“We love the clean look, the quieter street noise, and no more drafty or hot windows.”

-Amanda S. (Portland, OR)

Amanda’s House at a Glance

Built: 1954
Location: SE Portland
Square Feet: 2,478
4 Beds / 3 Baths

The previous owners called the home office “the cold room.”

Amanda and her family had just moved in, and she knew she couldn’t live this way. The original windows let in so much cold air that it sometimes felt like “having air conditioning when you didn’t want it.”

When she got tired of layering up through the winter, Amanda called GreenSavers. If you have questions about windows in your home, just give us a call at 541.330.8767, or book an appointment online:

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The WINDOW REPLACEMENT Plan

Amanda’s single-pane windows, installed back in 1954, caused significant temperature variations, especially in the depth of winter and peak of summer.

What’s more, the windows wouldn’t operate properly. Some were nailed shut. Others would stick, and if she could get them open, they’d never stay open.

For aesthetics and maximum resale value, Amanda chose to replace all 20 windows in her home with Milgard Tuscany series vinyl windows and fiberglass screens.

To get the most efficient windows at the least cost, she opted for the 4th Surface High Performance Package from Milgard, which effectively turns double-pane windows into triple-pane performers.

We helped Amanda choose the right window configurations to meet her needs. Most were single hung and horizontal sliders - including an eight foot horizontal slider in the living room.

Here’s an overview of the performance, hardware, and warranty for her replacement windows:

U-Factor: 0.24-0.30
SHGC: 0.23-0.30
Hardware Style: Smart Touch
Warranty: Lifetime

The Insulation Plan

When we arrived, Amanda had no attic insulation and large air gaps. Adding insulation to an uninsulated attic is typically the most cost effective thing a homeowner can do to make their home more energy efficient.

In addition to replacing windows, Amanda hired GreenSavers to add about a foot and a half of blown in cellulose insulation to her attic after sealing gaps and air leaks. This brought the insulation value of her attic to R-50, about 30% more than the minimum allowed for new home construction in Oregon.

New Windows and Insulation in Portland

“The crew was really thoughtful when they were working. They laid sheets down to protect my floors and cleaned up every day. I remember them going room-by-room, so there was nothing left half done. We could comfortably live there while the project happened.”

Amanda S. (Portland, OR)

How Much did it Cost?

After accounting for incentives and tax credits, it cost less than $20,000 or about $160 a month to install 20 new windows and a door as well as seal and insulate Amanda’s attic.

Total Cost: $21,145
Cash Incentives: -$1,163
Federal Tax Credit: -$356
Net Cost: $19,649
Monthly Payment (15-year, 4.34% interest, $0 down): $159.98

We don’t have firm estimates for energy savings from the project, but Amanda reports that “we’re not using the heat as much, and the house stays comfy longer.”

What’s the Home Like Now?

Noise:

“We live in an active neighborhood with cars and kids. It sounded like they were in our room. With the new windows and insulation, it’s MUCH better.”

Amanda S. (Portland, OR)

Comfort:

“We’re not using the heat as much, and the house stays comfy longer. You can put your hand on each window, and it feels like it’s room temperature.”

Amanda S. (Portland, OR)

Recommend:

“I would definitely recommend GreenSavers. My neighbor asked about windows, and I said to give GreenSavers a call.”

Amanda S. (Portland, OR)

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Learn More about windows

Start by visiting our window resource pages for homeowners in Portland or Bend, Oregon. You can also keep reading our latest blog articles about energy efficient windows.

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