[ energy tips]
BUYING NEW WINDOWS
BY PAT KEEGAN AND BRAD THIESSEN
W
Campfire cooking can make summer trips even more special with great food. Colorado Country Life magazine is partnering with Lodge Manufacturing to give you a chance to win a random prize drawing of a cast-iron cookware package that includes these items: • • • • • • •
6-quart/12-inch camp Dutch oven 12-inch tote bag 60-inch tripod and tote bag Deluxe lid-lifter Lid stand Cast-iron trivet/meat rack Outdoor spatula, tongs, brush and spoon • Charcoal starter • Chuck wagon dinner bell • … And more.
For sweepstakes details and a copy of the entry form, please visit coloradocountrylife.coop.
Don’t Drive Distracted Don’t Drive Distracted Don’t text and drive.
Be smart. Don’t text Stay safe. and drive.
Your life is worth the wait...
Your life is worth the wait...
Be smart. Stay safe.
Learn more at
Learn more at
Don’t let a safety hazard dampen your summer fun. Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. NEVER touch any electrical appliances or outlets when you are wet or standing in water.
Window buyers have a number of choices to make. Double-pane windows are necessary to meet code for most applications, but the additional cost for triple-pane windows are worth the investment in areas with extreme temperatures. Choosing argon or krypton gas between the panes adds a little more efficiency. Having a low-emissivity coating added to the glass is a worthwhile investment. The most important benefit of this “low-e” coating is its ability to reflect heat back into the interior space, which reduces heating bills and increases comfort. These coatings reduce solar heat gain as well, which helps with airconditioning costs. Fortunately, windows are rated for energy efficiency, so you don’t need to know all the details about their construction. The most important indicator of a window’s energy efficiency is the U-factor, which measures the rate in which the entire window loses heat; lower U-factors are more efficient. The window framing material, the number of layers of glass and the special coatings on the glass all contribute to the overall U-factor. Working Installing replacement winwith a dows and new siding at the professional same time opens up additional is important opportunities. Here, an inch because poor of rigid foam-board insulation installation can was added while replacing result in long- windows. term damage, such as moisture problems, which can create mold, mildew and rot in the wall. This can prevent the window from operating properly or cause the paint to peel. As you look into window replacement, think about your goals. If reducing your energy costs is important, weigh an investment in new windows against other energy efficiency opportunities you may have.
Photo Credit: Jim Maunder, Ravalli Electric Co-op
Lodge Manufacturing Cookware Sweepstakes
Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen are with Collaborative Efficiency, which partners with electric co-ops on efficiency projects.
Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about replacement windows. Look under the Energy tab. coloradocountrylife.coop
MAY 2017
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