Grist hosts a Q & A forum on things sustainable, here is a recent question on window efficiency…
I am lucky enough to have a home I really love and food to feed my family and my pets. However, the home has one major energy flaw: it is older and has huge, single-pane window/walls with aluminum frames, in two adjoining rooms. We currently are not able to replace them, and they lose heat rapidly. With this winter being a bit colder, is there anything that you can suggest we do, other than the window upgrades we cannot afford, to keep some warmth in the house?
Source: On inefficient windows | By Umbra Fisk | Grist | Ask Umbra | 08 Nov 2006
Click through for the full reply, there’s some interesting links and discussion about different options.
If you enjoyed this post, why not try these ones:
- Noise Canceling Windows
- Greening an Existing Home - Part 2
- Easy Sustainable Cooling
- The ALR and Rising House Prices in BC
- Housing Prices and Sustainable Development
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We have a problem with We have a problem with leaking windows. If the rain is hard and blowing against the side of the hoe we get water into the home and stains on our sills. If the rain comes straight down they do not leak, so I do not think it is a roof leaks. I calked the questionable windows, and I am sure the leak is bot from the window frame. What else can I do?
Depending on the type of Depending on the type of window, (up and down sash), wooden, vinyl, aluminium, etc, the answers are probably different. Water is likely running down the window pane and pooling at the bottom of the sill, this is filling up and leaking into the house. Modern windows have a tighter fit, and sometimes have weap holes for water that may get into the tracks or sill.