Let’s take a look at how Pella and Andersen each stack up in the most important categories.

Overall

Pella has claimed the prestigious J.D. Power & Associates Award for Customer Satisfaction in the Window and Door category. Among the areas of rating were overall satisfaction, warranty, order & delivery and price. Although Pella has claimed high ranking on the list, Andersen ranks in the top three, particularly gaining high marks for its warranty and repair & replacement categories. Andersen has a steady approach and flawless track record, but Pella has remarkable growth and incredible popularity.

Selection

• Both companies offer a full line of window types, including specialty windows.
• Color: Only Andersen’s high-end windows, the Architectural Monumental Series, come in a wide array of colors. There are twenty-one exterior color options and seven interior finishes. Most other windows come in only three colors.
• Because Pella has a wider array of materials, they have a lower selection of color options.

Features

• Both companies are neck-to-neck with their array of features, varieties and styles.
• Pella windows come with the option of a disappearing Rolscreen, which does exactly as its trademarked name suggests.
• Andersen has a better array of color and trim options.
• Pella has more customizable options, such as screen options, specialty paint options, trim options and other small customizable features.

Materials

• Andersen uses mostly Fibrex, a sturdy composite material formed from 40 percent mostly recycled wood fiber and 60 percent thermoplastic resin. Because even Andersen wood windows are completely vinyl-clad, protection against rotting and bad weather is superior.
• Pella aluminum-clad wood windows have been noted as a slightly deficient product, though significant improvements have been made. Some water seepage and subsequent rot has caused problems for consumers and for the company. Nonetheless, they offer a quality array of wood, fiberglass composite, fiberglass and steel windows.

Environmental

• Andersen windows have the Green Seal stamp of approval. In addition, their windows are Energy Star certified and bear the SCS indoor air quality rating. Andersen windows are indisputably safe and reliable. As a charter member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Andersen products qualify for LEED and ICC 700 credits.
• Pella products not only bear the Energy Star qualification, but they have actually won the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for the past two years. Pella is also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a pioneer in LEED certification and a loyal protector of the environment.
• Both brands offer maximum energy efficient windows on the pricier product lines, especially with glass customizations.

Cost

• For a standard-size, no-frills, dual-pane double-hung window, Andersen prices start around $270. The 400 Series, which boasts increased energy efficiency and enhanced features, including Low-E glass, ranges from $400 to nearly $600. The high-end Architectural windows have a base price of $2,300.
• Pella, generally speaking, has higher prices. With their giant status as American’s leading window manufacturer, they have, perhaps, earned the right to charge more. This makes the decision easy if price is the most important factor in your window-replacement decision.

Warranty

• Andersen has what they call the “Owner-2-Owner” limited warranty program. What this program offers is the ability for a transferable warranty through home sales and multiple owners. Because a feature like this enhances a home’s value, it certainly makes for an attractive investment option. Andersen protects product failure due to defects in manufacturing. The glass is protected under warranty for twenty years. Non-glass components of the window are protected for ten years.
• Pella’s warranty, devoid of the transferable feature, nonetheless offers the same ten-year coverage for non-glass components and twenty years for glass. Laminated glass, however, is only eligible for the ten-year warranty (including HurricaneShield). Pella’s warranty also covers interior paint finishes for two years, decorative between-the-glass panels for two years and screens for five years.

So the stats are in. Which brand do you think is #1?

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For a guy who started out as a truck driver in Los Angeles, Architect Frank Gehry has continued to drive.  But instead of trucks, it’s the deconstructivism bus he steers in new directions, redefining modern architecture. Gehry’s curved windows in buildings like New York’s IAC building are what help to make him stand out amongst these famous architects.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Downtown Los Angeles

Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain

www.adfilmfest.com/films/detail.asp?filmID=11

www.livingwithwhite.com/vitra-design-museum/

The Vitra Design Museum in Germany is an all-white labyrinth of sharp angles and free-flowing curves. One element that makes this building so striking is the minimalist use of windows. What few windows there are have been placed high on the structure, bringing the complex architectural shapes to the immediate foreground.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)

Good old Frankie himself

http://www.santamonicapropertyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/window.jpg

http://thisisadesignblog.com/tag/frank-lloyd-wright/

You may recognize Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House from a number of movies that have featured the unusual Mayan-inspired design. From Deckard’s apartment in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runnerto The Replacement Killers and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this registered California State Landmark high in the hills of Los Angeles provides the visual backdrop to their stories. The stunning lead-etched and beveled-glass cathedral window is just one of dozens of amazing custom Wright windows in the Ennis House, which by the way, Christi’s has on the market for $30 million. That’s $15 million for the home and $15 million for the renovation, in case you’re interested.

Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antoni_Gaudi_1878.jpg

The belittling term “gaudy,” which is defined as “garish, flashy or extravagant,” is actually rooted in the surname of the famous Spanish architect, Antonio Gaudi. A more accurate definition of his work should be “magical, organic and visionary.” From his still unfinished masterwork, Sagrada Familia, to the extraordinary Park Güell, Gaudi’s work continues to draw tourists from all over the world to Barcelona to revel in the shadows of some of the most beautiful architecture ever created by man.

http://noreenkobf66800.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DBA9ED702A5ADD26!115.entry

The Sagrada Familia was Gaudi’s most ambitious project. He began the project in 1883, but left it unfinished when he died in 1926.

http://www.lagprisflyg.nu/tag/antoni-gaudi/

The famous Casa Batlló, which literally translates to “House of Bones,” is highlighted by distinct, oval-shaped windows and an almost skeletal design. The façade is decorated with broken tiles, creating a dazzling mosaic and a roof fashioned after the spine of a medieval dragon.

Park Güell, Barcelona

http://blog.isango.com/2009/07/27/barcelona

Kevin Roche

http://www.skyscraperimages.com/stock_photography_images/skyscraper-architects-roche-pedersen-burgee-childs/

Irish architect Kevin Roche has designed or collaborated on some of the most recognized buildings in the world, including the United Nations Plaza in New York, The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Singapore and even the Securities and Exchange Commission Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The common denominator in these structures, as well as the majority of Roche’s designs, is simply Glass, Glorious Glass! New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger once called Roche “one of the most creative designers in glass that the 20th century has produced.” And at the age of 87, Roche continues to push the glass envelope with his latest project, the new National Conference Centre in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, set to open in 2010.

www.bc.edu/…/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/pyramids.html

Pyramids, Indianapolis, 1972

http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/national-conference-centre-boosts-green-tourism-in-dublin/

The National Conference Center on the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland

Michael Graves

www.cfstinson.com/promo/

From tea kettles for Target to the Dolphin and Swan Resorts at Disney World in Orlando, Architect Michael Graves’ work continues to influence and inspire, even after a life-threatening illness a few years ago confined him to a wheelchair. Graves avoids the trendy “Window-Walls” and prefers windows that are distinct elements reflecting the size of the human form and framing the divergence between inside and outside.

wirednewyork.com/real_estate/425-fifth-avenue/

425 Fifth Avenue is a mixed residential skyscraper in NYC. Towering at 617 feet, the building has 54 stories and 197 units.

http://www.archicentral.com/st-coletta-school-washington-dc-usa-michael-graves-associates-6373/

The St. Coletta School of Greater Washington serves children with severe and multiple disabilities.

Le Corbusier (1887-1965)

http://www.worshipworthy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lecorbusier.jpg

In 1920, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris adopted the moniker Le Corbusier, which loosely translates to,”the crow-like one.” He was one of the founders of the “Purist” movement, which was a reaction to the “Cubist” and “Surrealist” movements of the 1920s – movements that were all the rage at the time. His vast talents also included painting, urban planning, sculpting, writing and modern furniture design.

As with most of his “Purist” theories, Le Corbusier had a very pure philosophy when it came to windows. In his book, Towards a New Architecture, he put it in simple terms: “Windows serve to admit a little light, a little much or not at all, and to see outside.” This is reflected in the small, selective windows in his now-famous Ronchamp Chapel, Located on a high plateau in the Vosges, above Belfort, northern France.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2007/oct/18/architecture3

The Ronchamp Chapel

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Windows play a much larger role in our lives than we ever truly think about. They provide everything from natural light for our homes, to views of fantastic environments safe from the elements, to perfect analogies and perspectives. The word window has come to mean so much more than just a piece of glass to fill a hole in the wall.

And photography is yet another way to capture the world through glass. Window photography is used to inspire people, much in the way the very concept of a window does – the eyes of the home that have come to symbolize so much more. Some window images are so beautiful or unique that you can’t help but admire the eye and miniature lens that imagined such a creative way to show a piece of glass. So here is a list of 50 beautiful window images and their sources in case you want to check out more like them!

1) At Twilight

2) Wikipedia Commons

3) James Muzza

4) BHCC

5) Integrity Studio

6) Digital Photography School

7) Cloud Files

Integrity Studio

9) Integrity Studio

10) Tiny-Vessels

11) Apple Store

12) Gallery Photo

13) Gallery Photo

14) Digital Photography School

15) Integrity Studio

16) Integrity Studio

17) Digital Photography School

18) Integrity Studio

19) Digital Photography School

20) api.ning

21) Tickled By Life

22) Red Bubble

23) Window To Her Soul

24) Red Bubble

25) Ferenc

26) Xavier Ho

27) Frida Kahlo with Fawn

28) Photo Credit

29) Aaron Brown Photo

30) Photo Credit

31) Abandoned Factory Window

32) From the Hubble Repair Mission

33) http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/cool_pictures/

34) http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/cool_pictures/

35) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

36) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

37) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

38) http://sowmyashistory.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!7EF8880BAEC84E87!322.entry

39) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3512792862_c56eacf048.jpg

40) http://blog.magnumphotos.com/images/NYC8019.jpg

41) http://www2.hawaii.edu/~omalley/Window.jpg

42) http://lizzyc.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/hmoon_1208_458.jpg

43) http://vi.sualize.us/tag/translucent/

44) http://www.20×200.com/blog/blogimages/keith_taylor_at_mpls_photo_center/windows-chelsea.jpg

45) http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SOhsPwLta-I/AAAAAAAAgeo/FRKgNRC6moQ/s640/w45yerhdfnbcv.jpg

46) http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/.a/6a00d8341c2c7653ef0115710a9ade970b-800wi

47) http://carolsmojo.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Goodtimes2007_042.112105738_std.jpg

48) http://www.hanger43.com/images/photo/urban/16.jpg

49) http://www.loupiote.com/photos_m/18323082-graffiti-shadow-broken-window-abandoned-hospital-presidio-san-francisco-phsh.jpg

50) http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3858209639_db966eb6a5.jpg

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Warning! Ghoulish Halloween content ahead!

#1 – Marc Jacobs, You Are Scaring My Kids!

Parents complaining about an “Insane Clown Massacre” window display at the Marc by Marc Jacobs store in Bucktown sounded promising, so upon further investigation, this reporter can confirm once and for all, that yes, clowns are still scary, especially at this classically gruesome display featuring a dozen blood-spattered clowns in various states of dastardly dismemberment. The Mommy-blogger who snapped this photo complained that the display caused her five-year-old to ask, “Mommy, why is that clown holding another clown’s head in his hand?” Ah, kids say the cutest things.

#2 – Bedtime Stories

Your average bookstore isn’t a very frightening place, but what about those small, cluttered used bookstores with that creepy, moldy book smell and the old guy at the front?  Picture yourself deep in the stacks browsing in the historical fiction section and suddenly the old guy sneaks up behind you and in a voice like Vincent Price, inquires, “Can I help you find something?” Whoa Dude. Now imagine a rather relaxed mummy with designer eyeglasses just sitting there reading a book, paying you no mind. Shouldn’t he be trying to curse you with ancient Egyptian magic? Maybe mummies have just been given a bad wrap.

#3 – Yipes!

Is that Rosie O’Donnell on the left? This isn’t gruesome, per se, but it makes me feel unhappy things.

#4 – Little Shop Window of Horrors

West Hollywood holds one of the biggest and wildest Halloween street parades in the country. If you’ve never been, it’s one hell of a party no matter if you’re gay, straight or just slightly bent. The businesses of West Hollywood play a game of window display chicken, each pushing the other to new limits of tasteful tastelessness and campy depravity. A WeHo men’s boutique called the Los Angeles Sporting Club took the bloody gold medal home with this gory tribute to Little Shop of Horrors, created by LA window designer Christian Morrisette. I could explain the scene in the movie where Steve Martin goes to the dentist but, hey, you know the drill.

#5 – Halloween for Dummies

Next to decapitated clowns, there’s nothing as creepy as the dreaded naked mannequin. These collections of windows bravely compiled by blogger Peggy Wang are truly terrifying. Glimpse the dark side… if you dare.

Some very irate children

For all your Harry Potter role playing fantasies

The icing on the kink

#6 – Pumpkin-On-Pumpkin Violence

Not sure if this disturbing Halloween window display is trying to make some sort of statement protesting harsh interrogation techniques of the Bush administration, or if it’s simply a manifestation of an overwhelming hatred toward the  general pumpkin head community, but it certainly gets your attention. Not sure what this store sells, but if you’re ever in Brooklyn, New York, this place can meet all your last-minute military uniform, hay bale, noose and evil pumpkin head needs.

Runner-up Window Pick

For over 65 years, Cliff’s Variety has been an anchor on the kinetic streets of San Francisco’s Castro District and is quite possibly the coolest little old hardware store anywhere. Their slogan, “From tiaras to tape measures,” means you’re bound to find it at Cliff’s Variety. With over 65,000 items packed into their little store front, it’s like a one-stop scavenger hunt and minutes can turn into hours of browsing if you aren’t careful. This Halloween window display is classic Cliff’s: An Alien warrior party animal alongside a sexy vampire chick, and of course, rounding out the ghastly trio, a large, ferocious, man-eating chicken. The man-eating thing is just a speculation on my part, but I think it’s a fairly educated guess.

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Following are 15 of the world’s weirdest, wackiest, wildest window designs. Here’s some optical architecture to make Roald Dahl and Lewis Carroll proud – buildings and oddball windows hailing from all around the world. Strange and fantastic achievements in architecture, one and all.

I’d like to see some of these windows on a Pella showroom floor!

1. The Crooked House

In Sopot, Poland, stands one of the strangest buildings in the world. The Crooked House was built in 2004 and inspired by the paintings and drawings of Jan Marcin Szancer, a Polish artist and illustrator of children’s books, and Per Dahlberg, a Swedish painter. There is absolutely no other building like this one – these are the kind of windows you stare at, not through.

2. The Crazy House

From crooked to crazy, and from Poland to Vietnam we go. The Hang Nga Guesthouse, or “Crazy House,” is a testament to the belief that no window shall be round or square, that 90-degree angles simply should not exist. Unique is an understatement for this hotel, with its randomly winding hallways, giant giraffe and many strange windows. Vietnam travelers, be sure to pop in for a cup of tea.

3. The Dancing House

How about this for a curtain wall?! The somewhat rectangular windows are only there to contrast the building’s conical corner and swimming architecture. Besides, they are put to shame by the “dancing” wall of glass and concrete that crawls up the building’s side like a rolled newspaper come to life. Located in Prague, Czech Republic, The Dancing House was originally called “Fred and Ginger,” as it vaguely resembles a pair of dancers. It certainly has some windows I’d love to get behind!

4. The Hole House

How about a window that’s actually a wormhole that runs the length of the house? Well, maybe this isn’t technically a window, but it’s definitely weird. And you can bet no window companies have yet added wormholes to their repertoire. The Hole House was constructed by a pair of artists in Houston, Texas out of a condemned house. The intention, apparently, was to remind people of the fragility of the space-time continuum. Unfortunately, and somewhat ironically, the house has since been torn down.

5. The Air Force Academy Chapel

Churches are historically known for ornate window designs, and the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado is certainly no exception. Once again, the windows are (literally?) a testament to the unique structure of the building that carries them. The chapel is built on a tubular frame of 100 identical tetrahedrons that create a row of seventeen identical spires. The tetrahedrons are set one foot apart, a space filled with some very interesting colored glass windows.

6. Pavilion for Japanese Art at LA County Museum of Art

The Pavilion for Japanese Art in Los Angeles blurs the line between wall and window. The roof structures are suspended by cables so that the walls can be non-load bearing – they are instead translucent window-ish walls that provide ideal lighting for the artwork inside, as well as adhere to a certain Japanese architectural aesthetic. Kyoumishinshin! The Pavilion was designed by architects Bruce Goff and Bart Prince.

7. The Price Residence

Also by architect Bart Prince, the Price home is a very interesting house with stained-glass window designs that seem to illuminate like solar-made artwork when under direct sunlight. Together, they expand up and outward from the entry door, blending seamlessly with the unusual wooden structure, which in turn blends seamlessly with the building site.

8. Futuro House

The Futuro House, or UFO House, resides in New Zealand and was designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in 1968. It has a fairly simple, flying saucer-esque design, but its convex, oval-shaped windows are nevertheless strange and quite rare. And from what I hear, you need at least three eyes and greenish blood to gain entry.

9. Nautilus House

In Mexico City sits the Nautilus House, a giant nautilus shell (presumably from the mythical land of giants) with some very interesting window designs – designs that culminate in a stained-glass mosaic masterpiece where the once-upon-a-time nautilus would have come and gone from his shell. The house is truly a feat of creative architecture and the interior is as colorful as a tropical reef, thanks to its incredible window designs.

10. Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia

In 1970, the Cathedral of Brasilia was dedicated. Meant to resemble two hands reaching up to heaven, these concrete, parabolic columns (fingers?) are separated by some very fancy windows. The odd, wavy, triangle-like windows are made up of a series of equally odd panes of glass. They not only point passersby to a good place to genuflect, but allow plenty of heavenly light into the nave of the cathedral.

11. The Cybertecture Egg

The very shape of the Cybertecture Egg demands wacky windows. Okay, so the windows on this fascinating building in Mumbai, India are actually just a bunch of diamonds, but they cover nearly the entire structure, stopping at a few points to allow some fresh air in. Someone’s going to get a permanent window washing job from this project…let’s hope his last name’s not Dumpty.

12. BMW Welt

The BMW Welt building exemplifies curvaceous potential in window making. It’s a whole bunch of glass with nary a straight line or level surface at its entry. These windows that look so black on the outside actually allow a lot of light into interior rooms and give the odd building quite an airy feel…like speeding down the Autobahn in a Beamer, I suppose.

13. The Turtle Building

Once upon a time in Niagara Falls, a large turtle-shaped building was built as a museum to honor Native American culture, possibly referencing creation myths of the Algonquin people or Turtle Island, a name for the North American continent used by many Native American tribes. What is most fascinating is the head of the great turtle, whose windows are made to resemble the eyes, nose and mouth of a turtle. Unfortunately, the Native American museum failed economically and is now closed.

14. Piano Building

Somewhere in Huainan, China, a large clear-glass violin is resting against an even larger grand piano. It’s the sort of piano Paul Bunyan would’ve played had he and Babe had a more artistic calling. But instead, it’s a very unique house holding the strangest “window” on this list. Inside that glass violin is the staircase up into the main piano – that is, house. Paul Bunyan definitely would’ve had to leave his axe at least 100 yards away. Where are the window companies on 50-foot tall tempered glass musical instruments?

15. Bar-Code Building

“Schtrikh Kod” in Russian, the Bar-Code building is perhaps the most literal homage to shopping I’ve ever seen. The most amazing thing about the Bar-Code’s windows is not their shape or complexity, but that they’re part of a behemoth barcode. Schtrikh Kod is, as you might’ve guessed, a shopping center, and it certainly needs no large or neon sign to be recognized. An arbitrary assortment of numbers and windows will take care of that.

OK, so we’ve seen a nautilus and a turtle (posthumous Lewis Carroll story, perhaps?). Windows that are crooked, crazy, dancing and full of holes. Then there’s the giant pianos, violins, eggs, art and a few stylish places of worship. Well, it sure seems as if there’s quite the demographic for weird, wild and wacky window designs. So let this article be a notice to all window companies that we want stained-glass tetrahedrons, 50-foot violins and our penchant for dancing built right into our homes, and we want it standard!

Oh, and if you can’t find my billing information, just come on over and scan my barcode… you can’t miss it. Thank you, come again.

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Everyone knows celebrities are crazy. Some are obviously crazy, like Madonna, Dennis Rodman, Courtney Love or Jim Carrey. Then, there are some who go under the radar for most or even all of their career, but give them enough rope, and they’ll hang faster than a coat-check hanging coats at a coat collectors convention. Like when Michael Richards of Seinfeld mistook a Hollywood comedy club for a Klan rally. Or the time O.J. Simpson… What? Not funny yet? I was going to talk about the Vegas robbery he was recently convicted for, not that other thing!

Charles Barkley & Plate Glass Windows

One of my all-time favorite window smashing stories involves one of everyone’s all-time favorite personalities: Former NBA star Charles Barkley. While playing for the Phoenix Suns in 1997, Sir Charles went to Florida to take on the Orlando Magic. Barkley was at a bar drinking around 2 a.m. when 20-year-old Jorge Lugo threw a glass of ice and hit the round mound of rebound in the head. Barkley’s instinctive reaction? To chase Lugo to the front of the bar, where he finally cornered him.

Patrons watched as Barkley lifted Lugo off the ground and tossed him through a plate-glass window. Barkley then stepped through the window and stood over Lugo, taunting him even as nearby officers arrived on the scene. The window was most likely your typical plate glass commercial window. Big emphasis on the was part of that sentence.

Zandra Rhodes & Commercial Window Store Front

Those who know Charles Barkley may not know our next celeb window smasher. Zandra Rhodes, an international superstar in the world of fashion design, attacked a hardware store by crashing right into it. The designer famous for dressing Princess Diana drove her car directly through the middle of the window display of Meanley & Sons, a La Jolla hardware store. The incident happened this past June on a Tuesday morning, when the pink-haired Rhodes accidentally smashed her Ford Taurus wagon into the front window, smashing all the plate glass that made up the entire store front. My only question is a Ford Taurus? Really? You design some of the most expensive clothes in the world but Homer Simpson drives a cooler car than you do?

Lindsey Lohan & Sam Ronson & Casement Windows

What celebrity gossip story would be complete without Lindsay Lohan? You could literally write about any topic and this crazy broad would be involved somehow. Stalking, dramatic relationships, puppies. You name it and Lindsay’s been there. Alec, I’ll take windows for 500. In March of this year, police were called after a disturbance was reported at Lohan’s residence. Apparently, a window had been smashed out of the Hollywood Hills home. To this day, the window smashing remains a mystery. The consensus seems to be that a cell phone flew through the beautiful, shuttered double-casement window. The phone may have been launched either by Lohan or her now-estranged DJ girlfriend Samantha Ronson. The two seemed to be fighting about Lohan’s then-recent DUI arrest. The cops came for the smashed-out window and not the warrant stemming from the DUI. But maybe they both should have been arrested for repeat offenses. For being stupid.

Michael Jackson and…Well Just Watch

Like Lohan, the late Michael Jackson was always head of the crazy brigade. Jackson didn’t break any windows, but in this video, he shows how you can be creative in the vicinity of glass, balconies and frightening elevation. This is the craziest behavior, window involved or not. You just have to see it to believe it.

Suge Knight, Vanilla Ice & Mystery Window

Speaking of craziness that didn‘t end in chards of glass sprinkled across vehicle hoods (or faces, for that matter), Suge Knight is our next culprit. Head of Death Row records, the controversial and notoriously violent music producer didn’t break a window when he hung 90s pop rapper Vanilla Ice by his ankles from a 20th-floor hotel window, but he did break the seal on Ice’s bladder in the process. I’m guessing the window might have been some sort of single hung or double hung style. The story goes that Knight threatened Ice in a variety of ways, trying to force him to sign over the rights to his hit song, Ice, Ice Baby. According to Knight, the song contained a bass line sampled from a work of his. When Ice disagreed, Knight and his thugs hung him out the window until he agreed to give the rights over to Death Row.

Josh McNeil, Flower Pot & a Casement Window

Although Josh McNeil may not be a household name, he is a noteworthy character in the world of college football. In 2007, McNeil was the starting center for the University of Tennessee Volunteers football program when he had a Charlie Sheen-esque night of celebration that involved broken glass, several drunk women and a small armory in his campus apartment. The facts are this: Police responded to a call from McNeil’s neighbor several hours after a victory during the ‘07 season. What the cops found was a smashed-out casement window and a crushed flower pot inside on the floor. There was blood all over what remained of the glass pane. Also inside the apartment were several shotguns, rifles and handguns. The cops, with the help of a school official, opened the final door to a room that housed three passed-out teenage women in the star center’s bed and a drunken McNeil. No charges were filed against McNeil, but the three women received misdemeanors for consuming alcohol as minors. However, his team did charge him with the responsibility of throwing all the Vol victory parties for the rest of the year.

Andre Rison, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes & Every Window in the House

I saved the best for last. This crazy didn’t smash a window with a cell phone or toss a flower pot through somebody’s home. In 1994, this former singer/rapper and member of TLC brought down the house. Problem was it wasn’t her house and she used tennis shoes and lighter fluid instead of a mic and a drum machine. Apparently, “Left Eye” was upset over her tumultuous relationship with her then-boyfriend, Atlanta Falcon’s wideout Andre Rison. To get revenge, she tried to “barbecue his shoes” in a bathtub by dousing them in lighter fluid and setting them on fire. The result? The two-story mansion was destroyed, windows and all. I remember in college, I burned a cd for a girlfriend… I never thought to burn a house for her… hmmm.

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Verifying prospective window installers is vital to ensuring that you get quality windows and professional craftsmanship. Of course, valid references and a well-thought out interview process are tried and true ways to recognize a qualified installer, but there are also certifications an installer can have that will help solidify his or her standing and ease your mind at the same time.

AWDI Certification

The American Window and Door Institute (AWDI) is recognized by the US Government to represent quality window installers. AWDI offers window installation guidelines and certification credentials to installers that pass their Installation Certification Training. The training covers all aspects of installation, from preparing the window opening to installing and sealing the window.

According to AWDI, over 90 percent of window problems are caused by poor or incomplete installation. And properly installed windows consistently outperform their stated warranties. To add to AWDI’s credibility further, in 2007, Consumer Reports recommended AWDI as a source for certified installers. You can ask prospective window contractors for their credentials when you meet them.

Installation Masters

Installation Masters is another training and certification program for window installers. The program was initiated by the Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council (BETEC) through the Department of Energy. It is a nationwide program for new construction and replacement installers of windows and exterior glass doors in the residential market.

Certification involves a two-day program culminating in a test of participants’ installation skills. Successful installers are issued a Installation Masters Identification Card to prove their certification.

CalFinder Certified Contractors

Of course, we cannot forget CalFinder certified window installers! CalFinder does the vetting for you, and for free. CalFinder interviews and approves local window installation contractors across the nation. And then goes one step further by connecting you directly to these certified local installers for free no-obligation estimates on your new window project.

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In reality, every home’s savings will be a little different. Much depends on your climate, how inefficient the old windows are and what type of windows you upgrade to. Most of us that want a window upgrade are currently dealing with old wood windows, aluminum windows or any single-pane window that just isn’t cutting it.

Fortunately, the people at Energy Star – a good benchmark for energy efficient windows – have done the math on this one. They’ve compiled an array of estimates for energy savings and even adjusted them for different regions of the country. Overall, says Energy Star, you will save $126-$465 per year if you replace single-pane windows with Energy Star certified replacement windows. Furthermore, you’ll save $27-$111 if you upgrade from double-pane clear-glass (no Low-E coating) windows.

That wide margin is a result of the many climate variations we experience in the United States. Here is a breakdown by region of estimated yearly savings from Energy Star rated windows:

Savings certainly do vary, but no matter where you live, there are savings to be had from energy efficient window upgrades. And remember that these are yearly savings, so they’ll compound over time.
Finding energy efficient windows that meet or exceed Energy Star standards is no longer difficult. All the top brands (Andersen, Milgard, Pella, et al) offer qualifying windows. Until the end of 2010, energy efficient window purchases are eligible for up to $1,500 in federal tax credits as well. So, a homeowner in North Carolina, for example, could stand to save or recoup upwards of $2,000 within a year of installing energy efficient replacement windows. And the savings continue to add up from there.

Photo Credits: Crystal Window & Doors, Energy Star

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If you want to seal up your house so tight that winter drafts will screech and run away in terror, you’ll want the most energy efficient windows money can buy. That window will be an amalgamation of several energy efficient technologies. The most energy efficient windows will have all of the attributes listed below:

The Frame

Wood, vinyl and fiberglass window frames are all fairly efficient frame types. Aluminum frames are cheaper but very inefficient. However, fiberglass and vinyl have one advantage over wood. Their air cavities can be filled with insulation to provide the absolute highest window frame efficiency available today.

Okay, so the most energy efficient window will have an insulated fiberglass or vinyl frame. Next…

The Glazing

The most inefficient windows have clear single-pane glass. Double-pane windows are fast becoming the standard in efficient upgrades, typically with a low-e coating. But the most efficient windows in use today are triple-glazed, with three panes of glass each separated by a pocket of sealed-in air or gas.

So now, we have an insulated fiberglass window frame with triple-pane glass.

Argon, Low-E Coating and Spacers

Clear glass alone just doesn’t cut it. A low emissivity (low-e) coating should be applied to the glass to control heat transfer in either direction. Low-e coatings reduce energy loss by as much as 50%. Because the window is triple-paned, the manufacturer will apply a soft low-e coating between two panes of glass. Soft low-e coatings are slightly less durable when exposed to air than hard coatings, but are more energy efficient and will not degrade if installed between glass panes.

That space between panes can also be filled with Krypton gas instead of air. Krypton and its more commonly used cousin, Argon, are inert gases, which are more resistant to heat flow than air. Argon is more common because it is much cheaper than Krypton. Krypton, however, can take down Superman and has a better thermal performance, so it will be the gas of choice in the most energy efficient windows.

The best windows also have thermally-improved or low-conductance spacers between the glass panes at the edges of the window. These spacers are necessary in any insulated glass (multi-pane) window. Low-conductance spacers are part of Warm-Edge Technology (WET), which basically just means that they’re made from materials with low thermal conductivity rather than the traditional metal.

Type of Window

How the window operates also affects energy efficiency. Certain types of windows have different air leakage rates. Fixed windows with panes that do not open obviously have the lowest air leakage rates, but are not very practical for ventilation or fire escape.

Single- and double-hung windows, as well as sliding windows, have higher air leakage rates. Awning, casement and hopper windows tend to have lower air leakage rates because unlike their sliding counterparts, their sashes are hinged, providing a better air seal.

Installation

Poor installation can also cause wind and water damage to the siding, trim, and inside the house, all of which will affect the energy efficiency of the home in general. So be sure to have your energy efficient windows installed by a pre-approved window contractor.

Low Energy House.com

eCo Times

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Here are 7 creative ideas for your broken windows. Have an artsy day!

#1 – Garden Perfect

Windows can serve both decorative and practical functions. On the left, this cottage-style “window box” hangs from a cheerfully colored shed wall to spruce it up. And on the right, another gardener used three windows as a visual divider between her vegetables and hostas. You can do this by de-paning the windows and connecting them with a 2×4 on the top and bottom. Hang ornamental crystals and beads in the openings.

You can also reuse your window as a revamped trellis for climbing vines and roses, a brightly colored decoration to hang alongside a birdhouse or sit amongst flowers, or a rack over a potting table. Add hooks and hang gardening tools, gloves and your favorite floppy hat.

#2 – Indoor & Outdoor Window Art

There’s a story behind each of these windows. The 12-pane floral window was a DIY project using tile nippers, lots of caulk, glass pieces and glass globs for the flower centers. It turned out to be a wonderful art experiment. And if you’re not into paint, but still long for window art, photographs are the simple solution. Print the photos the size of each pane and tape it to the back – instant “deco-window.”

#3 – Divine Dividers

photo credits: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/shabby-chic-living-room-makeover/index.html, http://www.robomargo.com/windows.html

Divide a room or an outdoor patio with windows. It’s great to have the division and still be able to see into the next space. Fastened together, windows can serve as standing room dividers as well.

#4 – Outside the Box

This living space, with plenty of windows of its own, has a ceiling built from reclaimed picture frame corners. There may just be an equally unique window frame design waiting to come under your roof.

#5 – Window-Furniture Transitions  

Windows make attractive furniture pieces for every room in the home. The frames offer a chic appearance in one space and a practical impression in another. A fresh coat of paint really modernizes the look, while sanded wood frames speak volumes for natural design. Decorators and designers are forever looking for “windows of opportunity” – share yours with us below!

#6 – Greenhouses Galore

photo credits: http://www.robomargo.com/windows.html, http://www.robomargo.com/windows.html

Large or small, walk-in or table-top, varieties of greenhouses are as endless as the assortment of windows. They’re used for the ceiling, walls and the door of these greenhouses. And those plants never had it so good!

#7 – See-Thru Getaway

Similar to greenhouses, these standalone screened porches and gazebos are a great escape from the indoors – and you don’t have to go any farther than your own backyard. Here’s a funky version of stepping out into the wild. It’s an outdoor getaway made from old windows. Inside, you’re still sure to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.

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