Andersen windows do not qualify for tax rebate
#1
10-20-09, 02:24 AM
Andersen windows do not qualify for tax rebate
I was bummed to learn that my new andersen windows I just received do not qualify for the federal energy tax rebate. The guideline being it needs to have a U factor and a Solar Heat gain of less than.30, the standard Andersen 400's have .30 and .31 respectively. I did not upgrade the glass option to smart sun based on the advice of the contractor who said it was not worth the money and that here in Maine a lower solar heat gain isn't really better.
I think it stinks that they couldn't have had a little different standard depending on your location. I will likely save more energy than I would have if I had upgraded by taking advantage of solar heat through the windows.
I guess this is more of a rant than a question, but I would love to have anyone explain solar heat gain better, I think I'm on the right track that a higher gain in my climate is actually better.
I think it stinks that they couldn't have had a little different standard depending on your location. I will likely save more energy than I would have if I had upgraded by taking advantage of solar heat through the windows.
I guess this is more of a rant than a question, but I would love to have anyone explain solar heat gain better, I think I'm on the right track that a higher gain in my climate is actually better.
#2
10-20-09, 06:20 AM
Hi firedog, I can't find my favorite link that goes over low-e coatings and their spectral selectivity. In other words, they can allow solar energy to pass into the house while blocking radiant energy form escaping. I found the link below but haven't read it all as yet. I will and let you know if it covers your question or not. It looks like it might.
Also, not often mentioned is that the windows that are best for the north side of your home aren't always the best for the south side. Yet every window order I have ever seen, they are all the same.
As an added note, I just returned from a supply house in Bangor where I had a heated discussion about energy efficiency. Seems they just had an expert in to talk to all of the employees to help them be knowledgeable about energy efficiency. Unfortunately, some of what they were told was WRONG and windows was part of the discussion. There is so much misinformation out there that the consumer is challenged to determine what is best. That's the hint for you, as you will find some who say you are right and some who say you are wrong. My best advice is to always be wary of a sales person, because their product will always solve whatever problem you have. Sorry sales people, it is all too often true.
I'll be back
Bud
Also, not often mentioned is that the windows that are best for the north side of your home aren't always the best for the south side. Yet every window order I have ever seen, they are all the same.
As an added note, I just returned from a supply house in Bangor where I had a heated discussion about energy efficiency. Seems they just had an expert in to talk to all of the employees to help them be knowledgeable about energy efficiency. Unfortunately, some of what they were told was WRONG and windows was part of the discussion. There is so much misinformation out there that the consumer is challenged to determine what is best. That's the hint for you, as you will find some who say you are right and some who say you are wrong. My best advice is to always be wary of a sales person, because their product will always solve whatever problem you have. Sorry sales people, it is all too often true.
I'll be back
Bud
#3
10-20-09, 03:44 PM
Since the inception of the energy credit, I always quote only products that qualify, or let my customer know they don't. I am surprised to hear that the Andersen products you selected did not. It sounds like your contractor let you down by not being specific as to what you were buying.
#4
10-20-09, 04:47 PM
I'm not sure what problem one of the mods is having, but I have posted that link twice and both times it has dissapeared without a note. So we will try this link.
The Efficient Windows Collaborative: Resources
This one gives a brief description of SHGC and I believe is in agreement with your thinking.
Bud
The Efficient Windows Collaborative: Resources
This one gives a brief description of SHGC and I believe is in agreement with your thinking.
Bud
#5
10-20-09, 06:35 PM
I cant really fault the contractor/supply house I dont think. These windows were actually decided on and ordered quite some time ago and have been in storage at the supply house for a while since the project fell behind. At no point in the converstation did the tax rebates come up, certainly they were known about then (May 2009) but no one brought it up.
Maybe they should have said something.
If they were being a "salesperson" they would have tried to get me to spend more money for the upgrade. They were actually trying to save me money as they told me that the cost of the upgrade was not worth it for our area, explaining (if they were correct) that the upgrade was more about blocking solar heat to aid in cooling.
All the windows are Anderson 400 series and come standard with the Low-E glass they just barely miss qualifying with ratings as I said before or .30 U Factor and .31 SHGC. To make them qualify I would have had to upgrade to the "smart sun" glass. My house is designed to take advantage of solar heat with lots of windows facing S and SW and only 1 window the north side.
I've also been reading on what roofing qualifies for the rebates and its mostly about the reflectivity of the roofing. This again seems to be discrimating against those of us in cooler climates where I would think that you would want your home to absorb the heat (with dark asphalt shingles for instance) instead of relfecting it all. Reflective materials might be great in warmer climates and studies apparently show that in more populated areas if all roofing is relective it may actually help to reduce the surrounding temperature a little bit but seems to me in rural northern climates reflective may not be the best choice.
I'm not bothered by the decesion of the windows because I think they will be great, I'm upset that the energy tax credits may not be a one size fits all approach since obviously those in the south may be more concerned with cooling and those of us in the north with heating.
Maybe they should have said something.
If they were being a "salesperson" they would have tried to get me to spend more money for the upgrade. They were actually trying to save me money as they told me that the cost of the upgrade was not worth it for our area, explaining (if they were correct) that the upgrade was more about blocking solar heat to aid in cooling.
All the windows are Anderson 400 series and come standard with the Low-E glass they just barely miss qualifying with ratings as I said before or .30 U Factor and .31 SHGC. To make them qualify I would have had to upgrade to the "smart sun" glass. My house is designed to take advantage of solar heat with lots of windows facing S and SW and only 1 window the north side.
I've also been reading on what roofing qualifies for the rebates and its mostly about the reflectivity of the roofing. This again seems to be discrimating against those of us in cooler climates where I would think that you would want your home to absorb the heat (with dark asphalt shingles for instance) instead of relfecting it all. Reflective materials might be great in warmer climates and studies apparently show that in more populated areas if all roofing is relective it may actually help to reduce the surrounding temperature a little bit but seems to me in rural northern climates reflective may not be the best choice.
I'm not bothered by the decesion of the windows because I think they will be great, I'm upset that the energy tax credits may not be a one size fits all approach since obviously those in the south may be more concerned with cooling and those of us in the north with heating.
#6
10-20-09, 06:41 PM
Bud I didn't see that link before I posted but I just read it and it absolutely confirms my thinking and the supply house was right I did not want a higher SHGC. So I have a window that qualifies with the U-factor but not with the SHGC which to qualify would have to be lower when in fact the higher the SHGC the more energy efficient it is for my applications.
Typical one size fits all government approach about like the school and jail consolidation takeovers the state government is pushing.
Typical one size fits all government approach about like the school and jail consolidation takeovers the state government is pushing.
