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Re: GBlist: environmental windows
Sacie: Anderson is a very progressive company in the US, Willmar in Canada.
The most progressive technology, the most superior windows and the best
education/promotional literature are all from Willmar.They are also very
cost-effective in our experience over many years. We have used Pella but
do not want a Cadillac when a Honda (mine has 444,4000 Km. with no major
repair) is superior. Marvin is good and less expensive than Anderson.
Anderson windows are often very difficult to justify re: cost, but the
quality is there.
DECIDE ON WINDOW SIZES, LIST THEM DOWN, FAX THEM TO 3-5 LOCAL SUPPLIERS AND ASK
FOR PRICE QUOTE. Then set appointments with the 3 best quotes that balance
price and performance.Then work things out with your cooperative salesperson.
My main criteria for windows include (in no particular order):
1) local availability/manufacture,
2) renewable not petroleum-based materials,
3) least embodied energy content/pollution before, during and after manufacture
4) low maintainance,
5) comfort (u or R-value, low E surfaces, type of gas),
6) enlightened/educational company literature
7) progressive environmental action by the company,
8) replacement costs (esp. being a cottage),
9) warantee,
10) service record (do they promptly replace windows under warantee,
11) shading coeficient (daylight)
12) solar heat gain coefficient (passive solar input)
13) white sash
14) UV protection
15) weight (for upper windows, no large triple windows)
16) attitude of salespeople (cooperative vs armtwisting)
17) energy rating
18) etc.
Windows for different rooms have different purposes. Use air between the
panes in the airlock. For a primary residence I would investigate R-5.2-6.3
for the south windows (1 low E + krypton), higher insulation value for the
bathroom (comfort-naked people, moisture-condensation). Don't forget about 60%
of total window heat loss is radiant, so make sure you address this issue.That
is all the free consulting for today.I hope this helps.
_________________________________________________________
Jorg Ostrowski, M. Arch. A.S. (MIT), B. Arch. (Toronto), Ecotect
- in full-time professional practice since 1976 (Straw Bale since 1978),
environmental/architectural design, ecological planning, consulting
on sustainable buildings/communities. Lectures, seminars, workshops.
3 demonstration projects in Canada, +80,000 visitors
- living a conserver lifestyle & working in a sustainable home and office
ACE, ARE, ACT, ASH-Incs., Phone: (403) 239-1882, Fax: (403) 547-2671
Web Site [under construction]: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~jdo/ecotecture.htm
e-mail: <jdo@acs.ucalgary.ca>
______________________________________________________
On Mon, 22 Sep 1997, David F. Lambertson wrote:
>
> Jorg,
> Who do you think makes the best windows, from the double perspective
> of energy efficiency and getting your moneys worth? We are working on plans
> for a small 24'x30' cabin built on a shallow insulated slab with SIPs for
> walls and roof. The small second floor space is under the roof. I am
> wrestling with the windows and making a decision about the more expensive
> Anderson/Pella/Marvin brands versus less expensive Caradco which offer clad
> frames, low e glass and argon-filled space. The cabin will be heated quite
> efficiently with wood from our land and will be used only intermittently
> until we build our 'real' house which will be a super energy efficient
> passive solar structure. I want to install a large ratio of windows on the
> west side of the cabin where the forest view is spectacular but feel a bit
> dumb about doing it since I am also putting up tight SIPs. I read with
> interest all the window discussions including the information about much
> better European windows are than are ours or yours (I think).
> I would be grateful for opinions from you and from others on this
> list as well.
> thanks, Sacie Lambertson
>
>
>
>
>
> >Robyn: In our applied research on environmental windows we chose wood windows.
> >>From an indoor air quality perspective, we investigated the numerous
> treatments
> >that such a window undergoes. Using our criteria,one of the most progressive
> >manufacturer is Willmar Windows out of Winnipeg Manitoba in Canada.If
> interested,
> >please let me know and I can get you contact information.
> >_________________________________________________________
> >Jorg Ostrowski, M. Arch. A.S. (MIT), B. Arch. (Toronto), Ecotect
> >- in full-time professional practice since 1976 (Straw Bale since 1978),
> > environmental/architectural design, ecological planning, consulting
> > on sustainable buildings/communities. Lectures, seminars, workshops.
> > 3 demonstration projects in Canada, +80,000 visitors
> > - living a conserver lifestyle & working in a sustainable home and office
> >ACE, ARE, ACT, ASH-Incs., Phone: (403) 239-1882, Fax: (403) 547-2671
> >Web Site [under construction]: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~jdo/ecotecture.htm
> >e-mail: <jdo@acs.ucalgary.ca>
> >______________________________________________________
> >On Mon, 22 Sep 1997
> >healthyp@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> >>
> >> I just received a phone call from a hospital asking if I knew of any
> companies
> >> that made environmentally safe window treatments. I would really appreciate
> >> any information, so that the hospital can finish remodeling in an
> >> environmentally safe manner. Thanks in advance.
> >>
> >> --Robyn Heller
> >> EcoSmart Healthy Properties, LLC
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________________
> >> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by CREST <www.crest.org>
> >> Environmental Building News <www.ebuild.com> and Oikos <www.oikos.com>
> >> For instructions send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
> >> ______________________________________________________________________
> >>
> >
> >______________________________________________________________________
> >This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by CREST <www.crest.org>
> >Environmental Building News <www.ebuild.com> and Oikos <www.oikos.com>
> >For instructions send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
> >______________________________________________________________________
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by CREST <www.crest.org>
> Environmental Building News <www.ebuild.com> and Oikos <www.oikos.com>
> For instructions send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by CREST <www.crest.org>
Environmental Building News <www.ebuild.com> and Oikos <www.oikos.com>
For instructions send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
______________________________________________________________________
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