Facts available on saving heat at windows

If anyone doubts the concern of US householders in cutting the annual heating bill, the response to a recent story on energy-saving window treatments should settle the issue fast.

In respons to a Feb. 18 story on this page, Regina Rector, an extension associate with the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, New York State College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, reports: "I've received over 100 request from nearly every state, including Alaska. This just verifies the fact that people everywhere are concerned about window heat loss, and also that you have many leaders."

We're pleased with both of Ms. Rector's conclusions.

"This offers an excellent opportunity to interest more people in the many areas of cooperative extension," she adds.

The second puts out a set of pamphlets as part of its energy-aving window treatment program. It is available for $1 by writing to: Printing Production Group B-10 MVW Hall Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y. 14853

The Cornell-based extension group also provides Informaiton Bulletin No. 172, by Gwendolyn Cukierski, entitled "Insulating Windows." The bulletin goes into detail on heat transfer and the method of figuring the payback; in other words, how long it will take the homeowner to get back the cost of the window coverings and thus start saving money.

It does not, however, give instructions for making the window treatments.

The cost for the bulletin is $2 and can be ordered from: Distribution Center C 7 Research Park Cornell University Ithica, N.Y. 14853

Windows are a major source of heat loss in a house. A single-pane window loses 20 times as much heat as the same area in an adjacent well-insulated wall, while a double-glazed wall loses 10 times as much. It it any wonder that more builders are double- and even triple-glazing windows in the colder parts of the country in a continuing effort to reduce fuel bills?

The idea is to keep any cold air between the inside of the glass and the window covering, thus preventing it from escaping into the room.

"To be effective," says the cooperative extension program at Cornell, "all window treatments must trap and hold air between the treatment and the window. To accomplish this the treatment must be tightlym fitted at all edges, about one inch from the glass."

With summer on the way, now is an ideal chance to improve the energy-saving capability of the windows in the house.

It will mo re than likely be money in the bank.