ENERGY STAR Windows & Tampa
Improve Energy Efficiency and Save Money for Decades to Come!
Want to save money on your Tampa home’s energy bills? Looking for ENERGY STAR-certified windows is a good place to start!
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Why Is ENERGY STAR Important in Tampa?
Every homeowner wants to be able to save money on their monthly bills. ENERGY STAR helps homeowners do just that by identifying products that help them reduce their energy consumption. Looking for products with that famous blue logo helps you spot opportunities to make your home more energy efficient. That’s why the ENERGY STAR program is important to homeowners in Tampa.
Energy Savings Calculator
Discover Your Potential Annual Energy Savings
Adjust the slider below to match what your current monthly electricity bill is to see an estimate of your potential annual savings*:
*Based on figures determined by ENERGY STAR when upgrading from a single-pane ‘clear’ window to an ENERGY STAR compliant window at an average 12% energy consumption reduction.
About ENERGY STAR Windows for Tampa
Federal Tax Credits
To qualify for federal tax credits under ENERGY STAR, a window must have a U-factor of less than 0.22 and an SHGC under 0.21. A window can be ENERGY STAR certified without earning a tax credit.
NFRC Testing
To earn ENERGY STAR certified status, a window must first be inspected by an independent body such as the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) to verify its energy efficiency characteristics.
Tampa’s Climate Zone
When it comes to energy efficiency, different climate zones may make a window more or less energy efficient. For example, Tampa is in a Southern climate zone per ENERGY STAR certifications.
ENERGY STAR Windows for Tampa
Impact Windows
Double Hung Windows
Sliding Windows
Picture Windows
Casement Windows
Awning Windows
Bay Windows
Custom Windows
ENERGY STAR-Rated Doors for Tampa
In addition to your windows, your doors are a major component of your home’s energy efficiency. You need doors that seal tightly to minimize air leakage when closed and use strong insulation to prevent thermal bleed between your home and the outdoors. Get ENERGY STAR compliant doors to protect your Tampa home’s entryways today!
ENERGY STAR Door Options
Sliding Glass Doors
Standard Sliding Patio Doors
Pocket Sliding Doors
Bi-Parting Doors
Exterior Doors
Entry Doors
Double Entry Doors
French Doors
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Tampa ENERGY STAR Windows FAQs
Are ENERGY STAR Windows Worth It?
Purchasing windows that have earned ENERGY STAR certification may be initially more costly than getting basic windows that lack energy efficiency-enhancing features like low-e glass, improved insulation, argon gas fill, and extra layers of glass.
However, the cost over time of the “cheaper” window may be higher in the long run.
ENERGY STAR certified windows provide a consistent long-term savings on energy bills since your home’s climate control system doesn’t have to work quite as hard, saving electricity for your home.
Additionally, because there’s less air leakage with an ENERGY STAR window, you can enjoy enhanced comfort in your home with fewer drafts and less air infiltration.
According to data from an ENERGY STAR estimate, the average homeowner in Jacksonville, FL can save around $536 a year if they replace their clear, single-pane glass windows with ENERGY STAR-compliant windows. However, that’s just an average based on a $0.15 electricity billing rate.
The more energy your home uses to maintain a comfortable temperature, the bigger the savings you can realize for putting in ENERGY STAR v7.0-compliant windows. So, if your home typically needs more energy to keep cool in summer and warm in winter, you stand to save even more money each year by replacing your windows.
In addition to the monetary savings, adding ENERGY STAR windows to your home helps reduce your carbon footprint. This makes them an ideal upgrade for any homeowner who wants to be more environmentally-conscious.
What Are the Energy Efficiency Metrics I Should Know?
When assessing a window’s energy efficiency, there are three key metrics to know—ones that appear on NFRC labels for windows. These three energy-efficiency specific metrics are:
- U-Factor. A measurement quantifying how well the window insulates your home from thermal transfer. The lower the number, the less energy moves between your home and the outside.
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). A measurement of how much of the sun’s heat gets through the window. The higher the number, the more heat from the sun gets through.
- Air Leakage. A measurement of how much air can enter or leave a room through the window, expressed as cubic feet per minute. This helps improve energy efficiency by preventing heat gain or loss from air entering or escaping your home.
Knowing these three energy metrics can help you identify windows that are ENERGY STAR compliant. They’ll be prominently displayed on the NFRC sticker for the window.
What Is an ENERGY STAR Window?
An ENERGY STAR window is a window that has been certified to meet certain energy performance standards set by the EPA, which are independently tested by the NFRC.
These windows help homeowners reduce their energy consumption for their home’s climate control systems, leading to reduced energy bills and a greener environment.
What are the standards a window needs to meet to be ENERGY STAR v7.0 compliant? The answer actually changes from one “climate zone” to the next.
In northern climate zones, a window would need to have a u factor of 0.22 or less and an SHGC of 0.17 or more to be considered ENERGY STAR certified. However, here in Florida, which is in the Southern climate zone, the u-factor of a window has to be 0.32 or less and the SHGC has to be 0.23 or less.
Why is there a difference between requiring low SHGC in Florida vs higher SHGC in Northern climates? Because, in Florida, the goal for the majority of the year is to keep your home cool. Meanwhile, in northern climates, the goal is to keep the home warmer.
Higher Solar Heat Gain Coefficient values allow more of the sun’s heat inside the home. That’s desirable in the north, but bad in the south where temperatures run high and your air conditioner has to work overtime year-round.
Do ENERGY STAR Windows Qualify for Tax Credits?
ENERGY STAR certified windows can qualify for environmental tax credits IF they meet the “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient” criteria for the climate zone you’re installing your windows in.
If you go to the NFRC’s Certified Product Directory (CPD) search page and find your window on it using the CPD number, check to see if the window has a green shade for your climate area. If it does, it may qualify for “energy efficient home improvement” tax credits.
These tax credits for the 2025 fiscal year can be worth up to $3,200 off your federal income taxes.
However, it is important to note that windows will only count for a part of that maximum tax credit. According to the IRS website, windows can earn up to $600 total tax credits. To get the maximum tax credit, you’ll need to make broader improvements to your home’s energy efficiency. For example, energy efficient doors can earn a tax credit of $250 per door (up to $500 total), and adding new insulation can earn up to $1,200 in tax credits (which also helps ensure you get the biggest energy savings for your home).
Does Installation Affect My Window’s Energy Efficiency?
Yes! The quality of your new window installation can absolutely affect the energy efficiency of your new window.
A window can have all of the best insulation and energy efficiency features on the market, but if there’s a gap around the window frame, it will leak air between your home and the outside.
A high-quality window installation where the installer ensures that there is no gap around the window, adds insulation to the area around the window frame, and ensures that the new window is seated properly in the opening creates a tight seal that better protects your home and makes the most of the energy efficiency features of your window.
This is why it’s important to work with installers who know what they’re doing and are dedicated to doing things the right way.
Can a Single Window Meet ENERGY STAR Requirements in Every State of the USA?
What makes a window energy-efficient in a northern state may actually make it less energy efficient in a southern state like Florida. However, there are some window products on the market that are universally ENERGY STAR certified in all 50 states of the USA. So, the answer is “Yes, but it’s not likely to meet the ‘Most Energy Efficient’ requirements for tax credits.”
As noted by the ENERGY STAR FAQ page: “A window with a U-factor of less than or equal to 0.27 and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of less than or equal to 0.25 could earn the ENERGY STAR in all climate regions.”
However, to get the biggest energy efficiency benefits in Florida, you’ll want to get a window that is tailored for energy efficiency in southern climate zones.
Are Impact Windows More Energy Efficient?
When variables such as coatings and frame materials are the same, impact windows do tend to be more energy efficient compared to single-pane non-impact windows.
This is because of how impact windows tend to be constructed. Impact windows typically include multiple layers of glass, air gaps (sometimes filled with inert gases) to inhibit heat transfer between the home and the outside, laminate interlayers, and heavier construction.
These features tend to make impact windows more energy efficient than similar non-impact windows.
For example, if you look at ENERGY STAR’s energy efficiency savings chart for clear glass windows, you can see how much money the average homeowner could save by changing from single pane clear glass windows or double pane clear glass windows to an ENERGY STAR certified window. In all cases, the cost savings going from a single pane clear glass window to an ENERGY STAR window was larger than going from a double pane window to the ENERGY STAR window (though the ENERGY STAR window still provided a significant savings over the double pane clear window).
In the Southern Climate zone, switching from single pane to ENERGY STAR windows saves an average of $563/year, while switching from double pane clear glass windows saves $373/year. In other words, the double pane window was already about $190 more energy-efficient than the single-pane windows.
Merely having two panes of glass provides a significant energy savings that can be quantified with hard numbers!
Why Karoly for Tampa ENERGY STAR Windows?
If you want ENERGY STAR-certified windows, Karoly Windows & Doors is your best choice in Tampa. Why? Because Karoly:
Has 20+ Years of Experience. We’ve worked with homeowners throughout the greater Tampa Bay area for over 20 years, earning accolades and positive reviews for our dedication to quality and service.
Isn’t Beholden to a Single Manufacturer. We work with multiple window and door manufacturers so we can get the best deals on new windows and doors for your needs.
Does the Work the Right Way Every Time. Our installation techs are all in-house employees who are held to our company’s high standards. With Karoly, you never have to worry about an unskilled third-party contractor doing the job incorrectly. You get experienced techs who are on the Karoly payroll.
Specializes in Florida Residential Windows. We’re a locally-owned Florida-based business that specializes in windows and doors made for the Floridian market. We know the Florida Building Code and how to uphold it so you can trust your new windows to last.
Offers a Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee. We back every window installation with a lifetime guarantee that includes a 25-year installation warranty and a 50-year material warranty so you can have peace of mind.
Get your energy-efficient windows and doors from Tampa’s most trusted window replacement company so you can rest easy knowing that your new windows will protect your pocketbook from rising energy costs for decades to come.
Areas We Serve
Need energy-efficient windows for your home? Karoly Windows & Doors is here to help! We provide window and door installation services for homeowners in the following areas:
Decades of Award-Winning Service In Tampa!
