DOE Paves The Way For Super Efficient Windows With New Program

I don’t usually like talking about windows because when homeowners choose how to spend their hard earned money on efficiency, new windows are one of the worst choices. But today is different, because today in DC, the Department of Energy is kicking off their long awaited Volume Purchase Program (VPP) for super efficient windows that will change the definition of “efficient window” for good. 

The VPP program is a clever policy where the Department of Energy is going to line up enough buyers of super efficient windows to convince manufacturers to produce these super efficient windows at a price that can compete with today’s standard technologies.  By giving the manufacturer certainty that they will sell enough products to recover their research and production costs, DOE will help avoid the traditional chicken and egg problem of more efficient products.  People would buy it if it was cheaper, but it won’t be cheaper until people buy it…

Think of window technology like this – first we cut holes in the wall to see out and get a breeze, then we put glass in the hole (single paned) to keep the bugs out, and now most people buy windows with two pieces of glass and some insulating gas in between (double paned).  We can also put coatings on the glass to make it insulate better and keep heat from the sun out when we don’t want it. 

So what’s next?  The windows solicited by the VPP program, likely with three pieces of glass, insulating gas and coatings, but maybe not.   It doesn’t matter how they get there, only that they get there.  These windows will be R5 and for context Energy Star windows are only about R3, where a wall is R10 to 20 or more.

There are lots of other cool things going on in window technology too, like coatings that tint the glass when too much sunlight is coming in and coatings that direct the light up at the ceiling and hopefully we will see these become more widespread as well.    

Everyone says that energy efficiency is the low hanging fruit, and the VPP is the kind of creative policy that will make that fruit grow back after we pick it.  It’s great to see the program get rolling and DOE, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and the manufacturers of these super efficient products should be commended.