Storm window savings, tax credits and rebates
Start with what storm windows can save, work out your own payback, then see which credits and rebates may help.
$350 a year
The EPA’s estimate of what ENERGY STAR certified low-e storm windows save homeowners
Roughly 10 percent of heating and cooling bills, compared with single-pane clear glass windows without existing storm windows.
The EPA calls these estimates conservative. Actual savings depend on your climate, your home and your utility rates. Source: ENERGY STAR, Storm Windows page (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency); checked October 2026.
What that means for payback
Here is simple arithmetic, for illustration only. At $350 a year, a project that costs $1,050 earns that back in 3 years, and the savings can keep going for the life of the windows.
Divide your own quote by $350 to see yours. Not every home will see the same result, so treat the figure as a starting point.
3 years
to earn back $1,050 at $350 a year, before any rebate.
Illustrative arithmetic only. Your cost and your savings will differ, and savings are not guaranteed.
No federal credit for installs now
- Credit
- Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, often called 25C
- Applied to
- Qualifying property placed in service January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025
- For windows
- Capped at $600 a year, within a $1,200 annual total, and the windows had to meet ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria
- Status
- Ended. It does not apply to installs in 2026 or later
Source: IRS, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit page; ENERGY STAR, Federal tax credits for windows and skylights page. Checked October 2026.
Credits have come and gone before
Federal tax credits for home energy improvements have lapsed and then come back before. The earlier version of this credit expired at the end of 2017, and Congress extended it retroactively in late 2019 to cover 2018 and 2019. Nobody can know whether or when another one will return. If that changes, we will update this page.
What you can still do
Many electric and gas utilities, states and local governments run efficiency programs that pay a rebate or discount on home improvements. Some include windows or window attachments, and many ask for ENERGY STAR certified products, AERC-rated products, or both.
Programs and amounts vary by utility, state and year, and some run out of funding. That is why it pays to check before you buy, not after.
We cannot promise any specific rebate. What we can do is supply the ENERGY STAR and AERC certification details for a model so you can match them to a program’s requirements.
How to find a rebate
- 1
Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), which lists state, local and utility incentives by location. A search takes a few minutes.
- 2
Call your utility before you order. Many programs require pre-approval, and a purchase made first may not qualify.
- 3
Search your electric or gas utility’s website for window, storm window or weatherization rebates.
- 4
Check your state energy office and your city or county for efficiency programs.
- 5
Read the product requirements. Many programs ask for ENERGY STAR certified products, AERC-rated products, or a minimum U-factor.
- 6
Find out whether the program covers storm windows, window attachments or only replacement windows.
- 7
Ask whether the rebate must be applied for before you buy, and how long you have after installation.
- 8
Ask whether a licensed installer is required or whether you may install the windows yourself.
- 9
Keep your order confirmation, the model name and the certification details. Ask us for the certification details for your model and we will send them.
- 10
Ask a tax professional about anything that touches your return.
Keep your paperwork
Programs usually ask for proof of purchase and proof that the product meets their requirements. Save your order confirmation and the model name from your order. Ask us for the certification details for your model and we will send them.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Ask a tax professional about your own situation.
FAQs
How much do storm windows save?
The EPA estimates that ENERGY STAR certified low-e storm windows save homeowners about $350 a year, roughly 10 percent of heating and cooling bills, compared with single-pane clear glass windows without existing storm windows. Your savings depend on your climate, your home and your utility rates.
How long do storm windows take to pay for themselves?
The EPA estimates the added cost of ENERGY STAR certified storm windows pays back in about three years. As an illustration, divide your project cost by $350: a $1,050 project would earn that back in three years at $350 a year. Your own cost and savings will differ.
Are the savings estimates conservative?
The EPA calls its estimates conservative. They are still estimates, and actual savings depend on your climate, your home and your utility rates.
Are storm windows eligible for tax credits or rebates?
The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so there is no current federal credit for windows. Some utilities, states and local programs still offer efficiency rebates, and many ask for ENERGY STAR certified or AERC-rated products. Programs and amounts vary, so check with yours before you buy. We cannot promise any specific rebate, but we can supply certification details for a model on request.
Is the federal 25C credit still available?
No. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit applied to qualifying property placed in service from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025, and it has ended for 2026 installs. There is no current federal credit for windows.
What was the 25C credit worth for windows?
Windows were capped at $600 a year within a $1,200 annual total for all qualifying improvements, and the windows had to meet ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria. Those limits applied to the years the credit was in effect.
What is ENERGY STAR Most Efficient?
It is the ENERGY STAR program’s higher recognition for the top-performing certified products in a category. It is stricter than standard ENERGY STAR certification, and it is the level the federal window credit relied on.
Where do I look up rebates in my state?
A good first stop is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, known as DSIRE. It lists state, local and utility incentives by location, and searching it takes a few minutes. Then call your utility before you order, because many programs need pre-approval.
Do rebates require AERC ratings?
Some do. Programs that cover window attachments often ask for ENERGY STAR certification or AERC-rated performance, and some set a minimum such as a maximum U-factor. Requirements differ from one program to the next, so read yours before you buy.
Do I need a professional installer to get a rebate?
It depends on the program. Some require a licensed installer and a receipt; others accept do-it-yourself installs with proof of purchase. Check the rules before you order.
Can you tell me which rebates I qualify for?
No. Programs, amounts and rules change by utility, state and year, and we cannot promise any specific rebate. We can send certification details for a model so you can check them against your program’s requirements.
What does AERC certified mean?
It means the specific model has been tested and its energy performance, such as U-factor, solar heat gain, visible transmittance and air leakage, has been rated by AERC. Ratings belong to the model, so not every window we sell carries one. Look for the AERC rated tag on the product photo and the AERC line on the product page.
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