Free Government Window Replacement Grant Programs

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Worker Installing Replacement Windows In House

The United States federal government does not provide window replacement grants directly to low-income families or senior citizens.

However, the money does trickle down through state agencies to local providers that provide specific free energy-efficient upgrades to eligible homeowners.

As with any public benefit, navigating the maze of departments and agencies is difficult. Learn if you qualify and then apply for assistance.

You have four government resources worth exploring in 2023, complicating the pathway further.

Fortunately, you can find the starting point for each option. Begin with the Weatherization Assistance Program, as its mission aligns with your objective.  

Federal Window Replacement Programs

In 2023, low-income families and seniors in the U.S. most frequently qualify for free window and door replacement grants through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Its primary mission is to reduce heating and cooling costs by improving the energy efficiency of homes.

The Department of Energy (DOE) funds WAP, while local companies implement the program following their guidelines. They prioritize projects using a Savings Investment Ratio (SIR).

Table Of Contents
  1. Federal Window Replacement Programs
  2. Other Free Window Replacement Grants

Local Providers

Low-income American homeowners apply for the federal government’s free window replacement program through a local WAP-affiliated entity. The state agency or designated contractor will determine your qualifications (see below).

Learn how to apply for WAP at this online resource.

  1. Get the contact information for your local agency. Your state could have a single online application; others will refer you to a list of participating organizations.
  2. Complete the application process by providing proof of income from the previous year and household size.
  3. Prepare to have a state-approved provider send a representative to your home to perform an energy audit to determine if you are eligible for free services based on the Savings Investment Ratio (SIR).

Florida

Apply for Florida window replacement grants through various agencies and programs that support home improvements for low-income families, seniors, hurricane recovery or preparation, and other reasons.

  • Low-Income
    • WAP
    • LIHEAP
    • SHIP
    • Section 504
  • Natural Disasters
    • FEMA
    • Rebuild Florida
    • My Safe Home
  • Other
    • Pace

California

Apply for the California window replacement grants through the WAP website maintained by the CA Department of Community Services & Development.

In addition to the federal WAP initiative, California offers a separate Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP), funded through the state, which could help more families.

  1. Farmworker Housing
  2. Community Solar Pilot
  3. Multi-Family Energy-Efficiency

Texas

Apply for the Texas window replacement grants through a website maintained by the TX Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), which publishes links to other free government resources, including WAP.

TDHCA receives federal grant money and allocates the funding to local organizations that help those in need. Therefore, your task is to identify and contact the entities near your home.

For instance, four organizations support WAP in the Dallas area.

  1. Texas Information and Referral Network
  2. Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services
  3. Texoma Council of Governments
  4. Department of Veteran Affairs

Qualifications

Low-income families and seniors must meet specific qualifications before the local WAP organization utilizes the energy-efficient window and door replacement grant at no cost to the homeowner.

WAP prioritizes the elderly, physically disabled residents, families with children under 12, and households with repeatedly high utility bills.

LIWP strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and generate clean electricity through three components.

Other Free Window Replacement Grants

Low-income families can also find free window replacement grants through other government programs that promote energy efficiency or assist designated homeowners, such as senior citizens.

As before, a federal department establishes the objectives and funding, but you apply for the assistance through a state or county-level agency.

LIHEAP

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides grants for window replacement less frequently because its primary mission is to manage home utility bills, while weatherization is a secondary objective.

LIHEAP, run at the federal level by the US Department of Health & Human Services (Office of Community Services), sends block grants to each state. Then, state agencies allocate the money to local providers to administer the program.

Find Local LIHEAP providers using this online tool.

  1. Enter your state into the dropdown menu
  2. Select the county of your current resident
  3. Click on the yellow dot closest to your location
  4. Contact the state-approved provider to see if you qualify

Weatherization

According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse Report,[1] each state determines how to disperse the federal grants, and you will find varying levels of assistance based on where you live.

New York

The New York State LIHEAP website does not mention free window replacement, although the Clearinghouse Report indicates they allocate 10% of the grant money to weatherization.

The NYS LIHEAP prioritizes helping low-income families heat their homes with electricity, natural gas, oil, and other fuels by directly paying state-approved vendors such as Con Edison.

  • Regular benefits of $21 to $675
  • Arrears supplement benefits up to $10,000
  • Emergency benefits to avoid shutoffs
  • Heating equipment repair and replacement
  • Cleaning and tuning of heating equipment
  • Cooling assistance to purchase air conditioning

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania LIHEAP website does not mention free window replacement, although the Clearinghouse Report indicates they allocate 15% of their federal grant money to weatherization services.

Instead, the PA site focuses on two benefits designed to help low-income families pay their heating bills.

  • Cash grants: one-time payment sent directly to utility companies
  • Crisis grants: helps families with a heating emergency
  • Broken equipment or leaking lines
  • Lack of fuel or dwindling supply
  • Danger of service termination due to delinquency

Home Improvement Credit

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sponsors a window replacement program through its Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (EEHIC). The EEHIC provides non-refundable tax credits of up to $600 for installing energy-efficient building envelope components.

Claim the home improvement tax credit of $600 after installing exterior windows and skylights that meet Energy Star Most Efficient certification requirements.

However, the EEHIC can total up to $3,200 annually across many energy-efficient home improvements. Establish a schedule with your contractor to maximize the value of this government grant.

  • $1,200 for energy property costs with specific limits
  • $2,000 for heat pumps, biomass stoves, and boilers

Energy Star

The Energy Star program provides conceptual window replacement grants via future cost savings on oil, gas, or electricity utility bills. Installing Energy Star-certified windows lowers household utility bills by roughly 12% nationwide. [2]

Energy Star is a government-backed (US Environmental Protection Agency) symbol for energy efficiency, supporting utility-sponsored rebates for appliances, heating and cooling systems, and light bulbs, but no windows or doors.

Therefore, the conceptual Energy Star grant can only work as an investment with a reasonable return over the project’s lifetime. Financing the window replacement can spread payments over many years, improving the numbers.

  • The average cost to replace 25 panes and frames: $15,000
  • Lifetime energy savings across 25 years: $12,000
  • Annual gas and electricity expense: $4,000
  • Average savings on utility bills (12%): $480

Senior Citizens

Window replacement programs for senior citizens include two of the three free government grants noted above, plus an additional element: Section 504 through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

First, many seniors rely on fixed Social Security retirement benefits, which do not stretch very far. The meager monthly check could make them eligible for two low-income window replacement programs.

  1. LIHEAP
  2. WAP

Second, older adults typically plan to remain in their homes for less time because their life expectancy is shorter. Therefore, the Energy Star utility bill savings of 12% annually for replacement windows less impact the return on investment calculation.

Third, USDA Section 504 grants of up to $7,500 could purchase and install replacement windows, provided the project remediates health and safety hazards. To qualify, the senior must meet these criteria.

  • Be the homeowner and occupy the residence
  • Reside in an eligible rural area
  • Unable to obtain a loan elsewhere (bad credit)
  • Have a family income below 50% of the area median
  • Unable to repay a restoration loan

Article Citations:

[1] LIHEAP Clearinghouse Report

[2] Energy Star Windows and Skylights