Pilots and Programs

Window attachments are a new opportunity for utilities and energy efficiency program administrators to address poor performing building envelope and achieve deeper energy savings for their customers because most U.S. residential and commercial buildings have single and double clear glass windows installed.  Energy efficiency window attachments offer significant energy savings opportunities and non-energy benefits for end-user customers, are widely accessible and available in the marketplace, and can be installed at a lower cost than full window replacement. Field studies have demonstrated have efficient window attachments can achieve up to a 30% reduction in annual heating and cooling energy use, and some products can achieve similar savings to double pane replacements at one third of cost. Window attachments also are energy and performance rated by AERC and ENERGY STAR, and readily deployable in residential, small and large commercial, and multi-family applications.

Program Design Models

Efficient window attachments have the potential to be an effective solution across nearly all building types. The following table includes AERC recommended program design models across different customer and building segments that can incorporate window attachments. AERC can provide utilities and energy efficiency program managers with data on the energy savings and market potential in their service territory, and can assist with developing program or pilot design concepts.   If you are interested in adding window attachments categories to your measure portfolio, please reach out to [email protected] for assistance.

Residential/Multi-family Commercial Buildings Weatherization Assistance ‎Programs or Low-Income Energy ‎Efficiency Programs
Downstream incentive Small Business Direct Install Assisted Home Performance
Retail instant discount/Midstream Facility assessments or retrofits Low Income Direct Install
Smart Home package Prescriptive incentives for new ‎construction Public Housing Multi-family retrofit
Whole building retrofit

Active Window Attachment Incentive Programs

A number of utilities across the U.S have incorporated window attachments into their existing programs and are offering rebates for residential and commercial customers. The following table includes details on utility programs offering incentives for qualifying window attachment products.

Program State Product Program Delivery ‎Model and Sector Incentive Product Eligibility ‎Requirements Rebate ‎Application Link
Xcel Energy CO Colorado Cellular Shades Downstream cash ‎rebate (not utility bill ‎credit) for qualifying ‎cellular shades for ‎single family homes ‎$1.33 per square ‎foot of qualifying ‎products.‎ Products must have an ‎AERC Warm Climate ‎rating of at least 35 ‎and AERC Cool Climate ‎rating of at least 5 Rebate Form
Salt River ‎Project Arizona Shade and ‎Solar Screens ‎ Downstream and ‎midstream incentive ‎for residential ‎customers. ‎ ‎$0.80 per square ‎foot Shade screens must ‎block at least 80% of ‎the solar heat gain on ‎sun-struck windows ‎only (west-, south- and ‎east-facing windows) ‎that enclose an air ‎conditioned space. Rebate Form
PSEG Long ‎Island New York Interior and ‎exterior storm ‎windows Downstream ‎account credit or ‎mail in rebate for ‎residential ‎customers. ‎$1.00 per sq. ft. ‎Rebate. Products must be ‎ENERGY STAR ‎certified. Rebate Form
National Grid in ‎Rhode Island Rhode Island Low-e storm ‎windows Instant rebate for ‎residential ‎customers ‎$25 per window‎ Products must be ‎ENERGY STAR ‎certified. Rebate Form
Baltimore Gas ‎and Electric Maryland Smart Shades Pilot participants ‎received custom ‎rebate based on ‎number of windows ‎in home. Participants can ‎get up to 10 ‎automated window ‎shades for west- ‎and south-facing ‎windows N/A N/A
Austin Energy Texas Solar Screens Downstream ‎Mulitfamily Rebate ranges ‎from $2.20 to ‎‎$2.75 per sq ft ‎when SHGC is 0.30 ‎or less for solar ‎screens Solar screens must ‎have a solar heat gain ‎coefficient (SHGC) of ‎‎0.30 or lower.‎ Rebate Form
Avista Washington Low-E Strom ‎Windows Downstream ‎Residential Storm windows – ‎‎$3.00 per sq. ft.‎ Storm window glazing ‎material emissivity ‎must be less than 0.22 ‎with a solar ‎transmittance greater ‎than 0.55.‎ Rebate Form

Technical Reference Manuals and Measure Development

Many utilities rely heavily on state Technical Reference Manuals (TRM) to identify and evaluate new measures and reference a standardized method to calculate energy savings.  AERC is currently involved in efforts to develop measure proposals for window attachments to have these products included in state TRMs across heating, cooling, and mixed climate zones. The following tables provide information on window attachment measures that have been approved in TRMs across the U.S. and measure proposals that are currently under development.  If you are interested in adding window attachments categories to a TRM or have questions about AERC’s efforts please reach out to [email protected] for assistance.

Approved Window Attachment Measures

The following table includes states that have adopted window attachments into to their Technical Reference Manuals (TRMs).‎

State IECC Zone IECC Zone Product Category Application Page Number ‎Reference
Louisiana Zone 2/3 Southeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family C-144‎
Missouri Zone 4/5‎ Midwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family ‎193‎
New York Zone 4/5/6‎ Mid Atlantic Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 85
Colorado Zone 4/5/6/7‎ Rocky Mountain/West‎ Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 391
Massachusetts Zone 5 Northeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family
Rhode Island Zone 5 Northeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family M-310‎
Iowa Zone 5/6‎ Midwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 324
Vermont Zone 5/6 Northeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 190
Minnesota Zone 6/7 Midwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 122
Illinois Zone 6/7 Midwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 359
Wisconsin Zone 6/7 Midwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family 1054
Michigan Zone 6/7 Midwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential, Multi-Family

Measure Development Efforts

The following table includes AERC’s current measure development efforts. If you are interested in learning more about AERC’s measure development ‎efforts please contact [email protected].

State IECC Zone US Region Product Category Application
Maine Zone 6/7‎ Northeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential
Texas Zone 2/3/4 ‎ Southwest Low-E Storm Windows Residential
New Jersey Zone 4/5/6‎ Mid Atlantic ‎ Low-E Storm Windows Residential
Connecticut Zone 5‎ Northeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential
Arkansas Zone 3/4‎ Southeast Low-E Storm Windows Residential
New York‎ Zone 4/5/6‎ Mid Atlantic Secondary Glazing Commercial
Minnesota Zone 6/7‎ Midwest Secondary Glazing Commercial
Rhode ‎Island Zone 5‎ Northeast Secondary Glazing Commercial