Energy Sense

Considerations Before Replacing Windows A re your home’s windows old, and when the weather is cold, can you feel a chill when you stand near them? Do you think it’s worth replacing them? Prepare yourself for a bit of sticker shock when you get your first bid for replacing windows. To help you decide if replacement is the right move, you’ll want to consider a few factors. 4

1. Increased Comfort: The chill you feel near your windows when it’s cold out is likely due to radiant heat loss. When you’re near a cold surface, such as a window, you can feel chilled even if the temperature inside your home is over 70 degrees. Your body is much warmer than the surface of the window, and heat radiates from warm to cold. The inside surface of an inefficient, single-pane window will be much colder on a winter night than that of a double- or triple-pane window. Window coverings are an approach to increasing the comfort level of your home. Curtains and blinds are very effective at reducing radiant heat loss in the winter and can even block some unwanted heat gain in the summer. Another aspect to comfort is the sun. If you enjoy the sun streaming through your windows on a cold clear day, take this into consideration as you ponder window replacement. Some windows are better at letting the sun’s heat into the home than others.

2. Appearance and Function: Since some windows are older, new wood- or vinyl-framed windows can act as an exterior facelift. But keep in mind, if you own an older home with classic wooden windows, vinyl replacements might look out of place. It’s possible to buy new windows that match the style of some older wooden windows, or you could decide to apply a little elbow grease to get them back into shape. Windows can provide ventilation, which sometimes improves comfort more cost-effectively than air conditioning. Windows need to be cleaned occasionally. If your existing windows don’t provide ventilation or they are hard to clean, replacing them could solve these problems.

3. Resale Value Windows are a major point of interest for most prospective homebuyers, which is why we often hear window

April 2020 • enchantment.coop Top to bottom: Vinyl windows are often the most affordable replacement, and come in a wide variety of styles. Photo Credit: Steve Anderson. Old wood windows may be worth sanding and repainting, and can sometimes be retrofitted with more efficient glass. Photo Credit: Mike Scoltock.

replacement is good for resale value. But a 2019 study by the National Association of Realtors found on average across the ., installing new vinyl windows costs about $22,000 per home but only increased resale value by $16,500. Only four percent of realtors said the new windows helped close the sale, so if resale value is your objective, the costs could likely outweigh the return on investment.

4. Energy Savings: Homeowners often believe the best way to reduce energy use is to replace their windows, but this is rarely true. Companies that sell new windows sometimes advertise greater energy savings than the new windows can actually deliver. The amount of energy you save really depends on the efficiency of your existing windows compared to the efficiency of the replacement windows. An energy auditor can estimate potential savings, but most audits show there are much more cost-effective efficiency investments than replacing windows.

Replacing old windows can provide a number of benefits, but it’s a costly endeavor. By considering these factors and how long you plan to live in the home, you’ll be able to make the right decision.

It’s not a Wheelchair...

It’s not a Power Chair...  e Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches. 10”

It’s a Zinger Chair!

More and more Americans are reaching the age where mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and freedom.

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a personal electric vehicle that’s truly unique. They created a battery that provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. The Zinger features two steering levers, one on either side of the seat. The user pushes both levers down to go forward, pulls them both up to brake, and pushes one while pulling the other to turn to either side. This enables great mobility, the ability to turn on a dime and to pull right up to tables or desks. The controls are right on the steering lever so it’s simple to operate, and its exclusive footrest swings out of the way when you stand up or sit down. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the Zinger is sturdy and durable yet convenient and comfortable! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat or trunk– you can even gate-check it at the airport like a stroller. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. It holds up to 275 pounds, and it goes up to 6 mph and operates for up to 8 miles on a single charge.

Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your independence and quality of life Zinger Chair ® Call now and receive a utility basket absolutely FREE with your order. 1-888-630-7868 Please mention code 112719 when ordering. Just think of the places you can go: • Shopping • Air Travel • Bus Tours • Restaurants– ride right up to the table! • Around town or just around your house