Windows to a New World

Texas summers are never pleasant but the last few have been nearly unbearable.  Last year we stayed over 100 degrees for a full month, and to say we were miserable is a major understatement.  Our electricity bills were just as high, if not higher, than friends' whose homes more than double the size of ours, but the thermostat was still reading 80 degrees or higher by mid day.  The house wouldn't cool down to the mid 70s until it was just about time to wake up and start all over again.  

When our a/c unit died we debated for several weeks about what to do.  We saved up enough money that we could replace the windows, but had been trying to save up for a second car.  We've been a single car family since 2008.  A small, used, commuter car would make life infinitely easier, but new windows would cut down significantly on our monthly bills and make life more liveable year round (during the winter we would occasionally get ice on the INSIDE of the windows).  Ultimately we concluded that new windows would improve life, use less resources, and the lower bills would help us to save more on a monthly basis. 

 

So long aluminum trimmed, single paned, temperature fluctuating ghetto windows, hello beautiful vinyl trimmed, argon gas filled energy efficient perfection!   The installation process was done quickly and efficiently.  The men installing them were friendly and very professional, and highly entertained by Justin's complete fascination with their power tools.  Norah was interested in the process, but more content to cuddle with me and read or watch a show.  Justin followed them from room to room, asking questions and shrieking with delight when another tool was utilized.

 

They cost a pretty penny, but have reduced our electricity bills by more than half, and made our house comfortable even in the midst of consecutive weeks of triple digit weather. 

The house looks younger and the best part is, for the first time we are getting to enjoy the temperature we are paying for, and we don't hear every single thing that's going on outside.

Our first nights in this house, so long ago, we were totally creeped out by this window over our bed.  It rattled softly or loudly with the intensity of every wind gust, which sounded an awful lot somebody breaking into the house, and was often the reason for fitful sleep.  The new window doesn't make a sound.

Behold, the hated western windows that allowed our house to heat up to furnace like temperatures.  The one on the left didn't even open, which kept us from enjoying gentle breezes in the milder parts of the year.  We were especially glad to see that removed.

The whole process took less than half a day and we are so glad we did it.