The goal of the ENERGY STAR Windows initiative is to permanently change the regional residential marketplace for high-efficiency fenestration products (windows and skylights) in both new and existing homes so that product sales, and consumer and builder preferences, are reflected in increased market share for ENERGY STAR Windows and updated minimum building code requirements.

For more information, browse the following sections:

Initiative Status

Initiative Goals

Initiative Activities

 

Residential Market Assessment for ENERGY STAR Windows in the Northeast: Final Report

 

Residential Market Assessment for ENERGY STAR Windows in the Northeast: Appendix

NEEP's activities are funded by initiative sponsors and a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Elizabeth Titus is NEEP's Research and Evaluation Manager. For more information, please contact her by phone at 781-860-9177 ext. 11 or by email at etitus@neep.org.

 

ENERGY STAR Windows Initiative Status

Since 2002, U.S. DOE funded NEEP’s efforts to significantly increase the market share of ENERGY STAR Windows in the Northeast region with a primary focus on residential windows. Based on market research results and recommendations, NEEP has offered retailer training as a critical strategy to achieve increases in ENERGY STAR window market share.  Through projects co-funded by energy efficiency program administrators and state energy offices, since 2003 NEEP has provided sales training for major retailers in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware. Training co-sponsors have also included the Northeast Window and Door Association and the Alliance to Save Energy. Participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and post-training surveys strongly suggest an increase in ENERGY STAR Window sales. To transfer this training to other regions with lower market share, NEEP introduced the retailer training in Kentucky, in partnership with the Kentucky Energy Office and Southface Institute.

Since 2004, NEEP has included the revised ENERGY STAR window specifications in its building energy code training, and promoted the new specifications as minimum energy code requirements for new construction and replacement windows in northeast states. 
The 2005 evaluation of the regional windows initiative recommended next steps regionally and nationally including encouraging development of tiered energy efficiency criteria for ENERGY STAR Windows; reducing barriers to market penetration of ENERGY STAR windows in new construction; continuing retailer training; promoting state energy code revisions and improved compliance, and addressing the ever-challenging need for improved market data collection.

To leverage national knowledge, programs and resources, in 2006 NEEP joined the Advisory Board of the national Efficient Windows Collaborative to transform markets for high efficiency windows in the residential and commercial sectors.

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ENERGY STAR Windows Initiative Goals

With renewed funding from US DOE for 2007, NEEP will facilitate the ENERGY STAR Windows in 2007 to:

1. Increase window energy savings through increased ENERGY STAR window sales and updated building energy codes.
2. Identify additional opportunities for savings from ENERGY STAR Windows.

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ENERGY STAR Windows Initiative Activities

NEEP will continue the regional ENERGY STAR Windows Advisory Committee to achieve these outcomes through:

• Retailer Training: NEEP will offer retailer training in partnership with energy efficiency program administrators, state energy offices and other stakeholders to provide sales staff with the information and sales tools to effectively “up-sell” consumers and builders to ENERGY STAR windows – including the role of state and federal tax incentives.


• Strategic Development and Information Exchange: NEEP will facilitate information exchange to increase energy savings from ENERGY STAR windows through project communications and participation in relevant regional and national conferences and meetings including the National Energy Efficient Windows Collaborative. 

• Building Energy Code Training and Proceedings: NEEP will include ENERGY STAR Windows in its residential building energy code training and inform state building energy code update processes regarding market readiness for and the costs and benefits of including ENERGY STAR windows as the minimum requirement for new construction and replacement windows.

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