DomPost’s GreenZone - insulate those windows or get in an architect
Good to see the DomPost creating more greenspace in its weekend edition. This week had a list of how to ‘insulate your windows’. One option was fitting better curtains. Fair enough, most of us could manage that. But the other four required significant architectural rearrangements or at least major renovations:
- if you have aluminium windows that aren’t ‘thermally separated’ then pull them out and put in timber or ‘thermally separated’ metal ones
- use double glazing
- turn your house around so that fewer windows don’t face the sun
- replace any windows that are shaded by the eaves.
Sorry, but I think that is just asking a bit much of most of us. Especially when it is cold right now! What I had hoped for was some hints on
- cheap but effective temporary DIY double-glazing
- making sure that poorly-fitting windows are sealed with some type of insulating tape or foam.
A quick scan doesn’t show many options in NZ for low-cost temporary double-glazing. My own idea has been to get some thin - say 2mm - perspex or PVC sheets. Glue some magnet strips to it, and to the windows that most need a second layer in our 1920s house. That way I should be able to easily click them in, with a very good seal, and pop them off when we need to give the room a real airing, or when its sunny and we want the heat to come through.
Will let you know how I get on with that idea or if I come up with something better.