The Tribune

By JOSHUA KEY

SUPERGREEN SOLUTIONS

How would you like to save 10 per cent on your BEC bill? Does 20 per cent sound even better? For homes and businesses using air conditioning without properly sealed windows, as much as 10-20 per cent of your power bill results from cool air seeping straight out the windows. You can think of it like putting money into a bag with holes – it comes right out.

With summer upon us, and air conditioning use higher than at any other part of the year, it is time to take a good, hard look at our windows and see how much money they are costing us. Do the panes close properly? Are all the seals tight? Is the window more than a single pane of glass thick? If you answered ‘No’ to any of these questions and you use air conditioning, it is time to do something about the money seeping out the windows.

Fortunately, the green solution today is not necessarily replacing the windows. That can cost tens of thousands of dollars and ruin the aesthetic appearance of your home or workplace. Instead, we want to discuss money-saving window inserts. Simply put, they are an extra layer you can easily add to the window to improve performance both at th e edges and across the window’s whole surface.

Window inserts can be made of different materials. High-quality ones often have silicone frames and an acrylic centre that essentially disappears when placed by the window. A study by the US Department of Energy found that installing this type of window insert led to a more than 20 per cent reduction in heating, ventilating and air conditioning use. That is a lot of money to save on the BEC bill, as well as a good contribution to a greener Bahamas.

What if you want to open the windows? No problem. If you do open the windows from time to time, simply look for an insert such as an Indow Window that installs with no nails, screws or adhesive. When you want to open the window, just pop it out. When you are finished, just pop it back in.

Indow Windows and other inserts do more than just save you money. For people who work through the night and need to sleep during the day, blackout-grade inserts are the right choice. These laser-cut window inserts completely block all light coming through the window. No more hanging up blankets or drapes that let light peek through the edges. You can sleep in the dark without unwanted light to wake you.

High quality window inserts can also reduce the amount of noise entering your windows by 50-70 per cent. No more waking up in the night due to noisy neighbours. No more having your work disturbed by a ruckus on the street. If desired, you can also get shade-grade inserts that reduce intense sunlight and provide UV protection. This keeps your rooms cooler and makes your possessions last longer.

Does a window insert sound right for you? Can you grasp the savings? Since many windows are trapezoids that only appear square, get a professional to measure your windows accurately and recommend the right sort of insert for you. Then just sit back and enjoy while your windows keep the, cool inside and your BEC bill down. You won’t have to throw your money out the window any more.

• NB: Joshua Key is general manager for SuperGreen Solutions Bahamas, located on Wulff Road next to FYP. SuperGreen Solutions is one of the premier advisors, suppliers and installers of domestic and commercial energy efficient solutions