Go Greener Tips

Our homes use a lot of energy and nonrenewable resources when it comes to heating and cooling.  In fact, home heat and air conditioning are some of every American’s biggest contributors to their carbon footprint.  One way to cut down your costs and improve your efficiency is by installing energy saving windows.  Energy efficient windows can save you money, reduce the amount of energy you’re using, and help you feel better about your personal effect on the environment.

If your home is full of attractive, traditional large windows, you might be losing all the money and savings from your energy efficient appliances, good travel habits, and good eating habits.  The wrong windows can be a big source of heat transfer, causing warmth to leave your home in the winter, and enter in the summer.  Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help green up your windows.

They’re the most common place for homes to loose cool air in summertime and heat in the winter, causing furnaces and air conditioners to run over time.  That’s because glass is an excellent conductor.  It moves energy quickly from one side of the window to the other, rather than keeping heat on the side of the wall we prefer it to be on.  Sealing gaps around windows and doors can be a big help in reducing drafts, but to really prevent this kind of heat loss, you’ll either need to replace your windows or take measures to improve your old ones.

Use of blinds and drapes with insulating linings and designs properties will help you keep heat where you want it.  Use retractable styles that allow you to shade your windows when desirable, and open them to the sunlight when you want warmth and light.  Be sure to open and close your blinds as appropriate, so you’ll get the most benefit from them.  Installing energy efficient blinds and curtains is one of the least expensive ways to change the way your home loses heat.

For those willing to take an extra step, changing out old, inefficient windows for better ones is a good option.  Look for “Low-E” windows, which are double paned, and which have krypton or argon gas between those panes.  These gases are invisible, but they act as an insulative layer, keeping heat where it’s supposed to be.  High efficiency windows bring your home’s glass surfaces up in insulative rating, removing those holes in your home’s envelope.

If you’d like to increase your home’s efficiency and spend less on heating and cooling, more efficient windows are the answer.  Seal all cracks, install appropriate blinds and curtains, and replace old, inefficient windows with higher efficiency models.  You’ll soon notice a difference.