Windows in Maine.

Efficiency Maine runs a weatherization rebate structure through registered vendors, not a direct per-window check. The vendor pulls the rebate on the bundled project (air sealing + insulation + windows where eligible), and the homeowner sees the rebate reflected in the project paperwork. Tier coverage runs up to $4,000 for the base tier, $6,000 for moderate-income, and $8,000 for income-qualified households. The bigger long-term value is in the heating-bill drop, since Maine burns oil for 58% of its home heat.

For zone 6A and especially zone 7 (Aroostook County), triple-pane starts to make sense in a way it doesn't in southern New England. The U-value drops from ~0.22 (good double) to ~0.16-0.19 (good triple), a meaningful difference when you have 7,500+ HDD. The honest answer: triple-pane on north-facing windows and exposed faces, double-pane on protected south sides. The Score sequences this for your specific exposure.

For some homes, yes, and Maine has a lot of these homes. If your wood-sash originals are still operable and the wood is sound, a quality interior storm panel (Indow, Innerglass, or similar) or a low-E exterior storm can deliver double-pane-equivalent performance without touching the original character. This is often the right move on antique homes in places like Bath, Castine, or Camden where the windows are part of the architecture. The Score weighs storm-versus-replace based on the condition of your existing units.

Three numbers matter on the NFRC label: U-factor (lower is better, aim for ≤ 0.22 for double-pane, ≤ 0.20 for triple), SHGC (solar heat gain, for Maine you actually want this moderate-to-high, around 0.30-0.40, to let in passive solar warmth in winter), and air leakage (≤ 0.30 cfm/sq ft). ENERGY STAR Northern Climate Zone certification bundles all of this. Avoid hot-climate "low SHGC" coatings, they were designed for Phoenix, not Portland.

Three additional levers: (1) Maine burns oil for 58% of home heat at $4+/gallon delivered, so every gallon you don't buy is real cash; (2) the heat-pump electric load drops too, since the new windows shed less heat into the cold air the mini-splits are working against; (3) noise, condensation, and resale-value benefits arrive on day one and compound for the life of the windows.

Yes. Salt-laden air corrodes aluminum and degrades cheap vinyl. For homes within ~500 ft of the ocean, the durable specs are fiberglass frames with stainless or coated hardware, marine-grade weatherstripping, and exterior trim that drains rather than pools. Coastal Maine installers know this; the Score will flag your coastal exposure based on your address and route you to installers who carry the right product lines.