Storm windows, insulating shades, sash replacements, awnings - The good news is that we have so many ways to improve the performance of our windows. The bad news is...there are so many ways to improve the performance of our windows! How in the world can we objectively compare them on price, thermal performance, ease of installation, ease of use, solar control, privacy, and durability? Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories and BuildingGreen are working on simple and easy-to-use resources for selecting window retrofit options. With input on climate, existing window attributes, and performance priorities, anyone can cut through the difficulties of deciding how to improve the overall performance of existing windows. Using resources from www.windowattachments.org, webinar participants will work through window attachment selection scenarios with the instructor and learn how to use these resources with their clients and on their own projects.

1. Examining Window
Retrofit Options
Peter Yost
BuildingGreen
March 2, 2012
What Should I Do About My Windows?

2. Thank you!
The Energy Center of Wisconsin is a Registered Provider with The
American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit
earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records
for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members
available on request.
This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing
professional education. As such, it does not include content that
may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by
the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will
be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

3. Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and
International Copyright laws. Reproduction,
distribution, display and use of the presentation
without written permission of the speaker is
prohibited.
© BuildingGreen, LLC 2012

4. Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
 Understand the full range of window retrofit options.
 Understand the full range of attributes the options can address.
 Rationally compare options and attributes of window retrofit
strategies.
 Select the most appropriate window retrofit options based on the full
range of options and attributes.

7. What to do about my
windows?
Options Attributes

8. Options
Interior
 Blinds
 Drapes
 Roller shades
 Fixed panel
 Quilt
 Cellular shades
 Films
Replace
 Full unit
 Insert
 Sash
replacement
 Repair/
”upgrade”
 Storms
 Shutters
 Awnings
 Roller shades
 Screens
 Landscaping
Exterior

9. Attributes
Thermal
 Insulation
 Air tightness
 Solar heat gain
 Comfort
 Condensation
resistance
Use
 Ease of
operation
 Adjustability
 Ease of
cleaning/repair
 Maintenance/
durability
 Visual
transmittance
 View
 Daylighting
 Glare
 Privacy
 aesthetics
Visual

10. Attributes (cont’d)
Economics
 Materials/equipment costs
 Installation costs
 Heating/cooling savings
 Service life (attachment)
 Service life (window)
Other
 Ease of install
 Availability
 Acoustics (noise reduction)
 Role in ventilation
 Security

11. NFRC - Attachments
 Applied Films (label)
 Awnings
 Exterior Attachments
 Interior Attachments
 Storms (next?)

12. The LBNL Project
 Advisory Committee – mix of private industry
representatives, expert consultants, LBNL research
staff
 Literature Review – “gray” and “white” information
resources
 Field Testing – Comparative IR imaging under
standard conditions & supported by additional
metrics
 Guidance Tools – DOE fact sheets and web-based
tool (decision process, including modeling/
calculators)

13. Advisory Committee
 John Gant – Glen Raven
(awnings)
 Mike Cienian – Hunter
Douglas (cellular shades)
 Steve DeBusk – CP Films
(surface-applied films)
 Andrew Caldwell (Phifer)
 Tom Culp (storms)
 John Carmody & Kerry
Haglund (CSBR)
 Nils Petermann (ASE)
 LBNL
Steve Selkowitz
Charlie Curcija
Dariush Arasteh
Christian Kohler
Robert Hart
Howdy Goudey

14. LBNL Literature Review
 Early stages – laboratory testing, field testing, modeling—it’s
pretty early in the game all around (beta WINDOW7)
 Research mosaic – different countries, test methods, base
cases, options – it’s a jungle out there.
 Results alignment – surprisingly good - e.g. Energy Plus and
ESP-r
 Terminology & classification – it’s a jungle out there (two
jungles – science community and general public)
 Quality of manufacturer-posted info – it’s a jungle out there
 Window/attachment interactions – good and bad?

15. Field Testing
 Obtain visually-compelling, comparative, thermal-
performance portrayals of residential windows with
and without the benefit of window retrofits.
 Achieve this with the combination of thermocouple
and heat flux sensors, IR and digital camera
images.
 Develop above into a protocol or standardized test
(for both wintertime and summertime conditions).

16. Field Test Site

17. Field Test Site

18. Field Test Window
(winter)

19. Test Team

20. Test Setup
(winter)
Equipment credit: Nathan Yost

21. What the Window “Sees”

22. What the Window “Sees”

23. Double-pane low-e,
no attachment, -20 Pa

24. Interior Storm Panel –
single-pane

25. Insulated cellular shade (ST),
double-pane low-e

26. Window quilt,
low-e double pane

27. Single-pane, no attachment

28. interior low-e storm over
“vintage” single-pane
wood frame double hung
Interior low-e storm over
“base case” double low-
e Ar sash inserts
“base case” dual
glazed low-e Ar double
hung sash inserts
storm double IGU double
storm triple

29. Room facing low-e film on
single wood framed double
hung with exterior clear storm
and ΔP
Interior low-e storm over
“base case” double low-
e Ar sash inserts
Honeycomb shade with side
tracks over “base case” double
low-e Ar double hung sash inserts
storm double IGU double + insulating shade
storm triple
room side low-e

30. Interior Low-e Storm Over “Vintage” Single-pane Wood Framed Double Hung
With Varied Pressure Difference
No ΔP 10 Pa ΔP 16 Pa ΔP

31. Interior screen (Inflector)
radiant side in (winter)

32. Test Setup
(summer south - inside)

33. Test Setup
(summer - inside)

34. Test Setup
(summer south - outside)

35. Interior solar screens -
south

36. Exterior solar screens -
south

37. Inflector
100+F room surface
IR0056 8/12 11:12
Tin: 71.7F
Tout: 81.1F
Tfacade: 82.0F
TC2: 94.1F (glass)
Solar pyro ratio: 0.14
Photometric ratio: 0.15
South RH
Single Clear Control
Tin: 71.3F
Tout: 75.2F
Tfacade: 85.5F
TC1: 82.5F
Solar pyro ratio: 0.83
Photometric ratio: 0.86
South Mid.
Phifer Perf+
90+F room surface
IR0057 8/12 11:36
Tin: 71.8F
Tout: 85.8F
Tfacade: 92.5F
TC2: 91.1F (glass)
Solar pyro ratio: 0.02
Photometric ratio: 0.03
South LH
Suntex 90
80+F room surface
IR0061 8/12 12:32
Tin: 71.2F
Tout: 85.4F
Tfacade: 91.7F
TC2: 83.3F (glass)
Solar pyro ratio: 0.01
Photometric ratio: 0.00
South RH – Suntex 90
Single Clear Control
Tin: 71.7F
Tout: 84.1F
Tfacade: 94.6F
TC1: 82.4F
Solar pyro ratio: 0.80
Photometric ratio: 0.84
South Mid.
Suntex 80
80+F room surface
IR0060 8/12 12:21
Tin: 71.6F
Tout: 83.4F
Tfacade: 92.4F
TC2: 81.2F (glass)
Solar pyro ratio: 0.10
Photometric ratio: 0.09
South LH

38. IR2348 8/4 13:33:14
Tin: 25.2C
Tout: 34.0C
Solar pyro ratio: 0.19
Photometric ratio: 0.13
South RH
High solar gain exterior
storm
IR2347 8/4 13:20:00
Tin: 25.4C
Tout: 31.5C
Solar pyro ratio: 0.62
Photometric ratio: 0.66
South Center
Single clear control
IR2346 8/4 13:19:17
Tin: 25.7C
Tout: 32.2C
Solar pyro ratio: 0.11
Photometric ratio: 0.08
South LH
Low Solar Gain exterior
storm

39. IR2387 - 8/6 11:03:42 Tout=28.9C Tin=25.2C, ~250W/m^2

40. Test Setup
(summer west - outside)

41. Test Setup
(summer west - inside)

42. IR2373 8/5 3:23:25
Tin: 26.5C
Tout: 34.1C
Twest: 35.9C
TC1: 33.7C (32.4C IRcam)
Tedge: 42.8C
Solar pyro ratio: 0.86
Photometric ratio: 0.93
West LH – awning retracted (control)
Can make out shadow of retracted awing valence
on top glass
Reflection of person at right edge of glass
Horizontal bands are shadow of storm frame
center divide (lower) and window meeting rail
(upper). Storm panels were removed.
Warm spot below TC tape is left over from
previous presence of light sensors next to glass.
IR2372 8/5 3:21:50
Tin: 26.5C
Tout: 34.0C
Twest: 36.3C
TC2: 30.1C (29.8C IRcam)
Tedge: 28.3C
Solar pyro ratio: 0.22
Photometric ratio: 0.16
West RH – awning arm near 90 degrees
(full shading)
IR2378 8/5 4:08:39
Tin: 26.7C
Tout: 31.6C
Twest: 38.2C
TC2: 49.8 (glass under shade)
Tedge: 55C (on frame under shade)
Solar pyro ratio: 0 blackout but no
meas.
Photometric ratio: 0 blackout but no
meas.
West RH – insulated cellular with side
tracks
Can make out shadow of retracted awing valence
on top sash

43. Unshaded control
(single clear)
Retracted valence covers
most of uppoer sash
Interior glass/
frame window
surface
temperatures just
after being covered
with side track ICS
Retracted valence covers
most of uppoer sash
Insulated cellular
shade with side
tracks
Retracted valence covers
most of upper sash

44. Interactions we don’t want: low-e storms
(WINDOW6, NFRC summer conditions)
Base cases – double
pane units, no storm
 clear; no storm: 93 F
 Hard coat low-e (#3): 99 F
 Spectrally selective low-e,
high VT (LoE3-366 on #2):
106 F
 Spectrally selective low-e,
lower VT (LoE2-240 on
#2): 117 F
 Gray tint: 109 F
ext low-e storm over
double pane unit
 clear; no storm: 101 F
 Hard coat low-e (#3): 111 F
 Spectrally selective low-e, high
VT (LoE3-366): 156 F
 Spectrally selective low-e,
lower VT (LoE2-240): 185 F
 Gray tint: 141 F

45. Interactions we don’t want
(WINDOW6, NFRC summer conditions)
int low-e storm over
double pane unit
 clear; no storm: 106 F
 Hard coat low-e (#3): 133 F
 Spectrally selective low-e,
high VT (LoE3-366 on #2):
108 F
 Spectrally selective low-e,
lower VT (LoE2-240 on #2):
120 F
 Gray tint: 115 F
Conclusions
 Exterior low-e storms likely
to be a problem with:
 IGU + spectrally-selective
low-e
 IGU + dark tint
 IGU + Low-e surface 3
 Interior low-e storms likely
to be a problem with:
 IGU + Low-e surface 3

46. East –
low-e IGU w/ low-e storm

47. West -
low-e IGU w/ low-e storm

48. Resources
 Website (downloadable fact sheets, then web tool) –
www.windowattachments.org
 EBN feature article (June, 2011)
 Blogs

52. The R-value of a Vermont Cat

53. BuildingGreen, Inc.
• Founded in 1985
• Based in
Brattleboro,
Vermont
• 20 employees
• Supported by
subscriptions, book
sales, online
memberships
• Does not carry
advertising
BuildingGreen offices in old Estey Organ Factory, Brattleboro
www.windowattachments.org

54. This concludes The American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education Systems Program
Peter Yost
peter@buildinggreen.com
Thank You