2011 - The Year of the Window
"Eyes are the windows to the soul..." -Traditional proverb
"Windows are the soul of the house..." -Preservationist axiom
Year of the Window
Preservation Awards:
- Carson Block - Commercial Preservation
Don Moeller - Preservationist of the Year
Senior Center - Adaptive Re-Use
Ann & Robert White - Residential
Ron & Melanie Kuhnel - Community Service
Hickman Residence - Residential
“Worth Looking Into”
A free, Year of the Window, special forum, was presented by the Eureka Heritage Society from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Eureka Woman’s Club, 1531 J St.(Photos of the event are here)
The event explored which options are best for old houses: maintaining original windows, putting in modern replacements, or other alternatives.
Financial and environmental issues were debated by entrepreneurs and experts on both sides of this issue.
(Photos of the event are here)
The Heritage Society’s Year of the Window is an educational campaign to encourage owners of historical structures to repair and maintain their original windows. More information can be found at the website for
the National Trust for Historic Preservation:
weatherization/windows
A Message From Our President
Chuck Petty
The Eureka Heritage Society has dedicated 2011 to saving historic windows. Fixing old windows can actually be cheaper and more energy efficient than replacement in the long run, and greener too!Are new windows truly "green"?
Replacing historic windows wastes the energy required to extract the raw materials, transport them, make them into a new product, ship the product, and install.
When we keep our existing windows, we avoid all the negative environmental impacts associated with the manufacture of new windows.
For example, the manufacturing of some windows produces toxic by-products. And the new wood that manufacturers use today can't begin to match the quality of old-growth wood in older windows. Also, new windows only have a life span of 10 to 20 years, while old windows made with quality materials can last 120 years or more.
With the use of weather stripping and storm windows, historic windows can be just as energy efficient as most new windows.
2011 - The Year of the Window
- Kathy Dillon
The Eureka Heritage Society declared 2011 as The Year of the Window at its annual meeting on Jan. 29. Through a year-long educational campaign, we intend to get the word out that our exquisite historical windows, when properly maintained, can be the “green” and financially sensible way to go.
The Year of the Window is our response to a current crisis in historic preservation that has swept the nation. Beautiful, old windows, with the potential to work well for many more decades, are rapidly being replaced with modern windows whose lifespan ranges from 10 to 20 years. In response, we will spend this year putting the spotlight on historical structures whose original windows have been restored as well as the local experts who do the work. We will also share research on the subject provided by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Here are just a few crystal clear facts:
• Eureka’s historical windows – 50 years or older – are made with enduring old-growth redwood. With proper care — caulking, weather stripping, storm windows, and insulated shades, blinds or curtains – they will last for many more decades. According to preservation economist Donovan Rypkema, “properly repaired historic windows have an R factor nearly indistinguishable from new, so-called ‘weatherized’ windows.” (Preservation Magazine, Jan.-Feb. 2008)
• Old windows are the truly “green” alternative. Replacement windows that contain vinyl or PVC are toxic to produce and create toxic byproducts. And what about the sum total of energy the entire process requires? From extracting the raw materials and production to transportation and installation, it adds up to a heavy environmental bill.
• Vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass and composite windows are often touted as maintenance-free, yet this is simply because they cannot be repaired. When any part of the window fails, the whole unit must be replaced – more fodder for landfills. With older windows, their numerous, interlocking parts can either be repaired or replaced individually.
• The National Trust estimates that modern replacement windows save about $50 a month on heating and/or cooling bills. However, these savings only come after spending, on average, $10,000-$12,000 to install them in a typical house. If a house is heated or cooled for six months out of the year, the savings is $300 annually. At that rate it would take 40 years to recoup in energy savings the amount of money spent on the new windows. Again according to Rypkema, adding just 3½ inches of insulation to your attic can save more energy than replacing your windows and will likely cost less.
We encourage all EHS members to learn more by logging onto the National Trust’s Web site:
Weatherization - Windows
For many reasons, it’s worth looking into.