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Warmth In Winter: Smart Windows To Let Heat In : NPR

Very cool. I can see these being (wait for it...) really hot in places like AZ, NM, TX, etc....

Heck, I'd be happy to just have double paned windows. We really need to replace ours. I'm confident that I can do it myself. I've talked to too many folks that are less handy than I am that have done it, but I'll have to order custom sizes because our old house doesn't use standard anything. Ideally, I'd have someone that's an old pro show me how to do the first window, then I'd do the rest. I suspect window guys aren't really inclined to do that sort of thing.

I've done almost all of mine - not cheap, but it isn't rocket science - you do want to use various products to "wrap" parts of the openings (butyl tape?) and pay attention to rain -- you can do a better job than some of the "pros:

milt and others know all the stuff and can walk you thru it

I am using 2 paned windows with an Argon fill & low e glass to meet the Energy Star spec (E*) and I get a subsidy (low interest loan help) from the local utility. I also have some trees planted in strategic spots & use low solar admittance glass (they have some other name for this in the trade but I forget it) in the high summer sun spots.

note there are two different approaches posted above - don't think you can buy either one this year or next

I've done it. But there are videos galore. Any specific questions, PM me.

I'm replacing mine this winter. Despite being an above average home built in 1991, the windows in mine are SHOT. Horray for generic "builder's quality" products. Mine are bad enough that when it snows with a stiff N wind I get small drifts on the floor.:) The Andersen replacements should be a night/day difference.

Geez, 1WP, I don't even get snow drifts in my house, and my windows were installed in 1927! But it did get awful drafty before I put saran wrap up over all the windows. I'm slowly going through replacing with Andersen, but it's taking time (and money!!).

What's the difference between a window that goes opaque on demand and just pulling the blinds (aside from the fact that some light heats the blinds, anyway)? Is there really a significant gain here?

Dan

if it's extra heat, then yes -- assuming the blinds are on the inside

solar insolation can be divided into long wave and short wave - the LW will not come thru the glass; the SW will

once inside (say on the blinds) it will hit them and heat them up; the (hotter) blinds will the re-radiate more LW radiation and it will be unable to get out thru the glass

this is why your car heats up so much in the sun -- it is like a greenhouse effect

if the glass is made opaque to SW, then it cannot get in to begin with

- what we would really like, is windows that only let a very narrow range of light (visible part of the SW) thru (and maybe only in one direction); with the ability to tune the glass's transmissivity for the rest of the SW and the LW spectrum based on temperature