Replacing your homes windows is no small undertaking, either in time or money. The two major players in replacement windows are Pella and Andersen Windows. Both types of brands of windows are widely available so where do you start when comparing the differences between the two window giants?
Calfinder has put together a great side-by-side comparison between Pella and Andersen Windows. They breakdown selection, features, materials, eco-friendliness and cost.
This helpful graph is easy to read and a great reference.
The folks at DAP have passed along a few tips for weatherizing your home for the winter. Since it's National Energy Awareness Month and the temps are dropping across the country, make sure you give these tips a try.
Keep in mind that, according to the experts at EPA ENERGY STAR, improving your home's envelope can save you up to 20% on heating and cooling costs, or up to 10% of a total annual energy bill. ENERGY STAR also states that air leakage accounts for between 25 and 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical residence.
What is home sealing and weatherization and why should you take action?
Weatherization is a term for improving the energy efficiency of a building's envelope. Air sealing is an important component of weatherization because it reduces the flow of cold outside air entering the house and heated air escaping in the winter. Air sealing is a very common energy efficiency measure and is also one of the most cost effective and easiest installations. In most cases, air sealing a home is a minimal investment and only takes a trip to the local hardware store and a couple hours of work. Home sealing not only saves you money, but also benefits the environment as it will require less energy to heat or cool your home.
What are some of the main sources of air leaks in a home?
The obvious ones are around windows and doors. But don't forget about the attic and basement. Leaks in the attic can create a drafting effect that lets warm air out through the attic, while pulling cold air in through windows, doors and up through the basement.
In one of the most bizarre blog entries we've ever seen, Cal Finder has chosen to break down what type of window replacement various Star Wars characters should need. They've coined this new organization, Allied Forces Inter-Galactic Window Replacement Task Force (AFIGWRTF).
We like what they've suggested for the Jedi Temple and Casa Chewbacca.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Rafael from Coast Door & Hardware this morning. He walked us through some window blind options as we are doing some investigating for the parents who are building a new home in Las Vegas. It's a prairie home with very large windows throughout but instead of using window treatments or conventional blinds, both of which would detract from the wood inlay window surround, they're considering between-glass blinds that are enclosed and can be raised and lowered individually.
In our ongoing quest to consider "greener" solutions to cleaning products that don't leave a toxic residue or acidic odor, the New York Times has conducted a field test of numerous window cleaners. It turns out the water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol based cleaners was very effective and they also highly recommend using newspaper as your cleaning agent.
Although we don't condone replacing windows for the sole purpose of "going green" or because they just need some TLC such as new weather-stripping or insulation, if new windows are a necessity then now is a great time to look into it as there is now an energy tax credit available that is part of the $789 billion dollar economic stimulus package.
1. Wasted Resources - use scraps where possible, save materials for other projects, or donate extras to reuse centers
2. Poorly Selected and Installed Insulation - use blown-in or spray foam insulation products to improve energy performance and minimize air leakage (and coordinate with ventilation system)
3. Improper Flashing and Drainage Planes for Water Management - update your know-how on flashing and drainage planes to control water and moisture
4. Tight Homes Built Without Intentional Ventilation - install whole house ventilation systems in all homes to provide fresh, clean air in tight homes
5. HVAC Ducts Installed in Unconditioned Space - layout and install all ductwork to run in conditioned space to improve efficiency and reduce wasted energy
We're always happy to see the latest newsletter from Bruce Irving in our email inbox and his latest edition doesn't disappoint.
He selects some of his favorite new products on the market but also weighs in on one of his pet peeves which is homeowners who spend big money to replace windows all in the name of saving energy. Unless your windows are leaking like crazy or falling apart, Bruce recommends upgrading your insulation, air sealing, and heating plants before replacing windows.
