Comments on The Green Phone Booth: Weather the storm

Window quilts are another way to insulate your win...

2009-11-10T06:42:44.292-08:00

Window quilts are another way to insulate your windows for winter. Like Truffula Mama, I have had the information for some time now, but have yet to implement it. We also add a layer of vinyl (Ack!) to the interior of our solarium windows. It isn't pretty, but it does help. We are able to use the vinyl from year to year rather than dispose it like the 3M products.

Here are instructions for DIY interior storm windo...

2009-11-09T20:49:29.029-08:00

Here are instructions for DIY interior storm windows: http://www.arttec.net/Thermal-Windows/index.html.

Now, having this link and actually motivating to build said windows are two different things. But, we won't mention that.

This makes me think about our large living room an...

2009-11-09T16:28:13.784-08:00

This makes me think about our large living room and its windows. We need a solution; maybe this would be better than replacement with double panes. No matter what, we intend to maintain the character of the house.

You have the cutest house.

2009-11-09T16:21:21.729-08:00

You have the cutest house.

Thank you SO MUCH for bringing up the fact that a ...

2009-11-09T10:47:09.249-08:00

Thank you SO MUCH for bringing up the fact that a storm + a single pane window is actually MORE energy efficient than a double pane window. I have a 102 year old Victorian, and it has every single one of its original, single-pane windows. The glass is wavy, the sashes are beautiful, the house would absolutely not have as much character as it has now were it to have vinyl replacement windows. These original windows have lasted 102 years--something I seriously doubt a vinyl window could accomplish. I have spent hours making the windows weathertight--reglazing, adding weatherstripping, realigning the sashes, etc. My house is warm, cozy, and full of beautiful, antique light. :)

I get so, so, so sad when people move into a historic home and immediately tear out all of the original windows--especially when they do it in the name of "going green." Sending all of that irreplacable virgin timber to the dump hardly seems green to me, nor does purchasing brand new vinyl windows which, undoubtedly, were NOT manufactured in an earth-conscious way.

Almost every old window can be restored to its former glory--very few actually need to be replaced.

If anyone wants TONS of info and help reworking their old windows, I'd go over to the forums at Old House Web. Those people are window fantatics!

Thanks again for a great post. Your original windows are gorgeous!