The 2009 Chicago 7

"Old-fashioned" Wood Windows

Everybody wants to save money on their heating bills, and we’ve all been told that replacing those old wood windows is the best way to do that. But the fact is, traditional wood double-hung windows are more cost and energy efficient, more durable, easier to maintain and simply more attractive than most any replacement window on the market.

The multi-million dollar replacement window lobby has convinced the general public that it is in their interest to pay more for an inferior version of something they already own. This explains why residential and commercial buildings all across Chicagoland are sprouting new vinyl and aluminum replacement windows. And why thousands of wood windows are being relegated to landfills. This neither conforms to the “green” movement, nor does it present a money-smart solution in these challenging economic times.

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Press
• • • Listen to Jack Spicer, Vice President of Preservation Chicago on the Environment Report:

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Energy Efficient Diagram

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National Park Service
Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead-Paint
Hazards in Historic Housing
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National Park Service
The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
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NEWRA
Top Ten Reasons to Restore or Repair Wood Windows
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Lawrence Berkeley Labs, 2002
Measuring Winter Performance of Storm Windows
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National Trust for Historic Preservation
Window Tip Sheet
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