Upfront
Energy-efficient living
By Colleen Wonder, Interior Designer AASID
Sit by a bare window on a sunny day, and you’ll feel the sun’s warmth. Sit by that same window on a cold, windy night, and you’ll feel chilled to the bone! With today’s economic concerns, smart homeowners are continually searching for ways to cut expenses and save on their monthly energy bills.
Naturally, the best place to start is to be sure our homes are well insulated. But all too often, while overall home insulation is a priority, windows seems to be neglected. No matter what your climate, bare windows are a primary spot for energy escape. In cold climates, heat naturally moves toward the cold to escape. And, in warmer areas, outdoor heat moves toward the windows of our air conditioned homes.
Since windows make up 20 percent of a typical home’s exterior and 40 percent of contemporary home construction, numerous large uncovered windows can break your energy budget. This is especially true when these windows face a cold northern exposure in the winter or a sun-saturated west wall in summer.
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