Window Covering Answers

Cold Places need warmer windows Just a short note about two companies that have insulated window treatments: Take a look at the link below to see how window quilts can make a difference. http://cozycurtains.com/ Out in Montana, USA  - winter can get really fierce. No matter how great new windows are, they still leak heat through convection and conduction. These insulated shades with magnetic side trim make a real difference in heat retention. Also from Alaska where it gets even colder Check out Wiggy's for insulated fabric to make your own window treatments. http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=187 For those of you with a sewing machine, Wiggy's makes an ultralight fabric that seems to be ideal for really cold weather. Made in Alaska, where it gets really, really cold, this fabric seems ideal for window quilts.  http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=187

As the first snows are predicted for this week. I think about all the homes with far too much window, homes with windows that are drafty, or leak heat. I think about all the apartments built in the past with little or no insulation in the walls, windows that haven't been updated since the sixties. I shiver when I think about the surfeit of old, leaky patio doors. Recently I learned that even the most modern of windows only have an R-value of 5 at the most. How discouraging. Not everyone has the means to change their window circumstances. My suggestions for increasing warmth and decreasing energy loss are small methods that may be of use to others. I base these ideas upon observation of what works and what doesn't. Here in Canada we often use transparent plastic to create a dead air space around and in front of the window. Dead air being one of the best insulators. We simply tape that plastic to the frame of the window. Creating an airtight seal. That works but is inconveni