Keep chill out, warmth in, at your residence
The last thing you want to worry about during the winter when temperatures cool down is whether or not your home will be warm enough, or how high your energy bill is going to be. If you’ve already taken measures to decrease the amount of heat that escapes from your home by adding insulation and sealing drafty floorboards and doors, the next step is to take a look at your windows.
Windows are often the draftiest part of an older home or apartment, allowing heat to escape and cold air to enter. Even windows without drafts can be the chilliest area of the room, with glass that radiates with cold air. With the right window, however, you’ll be able to keep your home warm, your energy bill low, and even the couch by the window will be a cozy spot on cold days.
So, what makes a window right for keeping the chill out and the warmth in?
The right window is properly sealed along the trim, and doesn’t let air in or out when it is closed. You can improve your existing windows with DIY caulking, weather stripping and window treatments and coatings, or choose to replace your windows with energy efficient options. To check the energy efficiency of option, storm windows or exterior storm shades work windows, look for the Energy Star logo, or check online for their Energy Performance Rating. For a cheaper option, storm windows or exterior storm shades work well for keeping air in.
Creating a more energy efficient house has become the goal of many homeowners in recent years, especially during months of extreme hot or cold weather or fluctuating temperatures.
New ideas hit the market every year, here are a few energy saving solutions to look for:
Heat pumps: Instead of turning up the heat of your entire home to warm a colder room, you can use heat pump to move the heat in your home from one room to another. This technology is also available for clothes dryers to reduce energy consumption by 60 percent.
Better insulation: Adding more insulation can keep inside temperatures cool during summer and warm during winter, and now insulation made with better.
Smart windows: These windows also use sensors to increase efficiency by changing shading depending on the amount of sunlight coming through. In the summer on hot days, a shaded window can keep a room cool. In the winter, more sunlight can help warm the room.