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What's going on

My rooms are cold and drafty.

Drafty usually means air leakage, not just bad windows. The fix is almost always faster and cheaper than a whole-window replacement, and covered better by state rebates.

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Cold drafts around old windows and doors
What actually helps

Here's the short list.

The rebate stack, the smart play, and why each one matters for this specific problem.

i.
Air sealing & blower-door test
A pro does a blower-door test to pinpoint leaks, then seals them. Often the single biggest comfort improvement per dollar. Bundled free with MassSave weatherization.
Included · MassSave, RI Energy
ii.
Attic & wall insulation
After sealing, insulation slows heat transfer through what's left. Attic first (biggest heat loss path), walls second, basement third.
75-100% covered · Most states
iii.
Window replacement (last resort)
Only worth it if your existing windows are single-pane. Double-pane replacements rarely pay back in comfort or bill savings. Storm windows are often a better option.
$75/window · MA
Context

The order that matters

If you replace windows but skip air sealing, you'll still feel drafts from the rest of the envelope. If you insulate without sealing, the insulation underperforms. The Score reads your blower-door, your insulation, and your windows together, then ranks the moves that actually apply to your house. A free Home Energy Assessment through MassSave, RI Energy, NHSaves, Efficiency Maine, or Efficiency Vermont tells you which of those actually need doing, and which are already fine.

See which rebates apply to your home.

Your Home Efficiency Score maps every eligible program to your exact address.

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