Q: Pat Writes: I am constantly seeing ads on TV saying that old wood windows are not energy efficient and should be replaced with new vinyl ones. They claim to save customers thousands of dollars on their gas bills over the years. I have original wood windows on my house, and even though I love the way they look, I am thinking of replacing them before winter comes to keep heating costs down. Is there another alternative you can suggest?

A: The Old House Experts Say: Dear Pat, Yes! There is an alternative to vinyl replacement windows! But first, a little lesson…we call it Energy Efficiency 101. Experts measure energy efficiency by what is called R-value on a scale from 0, being least resistant to the flow of heat, to 40 or more. The R-value of a brand new double hung replacement window is only R-4, which proves that glass is a poor insulator. We recommend adding aluminum storm windows to old single pane wood windows. It is relatively inexpensive could increase the R-value from about R-.9 to R-2 or R-3, a difference you will feel. But windows aren’t the only culprit. Believe it or not, most of the heat is escaping through the walls in your home. Having insulation blown into the walls of your home can have a dramatic impact on energy efficiency with a much lower price tag and quicker payback. Now, a fun fact...It can take more than 20 years to realize savings in heating costs associated with purchasing new vinyl windows. Here’s the kicker: The average vinyl window has a life span of about 10-15 years. They’re not even paid for when they start to break down! Where’s the savings in that?! Call the Cleveland Restoration Society at 216-426-1000 for more details. We’re happy to answer your old house questions.