Upgrading to Green Windows Part I – Retrofits or “Hacks” for Your Existing Windows

Are your energy bills burning a hole in your pocket? Have you ever wondered how much you would actually be able to save if you had a more energy efficient home? These days, everybody needs to save money, which is why so many people have begun to turn their homes into energy efficient “money saving” machines.

Unfortunately, so many have been fooled into thinking that the most practical way of making a home energy efficient is to invest in “modern” energy efficient devices or building materials. Doing so would be an excellent way to lower your energy costs, if you had the money to invest. Unfortunately, not everybody has tens of thousands of dollars to spend at will.

If your budget is a bit tight, but you still want an energy efficient home, there is a way to accomplish this. You can turn your current windows into energy efficient ones without breaking the bank. Here’s one “hack” among many you can try.

Create a Double-Glass Window

Most energy-efficient windows being manufactured today are made of two or more layers of glass to prevent energy from passing through the glass panels. You might be able to do the same with your current windows.

You’ll need to measure the glass panels and have new glass panels cut out for you. Once you have the new panels, apply a strip of putty to the edges of the existing window glass panel. Fit the new glass panel into place and hammer glazing pins into the rabbet, but remember to place a small piece of cardboard on the side of the glass so they don’t touch it. Once the new glass panel is in place, apply more putty on the sides and you’re done. Of course, expect professionals to do a better job of this than you ever will – DIY jobs are really better handled by the pros.

Using simple hacks such as the one above to make your existing windows energy-efficient is a great way to save money. However, if you do have a bit of extra money to invest in energy-efficient replacement windows, that would certainly be better. Before you go spending your money, make sure that you go through the next part of this blog post to find out what ENERGY STAR recommends.