Does it fell like money is escaping through your home's drafty windows, doors, and skylights? If so, you may be able to keep some of this money by taking advantage of the federal energy tax credit for retrofitting your house with qualified energy-efficient replacements.
The credit is based on 30% of the cost of materials. Should you replace, and what?
Follow the 15 year rule. Don't replace if your windows, doors or skylights are less than 15 year old. If windows, door, or skylights are less than 15 years old, your savings would be negligible. Anything 20, 30 or more years old are prime candidates for replacing.
Most of the focus should be the windows (including skylights), as doors outlast windows, and windows are more numerous.
To qualify, windows, doors, and skylights must have a U-factor of 0.30 or less, and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 030 or less. The U-factor measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping, and the SHGC gauges how well a product blocks heat from the sun.
Make sure you keep receipts and product labels for proof. Ask you tax professional for more information