movable window insulation for 14 large windows
Hi all,
I have a passive solar (not passiv haus)house in North Texas that works very well most of the time. It is efficient in the summer and also quite comfortable in the winter when its sunny or outside temps are above 40.
I don’t have an energy bill. I always make enough power from pv that I have a negative energy bill.
however, when temps dip below freezing and its not sunny, then it can be quite cold due to the almost 400 sq ft of regular double glazed glass(not lo-e).
This only happens maybe two weeks a year.
I’m wondering if there are any simple ways to insulate the windows . I have 14x 3’x8′ windows on the south side that I would like to have some removable insulation for. all the ideas I’ve seen can be quite elaborate or bulky- not a problem for one or two windows but a big problem for 14 large windows.
thanks
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Update:
Decided to go with honeycomb shades. Ordering from suppliers in the usa would have been cost prohibitive at about $200 per window but i was able to find an overseas supplier who sold them to me for $30 per window. So far they work great
Could you share the temperature differences you experience at a given temperature before and after the shades?
Josh i have to do more testing but in my living room id say the shades keep the room about 4 degrees warmer overnight. Before shades the temps would drop to 64 degrees, after shades about 68 degrees
Who was the foreign source?
Curious about your foreign source.
Seller on Alibaba
https://x.alibaba.com/x5OjZwZ?ck=minisite
I installed double honeycomb shades in my last house, unless they are somehow sealed to the frame, a river of cold air pours out from the bottom. Still better than clear glass, but so much worse than good windows
BTW thanks for the follow up, it is so common to see a good question without an answer
I put mine behind an interior plexiglass storm window just for this reason ...
@begreener Did you make or buy the interior storm windows?
Gusfhb, how close are your blinds to your windows?
I installed mine as close to the window as was possible so i don't have a lot of air movement behind them.
Also you may be in a colder climate. We rarely see overnight lows below freezing here in North Texas
I am sure the temperature difference is the key. It gets much colder here.
I've been using double honeycomb for decades. There's no question they help but they can only do so much with lousy windows and air infiltration. Spend your time chasing air leaks. That should be your first battle.
Nynick, my house is 1.5 ach. I have to open windows to keep co2 levels below 1000 ppm
Interior storms are wonderful to address this ...
https://indowwindows.com/energy-efficiency/
When I last checked, those Indo' s we're so expensive it would have been better ordering triple pane.