Window Efficiency

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

By low-rent I meant to imply low-cost or home-brewed.

Indeed. Some sort of backyard-engineering at its finest.

[Frank]

You can use the window kits (heat shrink plastic stuff) to make double-sided interior inserts. There's instructions on the interwebs but basically I ripped some pre-primed 1X4 pine in half and made a frame that's about 1" smaller in both dimensions. You use double-sided tape to hold the plastic (on both sides of the frame), shrink it, put a layer of clear packing tape around the perimeter (to help hold the plastic) then finish off with a layer of appropriate sticky-back foam all around. If you get the dimensions right, it just pushes into place with a smooth "swoosh" sound. You put pieces of tape doubled over on itself at the bottom (sticking out under the foam) to remove it for summer months or whatever.

You get two extra air spaces and a reusable insert for a reasonable price. These are especially effective in older, leaky windows. You can buy materials in bulk online to save on costs.

[freebeard]

I use double-wall greenhouse glazing I bought as scraps. The flutes run horizontally and act like a shiny venetian blind, reflecting light back up to the ceiling.