Inside Storm Windows and Window Quilts

Replacement windows are often on our customers minds. Windows create two major heat losses. Leakage is the most obvious and some of this can be fixed with caulking. The second heat loss is through convection. Warm air from the room comes in contact with the cold glass and is cooled. The cooled air drops to the floor creating a pattern of moving air across the window, increasing heat loss. For a quick test, stand near a window in your bare feet and see if you can feel the cold air falling off the windows.

Oddly enough it is very seldom a great choice to install new windows. Unless you have single pane windows in wooden frames, with window weights you could find better ways to spend your money.

Two of the simplest and most effective are inside storm windows, and window quilts

Inside storm windows are light weight, easy to install and economical options for doubling the r value of your windows. Unless you have very expensive r7 or better windows, an inside storm window will instantly double the r value of that window. So you could spend 60 dollars or so to double the window r value or you could spend hundreds a window and not do any better, and you will endure the painful process of window replacement.

A foam gasket around the storm window frame makes for a snug fit. Inside storm windows are manufactured to order from your custom measurements. Reports we get back from customers prove the value of these windows. The whole house sets we provided generated the exact same comment from our customers. Their thermostats are now set lower because they could feel the difference the storms were making.

Window Quilts are an even more effective approach but they are not transparent. These are best used on very large windows and sliding glass doors. You could leave them down all winter as we do on a few windows or just let them down at night to cut the greatest heat loss. Window Quilts are just what they sound like. Quilted fabric with insulation and a layer of mylar in between. they are sonically welded so there are no penetrations, and they run down your windows in tracking to make a good tight seal.

Window Quilts mount above windows and doors on a roller system so they can be closed at night and open during the day to let light in.

After the end of the 1970s fuel crisis this company dropped out of site, but they are back in Brattleboro and we are one of their first dealers.

Take a Tax Credit of 30% up to $1500.00 thru Dec 31st

Federal Incentive Type: Personal Tax Credit

Eligible Efficiency Technologies: Water Heaters, Furnaces , Boilers, Heat pumps, Central Air conditioners, Building Insulation, Windows, Doors, Roofs, Circulating fans used in a qualifying furnace Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Biomass, Stoves that use qualified biomass fuel

Applicable Sectors: Residential

Amount: 30%

Maximum Incentive: Aggregate amount of credit for all technologies placed in service in 2009 and 2010 combined is limited to $1,500 Equipment

Requirements: Equipment must be new and in compliance with all applicable performance and safety standards as described in tax code

Start Date: 1/1/2006

Expiration Date:12/31/2010

WebSite: http://www.energystar.gov/taxcredits