New Storm Window Technology - Saves Energy and Money!

by Jane Smallman
Jane.Smallman@hqpublications.com
Home Remodeling Guide Columnist

Glass is a very poor insulator and an old-fashioned single-pane window loses a lot of heat. The best way to improve your home's efficiency is to replace every old-style window with a new, multi-glazed window, but if this is too expensive you can save energy by installing a new storm window over every existing single-pane window.

What is a storm window?

A storm window fits over your old single-pane window.
It should be permanently installed on the interior or exterior.
It should be easy to open to allow ventilation and cleaning.

How does a storm window work?

It creates an area of "dead air" between the old windowpane and the glass pane of the new storm window.
This dead air space works as insulation: it reduces air movement into and out of the existing window.

Why does fitting a new storm window save money?

By reducing air movement the storm window slows heat flow between the house and the outside; the result is that less energy is lost so fuel bills are reduced.

Types of storm window

Storm windows are available for most types of windows and can be installed on the inside or the outside of the old windowpane.
The most inexpensive type of storm window is a plastic sheet or film that is designed to last for one season.
A mid-price storm window is made from glass or plastic panels which have special optical qualities.
The most expensive, new type of storm window is a multi-glazed glass unit that will last for a number of years.

If you are keen to improve the energy efficiency of your home but are unable to meet the cost of replacing every one of your windows with a new, multi-glazed window, fitting storm windows could prove to be an effective and less expensive alternative.

About the author

Jane Smallman runs a mountain guiding business with her husband. Her early training was in hotel management and she has worked in the hotel industry in France, Holland, the US and the UK. Following this she worked in an administrative capacity for a number of not-for-profit organizations in the UK, including the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Refugee Legal Centre. While doing this she earned a degree in Social Sciences through distance learning with the Open University. After graduation she progressed to the University of Sussex as a full-time student where she was awarded a Masters Degree in Social and Political Thought.