home Performance is an independent contractor and does not sponsor or operate the NHSaves programs.

Before you sign a window contract, get the house tested.

A blower door and an infrared scan show where the heat actually leaves. The assessment is the cheapest second opinion you will get.

Book an assessment(603) 555-0100

Questions

Are my old windows the reason the house is cold?

Usually not the main reason. A typical house loses far more heat through the attic, the walls and air leaks than through its windows. Replacing windows is a fine investment for comfort, noise and looks; it is a poor one for fuel savings alone.

What should I do about drafty windows then?

Weather-strip the sashes, lock them (a locked window seals tighter), add interior storm panels or insulating shades, and caulk the trim. Those steps capture most of the window savings for a few hundred dollars.

Does NHSaves pay for windows?

No. The Home Energy Performance program funds air sealing, insulation and related measures because those save the most per dollar. Windows are not a program measure.

Related

What insulation costsProgram averagesEnergy-saving checklistIncluding window fixesBook an assessmentThe plan and the price in writing

Let's take a look at your house.

It starts with a phone call at no cost. We tell you plainly what the house needs, what NHSaves will cover and what the rest will cost, in writing, before anything is scheduled.

Book an assessment (603) 555-0100
Call (603) 555-0100