Tight Windows Save Energy and Money. These photos show two windows on the same elevation, taken minutes apart. The left window is covered with frost on the interior side of a storm window from warm, moist air escaping around the primary window sash. The window on the right was tightened up and had off-the-shelf weather stripping installed – an hour’s effort and $5 in materials.
The frost on the left represents lost heat. In a house with many windows, it represents a LOT of heat that could be saved by tightening up the windows.
It is a common misconception that historic houses are not energy efficient and are expensive to heat in a cold climate. A more accurate statement is that buildings that aren’t properly maintained and have outdated systems are inefficient and costly to heat. A historic house can be as efficient as a typical modern house with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and HVAC system improvements. Tightening up loose windows is a great place to start.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” addresses energy efficiency issues in-depth. It includes instructions to quickly and affordably tighten historic wood windows if you don’t have the time or budget for full window restoration.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. © Scott T. Hanson 2023.
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