Previously we have discussed the importance of insulating and creating an ‘envelope’ to retain heated or cooled air while increasing the energy efficiency of your home. Insulation is one of the most important factors in determining home energy efficiency, but it is not the only one. Think about it, windows and doors are gateways to the outside world! They can each be massive negatives in terms of your home’s energy performance.
Windows or Doors Leak Most?
Out of the two, windows leak a good deal more energy than doors. This happens for a number of reasons. Sunlight heats up windows very quickly. This makes them fantastic conduits for heat transfer, which is a bad thing in terms of your home’s energy efficiency. Windows can receive glazing or tinting to reduce their ability to transfer heat. Additionally, heat transfer occurs through windows through the processes of conduction, convection, and radiation.
How to Reduce Energy Costs
An easy way to reduce energy loss is simply purchasing new, high-tech, energy-efficient windows. These are better insulated and fight heat loss through conduction and convection. This can be expensive though, and it may take years before you end up seeing a return in your investment. If you are going to be staying in your home for a very long time, consider investing in new windows, otherwise, trying to fix your existing ones.
Rope caulking is a cheap way to better insulate your windows. Simply run it along the edges of the window frame and allow it to harden. It can always be scraped off if you don’t like how it looks.
Weather stripping is another relatively inexpensive option. It should only run you about $8-$10 per window and can reduce heat loss by as much as 40%-50%. While you are at it, add weather stripping to the bottom of your doors for an extra little energy efficiency boost!