It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra, featuring James Stewart and Donna Reed (Liberty Films, 1946).
In disgust, George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart’s character in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, exclaims, "It's this old house. I don't know why we all don't have pneumonia. Drafty old barn! (kicks kitchen chair) Might as well be living in a refrigerator...” Old houses, such as the Baileys’, are often presumed to be “drafty” because of their old windows. Window technology has certainly evolved over the past one hundred years, so the assumption is that new windows are much more efficient than old windows.
Most of the time, this is an expensive myth.
Old wood windows are often not the main culprit of draftiness to begin with. The National Park Service explains:
““A common misconception is that replacing windows alone will result in major energy savings. This argument, often used to sell replacement windows, is simply not true. Although it varies from building to building, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has documented that air loss attributable to windows in most buildings is only about 10% of the total air loss. Studies have shown that window replacement does not pay for itself in energy savings in a reasonable length of time.”[1]”
Even when a new window claims to reduce air loss (i.e. draftiness) by 50%, that more efficient window is barely making a dent in the overall air loss of an old home. Sealing up gaps in the roof, wall, and chimney can increase a home's energy efficiency much greater than new windows and at a fraction of the cost, according to the “Old House Guy,” Ken Roginski.[2]
Unlike vinyl or aluminum-clad windows, wood windows visibly deteriorate over time. That deterioration, however, is usually repairable at a far lower cost and environmental impact than replacement windows. Historic wood windows were made from old, naturally grown wood that is far denser than one can find in a lumber yard today.[3] The tighter tree rings in old wood make it stronger, longer lasting, and more airtight. Oftentimes, though, a window’s poor performance is due to air infiltration around the edges of the glass. This is repairable with a wood window through a process called “reglazing.” Replacement is the only option with a vinyl or aluminum-clad window that is separating from the glass or was manufactured poorly. In most instances, replacing an old window unnecessarily adds to a landfill while also creating a greater carbon footprint from the manufacturing of a new window.
Adding a storm window frequently adds to the energy efficiency of an old home and, in many cases, EXCEEDS the energy efficiency of a replacement window. Surprisingly, air is a tremendous insulator which is why today nearly all windows are double-paned. Storm windows create a larger space between the storm and a historic single-pane window than typical double-paned windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, compared to installing new double-pane windows, “Installing interior or exterior energy-efficient storm windows…can produce similar savings but at 1/3 of the cost.”[4]
In the end, George Bailey loved his “drafty old barn.” Owning an old home, as Mr. Bailey attested to, is frustrating at times. Taking care of it the right way, such as closing gaps in the home, repairing old wood windows, and adding storm windows, can ease the challenges of an old home’s comfort and costs and grow the love between a home and its owners.
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[1] Jo Ellen Hensley and Antonio Aguilar, “Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings,” National Park Service, December 2011, https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-03-energy-efficiency.pdf.
[2] Ken Roginiski, “Window Performance: Old Windows vs. Window Replacements,” The Old House Guy, December 7, 2014, https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-replacements/.
[3] Walter Sedovic and Jill H. Gotthelf, “The Right Thing: Do You Replace or Restore Historic Windows?” Traditional Building Magazine, April 18, 2019, https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Trad-Bldg-Replace-or-Restore.pdf.
[4] “Storm Windows,” Energy Saver, Energy.gov, accessed March 20, 2024, https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/storm-windows.