High Performance Windows & Doors – an ‘open and shut’ case

When it comes to window & door technology anyone comparing European designs with the usual sliders and double hung will likely call it an ‘open and shut’ case. Not only do Euro windows typically start at energy efficient three panes, they also deploy specialized materials and construction principles to minimize heat loss through the frame. Unlike a slider window the sash is grabbed by several latches on each side as you turn its handle, creating a perfect seal as it is firmly pressed into the frame gasket. They open to the inside, making them easy to clean, and they tilt and turn, allowing for egress and venting. Some homes at the Metro Denver Tour of Green and Sustainable Homes earlier this month featured this type of window. (The Tour is always on the 1st Saturday of October so keep it in mind for next year.)
Explaining how these designs are finally getting some traction, at least in architectural homes, is Todd Collins with Alpen High Performance Windows which designs and manufactures European style windows near Boulder.

Organized by the Jeffco chapter of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society, recorded on Oct 26, 2023. Contact: [email protected], cres-energy.org/. Video production by Martin Voelker.

ABOUT CRES – cres-energy.org
The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) is dedicated to the advancement of all forms of renewable energy (RE), energy efficiency (EE), and their synergy with sustainability and economic development. Learn more at cres-energy.org.

CRES features several local monthly speaker series throughout the state, provides speakers, experts, and workshops, and weighs in on state energy policy.