Worst Heating Bill in US Cut in Half

JELD-WEN, the window manufacturer, set out to find the house with the worst heating bill in the United States last year.  They found it in Maine.  A 119-year old farmhouse that incurred a December bill of $1,100, and had spent over $5,000 during the year in home heating oil.

What could be done to help the poor homeowners stuck with this atrocious energy sucker?  JELD-WEN provided 35 new Energy Star rated windows, two AuraLast wood doors, and some basement insulation - free of charge.  Did it make a difference?  You bet.

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The heating oil bills for the farmhouse have been cut in half!!!  And, according to the family, the house is generally more comfortable to live in.

“When we first moved here, we made the huge mistake of focusing on the cosmetics,” said Jennifer Quimby, owner of the farmhouse. “Once we got the utility bill, I realized that we needed to start focusing on making it more energy efficient. The windows have definitely made a big difference. To see such dramatic savings in our bills this year is more than we expected.”

Obviously replacing 35 windows, two doors, and insulating a basement is not going to be an inexpensive project.  But, when you look at the energy savings alone, the family is receiving $30,000 a year!  The project easily pays for itself in a year or two.  Not only that, but the federal government has tax credit incentives and rebates that can help offset the costs even sooner.

Makes me wonder what new windows and doors might do for my house.

For more information on JELD-WEN energy efficient doors and windows, visit http://www.jeld-wen.com/energyefficiency.

Photo courtesy of Qualified Remodeler.

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