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Will interior (polycarbonate or vinyl plastic) storm frames significantly improve U- .30 windows? – GreenBuildingAdvisor
- December 6, 2024
- Posted by: sherwin@eyeconz.com
- Category: Uncategorized
I read on a separate thread a discussion of the difference between U-factor .30 and .20 windows (conclusion was that .30 was usually sufficient given the cost — .20 means essentially triple-pane). I’ve got new Anderson fibrex casements with U- .29/ SHGC 0.25 but I’m not feeling snugger than I did with the original leaky 1950 single panes, storms, and the annual plastic-and-hair dryer topping. Is it worth it to create a ‘storm insert’ with polycarbonate or vinyl, in the manner of ‘energy savr window inserts;’ might that approach achieve a U-.20 solution? What if I covered both sides of a 1″ x 2″ wood frame; would that “quadruple-paned” solution in theory impact our energy bill significantly? Wondering if such storm window inserts would be worth the effort, if it matters significantly what type of ‘glazing’ we use, and if they would keep heat out in the summer. Thanks for any experience or scientific perspectives!
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