After a long series of negotiations, the economic stimulus package has gone through. There’s a great deal of excitement about this in the blogosphere, particularly when it comes to replacement windows, replacement window installation, energy efficiency, and reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.
Replacement windows can play a pivotal role in improving the nation’s economy. The first thing to look at is how installing replacement windows, whether they are vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows, reduces our energy consumption. It’s a sad truth that Americans use nearly twice as much energy as the Japanese or Western Europeans — we’re using two times as much resources to enjoy the same standard of living.
Green building has a lot to do with the difference. The past decade or so has seen a tremendous amount of building across the nation. Much of this building was done quickly, with a focus on the bottom line and taking advantage of articially inflated housing prices. Homeowners who purchased these buildings soon discovered that not everything was at it seems. Building on the cheap can cost a lot in the long run.
Let’s look at windows, for example. Many builders used what are referred to as original construction windows. These are low-end, inferior quality windows. Many times, they lack basic functionality: they don’t open, for example, much less tilt in for easy cleaning.
Worse, they aren’t as energy efficient as replacement windows are. Modern vinyl replacement windows feature superior energy efficiency. With double or triple pane glass, insulating gas pockets, insulated frames, high quality construction and more, replacement windows can combat the energy loss endemic in original construction windows. Experts tell us that as much as 40% of a home’s energy can be lost through leaky windows and doors — that’s something the Europeans and Japanese would never tolerate in their homes.