Dave Laughlin looks forward to saving money on heating bills. Ventana staff photo

Dave and Sue Laughlin of Santa Cruz can look forward to warmer winters, cooler summers, a quieter house, and smaller utility bills. They have replaced the aging, single-pane windows in their house with modern, double-paned, argon-filled ones. Because argon is a poor heat conductor, it boosts the insulating capacity of the already-efficient, double-paned windows.

Dave saved additional money by installing the windows himself.

The Energy Star program of the EPA and the Department of Energy estimates that a typical California homeowner would save approximately $100/year in heating/cooling costs by upgrading a house to double-paned windows. According to the EPA Energy Star website, homeowners who install eligible windows may receive a tax credit on upgrades made before the end of 2007. To learn more visit www.energystar.gov/. Click on "Tax Credits Under the Energy Bill" at the bottom of the page.