A window to watch your expensive energy dissapear

Windows are bad. Sure our lives would suck with out them but were trying to go green here...

But wait, if we have lots of glass and the associated natural light I can keep my lights turned off. Just think of the savings! Except at night, or when there are temperature differences outside etc. Oh well. never mind.

Windows are bad.

If you live in a new, well insulated house, your walls will probably have a high R-value. They will perform well right up to the window. And, in newer homes we insist on lots of natural light so they have lots of windows. In fact, even in my 1965 home I have walls that are way more glass than wall.

These designs grew out of cheap energy and a "don't care" attitude about pollution, climate change etc. It will be interesting to see how architecture changes as we become more sensitive to these issues.

Or maybe we can whip this with technology. Maybe we will get to where a window is as good as a wall. Of course it will cost you more than a small nuclear reactor, but it will be greener! Or we could wait around for solar panels that are reasonably priced to generate our energy so we don't care how much the windows lose. We're 30 years and counting so far.

When you're looking at making your home energy efficient, the windows are a primary concern, but they are also a big expense if you want to change them. Generally, it's really hard to cost justify window changes, but there is lots you can do in the mean time.

It's worth noting that a window, or maybe more accurately, a piece of glass that's built into your wall that doesn't open can be replaced much more cost effectively. In fact, in my home, it was cheaper than blinds. There is no frame, locks, mechanisms etc, it's just a glass sandwich. Costs for a triple pane low-e glass unit can be pretty reasonable, they usually install easy, and they make a big difference. And lastly they are eligible for tax credits if they are certified.

But, the easy thing to do on all windows is make sure they don't leak. Weather stripping and caulk are usually the answer. Next we need to just blanket the window. Heavy curtains, blinds etc all help a lot. One has to remember to use these items when there are considerable temperature differences from inside to out. You also don't want to have openings at the top and bottom of the coverings or you will have just built an air convection heating (or cooling) machine.

One can also install clear plastic (from 3-M) to the windows inside to build an air gap and seal the whole thing. These work reasonably well and make a huge difference, for just a little time and money.

Bottom Line - Standing in any room, your likely largest energy user is the window(s). They are worth the time to make them energy efficient and there are good price options from plastic all the way up to new windows (that should probably still have coverings).