WINDOW REPAIR & RETROFIT: STUDIES & RESEARCH

The Value of Original Window Repair and Retrofit: Studies and Research

The issue of the retention of original windows in preservation, and lately, in sustainability, is of such importancethat it merits its own web page. It is commonly asked where the arguments are to defend original windows, and how to respond to calls forwindow replacement. The perception of preservationists is that there is a large replacement window industry advertising the attractiveness, the no maintenance, and the energy efficiency of a new window, but no one to promote the attractiveness and energy efficiency of a properly maintained original window. Occasional maintenance is required of a historic window; they were built to be reasonably maintained by the owner of the building. New windows are no maintenance because when they break, they have to be replaced. Maintenance is not possible for a modern window.

Lately, new pressure to replace windows is felt from the green products and third party energy certification industries, which emphasize the energy efficiency of new windows and encourage their installation. To their credit, third party certifiers are beginning to acknowledge that repaired windows have equal value to replacement windows in their point rating systems, or are measuring the efficiency of the building envelope as a whole.

Many studies demonstrate the viability of repairing original windows. Some of them are collected here. All of the studies conclude that original window repair and other conservation strategies provide similar energy benefits of a replacement window, with less impact to the environment as an existing resource.

The national Window Preservation Standards book catalogs specific methods for the assessment, maintenance, repair, preservation and weatherization of older and historic wooden windows. Many detailed methods, procedures and materials are included, as well as basic strategies for saving older and historic windows.

Topics include the Window Preservation Standards Collaborative, guiding principles for window preservation work, window part names and definitions, organizing and planning window preservation projects, and how to use the Standards.

Methods include surveying and assessing conditions, glazing, painting, wood repairs, weatherization updates, storm windows and maintenance with many more. Each treatment standard has a brief description of a specific method with appropriate use, a step-by-step procedure that shows what is done and materials are listed. A special section describes how to judge the character of the completed work with easy observations and simple tests to assure the best quality work.

The results of energy performance testing done at the 2011 National Window Preservation Summit are included. It confirms what is already known: Save the primary sash and frame, add weatherstripping and a storm to make the window meet or exceed current performance standards for air infiltration. All the details are in the book, including which energy upgrade methods worked best.

The Window Preservation Standards book is a non-profit project done in partnership with the Preservation Trades Network, Kentucky Heritage Council and Kentucky Preservation. Ordering information can be found here.

A report just produced by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Green Lab provides cost guidance for homeowners weighing the financial and energy tradeoffs between replacing or repairing older, less efficient windows. This report, "Saving Windows, Saving Money: Evaluating the Energy Performance of Window Retrofit and Replacement", builds on previous research by examining multiple window improvement options, comparing them to replacement windows across multiple climate regions.

Saving Windows, Saving Moneys key findings offer homeowners, contractors, architects and others with compelling evidence of the merits of retrofitting windows as opposed to outright replacement.

Key findings include:

Retrofit measures can achieve performance results comparable to new replacement windows. This study shows that there are readily available retrofit measures that can achieve energy savings close to new, high performance replacement windows when the performance for each upgrade option is taken into account.

Almost every retrofit option Offers a better Return on Investment (ROI) than replacement windows. Findings from the cost analysis showed that new, high performance windows are by far the most expensive measure, costing at least double that of common retrofit options when considering materials, installation and general construction commonly required for an existing home. In all climate zones analyzed, cellular shades, interior storm panels and various exterior storm window configurations offer a higher average return on investment compared to new, efficient replacement windows.

The Bottom Line. Retrofitting windows with high performance enhancements can result in substantial energy savings across a variety of climate zones. Selecting options that retain and retrofit existing windows are the most cost effective way to achieve these energy savings and to lower a homes carbon footprint. Retrofits extend the life of existing windows, avoid production of new materials, reduce waste and preserve a homes character.

WINDOW PRESERVATION STANDARDS COLLABORATIVE

In the Fall of 2010, the top preservation trades people in North America and Europe met for the International Preservation Trades Workshop in Frankfort, Kentucky. Among the gathered were some of the top window restoration experts in the country. Five of these window experts, Duffy Hoffman, John Leeke, Jim Turner, David Gibney and Bob Yapp met and decided it was time to create national standards for the repair and weatherization of old and historic windows.

Using cutting-edge window testing technology, theCollaborative's testsare verifying "what most people in historic preservation have known for years, old and historic windows can cost effectively be made as or more energy efficient than new, disposable replacement windows."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Weatherization Guide for Older and Historic Buildings includes guidance on why and how to care for older and historic windows:

"Window Repair, Rehabilitation and Replacement" , Peter Baker, P.E.

This report was prepared for Building America, Building Technologies Program, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy to evaluate advanced retrofit measures. A balanced approach is presented to guide contractors and homeowners to decide whether to repair or replace considering many factors, one of which is historic preservation. November 2011

"A Comparative Study of the Cumulative Energy Use of Historical Versus Contemporary Windows" By Frank Shirley, AIA, Fred Gamble, PhD, Jarod Galvin, RA, LEED AP

This study compares the life-cycle costs of two residential window systems in a pre-1940 house in Boston, Massachusetts. One is an original double-hung window with a new triple-track storm unit. The other is a new, vinyl, double-hung replacement window. Results are obtained from an algorithm that yields the total present value of all costs associated with a window system over its entire life, including acquisition, installation, maintenance, and energy. December 2010

"Field Evaluation of Low-E Storm Windows" By S. Craig Drumheller- NAHB Research Center, Christian Kohler- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stefanie Minen-Utilivate Technologies

A field evaluation comparing the performance of low emittance (low-e) storm windows with both standard clear storm windows and no storm windows was performed in a cold climate. Six homes with single pane windows were monitored over the period of one heating season. The homes were monitored with no storm windows and with new storm windows. Simple paybacks for the addition of the storm windows were 10 years for the clear glass and 4.5 years for the low-e storm windows. December 2007

"The Effects of Energy Efficiency Treatments on Historic Windows" by Larry Kinney and Amy Ellsworth January 2011

This study focused on empirical testing of the energy efficiency and economy of a range of options for upgrading the energy performance of historic windows. The study involved retrofitting windows in a test home in a historic district in Boulder, Colorado. It included testing in a window laboratory facility developed for the study.

"Thermal Performance of Traditional Windows" by Dr. Paul Baker for Historic Scotland Revised September 2010

Technical Paper 1 tested the use of curtains, shutters, blinds, and secondary glazing. All were shown to reduce the heat loss through the glazing to varying degrees. Secondary glazing was found to be the most effective overall option, as it reduced heat loss through the window by 63%. Timber shutters are the most effective option of the traditional methods, reducing heat loss by 51%; curtains reduced heat loss by 14%; a Victorian roller blind reduced heat loss by 28%; a modern roller blind reduced heat loss by 22%. The greatest reductions in heat loss came from combining these measures (i.e. blinds, shutters and curtains all closed) and by adding extra insulation to these options.

"Slim-profile double-glazing in listed buildings: Re-measuring the thermal performance" by Nicholas Heath & Paul Baker, Historic Scotland 2013

Technical Paper 20 remeasures the efficiency of previously installed slim-profile double glazing in existing historic windows.

"Thermal Assessment of internal Shutters and Window Film Applied to Traditional Single Glazed Sash and Case Windows" by John Currie, Julio Bros Williamson, Jon Stinson & Marie Jonnard, Historic Scotland

Technical Report 23 assesses the effectiveness of two inexpensive and minimally invasive methods for improving the thermal performance of single glazed windows. This technical paper demonstrates that a range of options, including minimally invasive and inexpensive methods, can play a worthwhile role in the overall thermal improvement of buildings.

"Thermal Performance of Historic Windows" by Chris Wood, http://www.buildingconservation.com (England)

"An Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Repaired and Replacement Windows", PDF, Robert Score and Bradford Carpenter, APT Bulletin 40:2, 2009

Window Energy Analysis, Keith Haberern, P.E.

Replacement Windows and Furnaces in the Heartland: Indianas Energy Conservation Financial Assistance Program by William H. Hill. This is the 1990 study that demonstrates a four hundred year payback using replacement windows.

Measured Winter Performance of Storm Windows by J. H. Klems. This Berkeley storm window research focuses on north-facing storm windows using low e glazing. It uses rigorous scientific analysis to conclude that no difference is found in performance between the low-e storm with an original window and a low-e replacement window.

Building Regulations and Historic Buildings: balancing the needs for energy conservation with those of building conservation The English Heritage Interim Guidance article touches on all parts of preservation and conservation of power and fuel, and the chapter on windows is very relevant.

Repair or Replace Windows in Historic Buildings: Arriving at a Sustainable Solution The Heritage Canada file contains two articles, one from Andrew Powter and Craig Sims discussing how to arrive at a decision to replace or repair original windows, and Susan Turner explains the sustainable nature of window repair rather than replacement.

Life Cycle Of Window Materials - A Comparative Assessment by Asif, Davidson and Muneer. A comparative life cycle assessment of the environmental impact of different window materials is included for its interesting materials energy cost analysis.

What Replacement Windows Cant Replace: The Real Cost of Replacing Historic Windows Walter Sedovic and Jill Gotthelf provide an excellent discussion of the comparative value of window replacement versus repair. Many aspects of sustainability are considered.

Testing the energy performance of wood windows in Cold Climates by Brad James, Andrew Shapiro, Steve Flanders and Dr. David Hemenway is a thoroughly researched paper that concludes that historic windows should not be replaced for energy considerations alone, as retrofitted and replacement windows perform similarly.

Lincoln Hall Windows Research Report: A Case Study of Options for Treatment for Windows at Lincoln Hall, University Of Illinois, Urbana Champaign This report provides empirical data to assess window repair or replacement options for a proposed LEED Gold project, addressing the existing windows in terms of energy consumption.

"What Shall We Do With Our Windows?" by Gordon Bock, Traditional Building Magazine, October 2014

"Storm Windows Save Energy" Home Energy Magazine, 1/28/14 "Old Windows Find a Following" by Katie Zezima. New York Times 7/27/2011.

Windows Aren't Always A Clear Path for Savings: In Quest to Boost Energy-Efficiency, Small Changes Might Have Bigger Payoff by Terri Rupar.Washington Post5/16/2009.

Thinking Of New Windows? Save Your EnergyNational Public Radio (NPR) 10/11/2009.

"What Should I Do About My Windows?" by Bill Mattinson, Ross DePaola, and Dariush Arasteh for Home Energy Magazine. August 2002

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WINDOW REPAIR & RETROFIT: STUDIES & RESEARCH