Losing Church Heating Through the Windows

Many congregations have a shared problem: church heating. The congregation can radiate warmth, but the buildings tend to have an issue with temperature control. We can generally blame the large, beautiful windows. But placing church storm windows over intricate stained glass? Or, church window replacement when they are associated with hundreds of years of history? Neither of these are good options.

Poor church heating is distracting to the congregation and expensive to maintain. Church storm windows can help control some heating and cooling, but they cannot accommodate the unique and varied shapes of church windows. Indow window inserts solve church heating: they can fit any shape, disappear once installed, and block 100% of drafts.

Indow is one of the only solutions that can fit any kind of window shape because of our precision measuring and customization. Learn more about how we create our special shape window inserts.

Single-Pane Historic Windows in Bowdoin College Church

Bowdoin college church sits in Banister Hall in Brunswick, Maine. The Romanesque building was designed by Richard Upjohn and has striking, arched, single-pane historic windows. The building can radiate warmth, but the windows were letting in a lot of cold weather.

At first, church storm windows were added, but they didn’t look right and so the college removed them. Replacing the windows was out of the question. These single-pane historic windows, though drafty, are a part of what makes this building iconic. Church window replacements cannot replicate the intricate windows students and congregants look out each day.

Bowdoin College Church Heating Solution

Bowdoin College wanted a solution that helped solve church heating, saved their single-pane historic windows, and was sustainable. The campus sustainability coordinator had been working to reduce Bowdoin’s carbon footprint through measures such as weatherization, switching from oil to natural gas, and installing energy-efficient lighting. She reached out to Indow to do a pilot test with a single office on the building’s south side.

The window inserts created a huge impact on the church heating. “They eliminated the drafts,” said Caitlin Callahan, assistant director of the McKeen Center for the Common Good, who worked in the office at the time. But she noticed something else too: the chapel bells that ring every quarter hour were quieter.

So the college purchased 19 Indow inserts for the building’s south side. Because Indow inserts are precisely measured to fit any window, the inserts were custom fit to the stunning arches and batwing windows. The north side of Banister Hall houses the American Musicological Society, which is now interested in having Indow inserts as well.

Testimonials

– Caitlin Callahan, Assistant Director of the McKeen Center for the Common Good

– Shawn Gerwig, Administrative Coordinator for the McKeen Center

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Insulating Stained Glass Windows in McMinnville Cooperative Ministries

Church heating was also an issue for McMinnville Cooperative church who needed help insulating stained glass windows. They decided that carbon reduction was an important priority and proposed a plan that included air and duct sealing, wall and ceiling insulation, an upgrade to the heating system, and installation of solar power. WIth all those upgrades, they still had to figure out how to insulate stained glass windows.

The church contacted Cellar Ridge who recommended Indow window inserts instead of traditional church storm windows. This way, the windows remain intact and aren’t blocked by clunky church storm windows.

McMinnville Cooperative Ministries Church Heating Solution

The church’s plan for energy efficiency was actually voted on by two entire congregations. When the leaders presented the renovations to all members, they weren’t sure if everyone would agree that a smaller carbon footprint was that important. It was, and so was saving and insulating the stained glass windows. This building had been a sanctuary for the rebirth and mending of many of their lives, now it was time to lovingly restore it.

The sanctuary has beautiful church stained glass windows. Cellar Ridge Energy Works recommended church replacement windows for other areas of the building, but when it came to the stained glass windows, they brought in something that would upgrade their energy efficiency without hiding any of their beauty like church storm windows would. Indow inserts insulated all the church stained glass windows while letting in beautiful natural light.

McMinnville Cooperative Ministries reduce its carbon footprint by 80%. Plus, their sanctuary now shelters from the cold and noise. They chose Indow window inserts instead of traditional church storm windows and gained an easy installation, superior insulation, and remarkable window noise reduction.

Testimonials

– Pastor Pederson, McMinnville Cooperative Ministries, McMinnville Oregon.

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A Glowing Review: Better Than Church Storm Windows

Both churches, regardless of the size and shape of their windows were able to solve their church heating issues. Each one was able to maintain a clear view of their windows with natural light flowing through to their congregants. Even though the window inserts were brought in for church heating, each noted surprise at the fact that as each insert was installed, their sanctuary became quieter and quieter, “Once one side of the building was installed, the difference was remarkable!” said Pederson. 

After installing window inserts in their church windows, everyone was glad they skipped the church storm windows for something more illuminating.

Hear from others who have used Indow commercial window inserts in their historic buildings. Business owners, building managers, and architects have all used window inserts to help those who use the space be more comfortable. Or, speak with one of our window experts to get a free estimate for your window solution.

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