[ energy tips]
MAKE OLDER WINDOWS EFFICIENT
BY PAT KEEGAN AND BRAD THIESSEN
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Do you have a story to tell? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! Colorado Country Life is looking for short stories (and a photo if you’ve got one) of your brushes with celebrities. We will pay $50 for any submitted story that we publish on our website and in the October issue. We will pay $25 for entries published on the website only. Deadline to share your story (and maybe a photo) is July 17 at 3 p.m. Send entries to info@coloradocountrylife.org or 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216
Photo Credit: Pragmaticenvironmentalism.com
Have you had a close encounter with a celebrity?
Windows are an important contributor to the efficiency and comfort of your home. In last month’s column, we talked about replacing windows, but doing so is costly and could take 20 years of energy savings to recover the investment. Luckily, you can make significant improvements to your existing windows without investing a large amount of money or time. Weather stripping can be used for areas where a window’s movable parts meet the window frame. Retailers offer a variety of weather stripping for different types of windows. These materials are low cost, easy to apply and can pay for themselves in energy savings in as little as one year. The seam between the window frame and the wall is another common source of air leakage. For anything less than 1/4inch wide, fill it with caulk; for anything larger, use expanding foam and paint over it. If the window pane is loose or the glass is cracked or missing, it’s probably costing you There are many different kinds weather stripping designed additional of for different types of windows money. and applications. If you’re handy, it is possible to reglaze a window yourself, or there may be a local shop in your area that will do it. Another strategy to consider is window coverings. There are many types, including interior roller shades, cellular shades or draperies. Recent laboratory tests showed that cellular shades could cut heating or cooling expenses by 10 to 16 percent. Cellular shades can be purchased with a lighter reflective side and a darker, heatabsorbing side. Some can even be reversed with the change of seasons. Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen are with Collaborative Efficiency, which partners with electric co-ops on efficiency projects.
For official rules and an entry form visit our website, coloradocountrylife.coop coloradocountrylife.coop
Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about improving efficiency of older windows. Look under the Energy tab. JUNE 2017
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