Window Wisdom Blog

Of course, windows are an expressive design element, an architectural statement really. A view to your outdoor world; of ocean, city, mountains, or a cornfield (my view). They act as a means to extend the indoor space visually. But in addition to their beauty, and just as important, windows are a vital part of the building envelope, providing thermal barriers, light transmission, sound control, and natural ventilation. Something else windows can do? Contribute to sustainable design and improve occupant health! Because of the importance these fenestrations (or window and door openings) are to a building’s envelope, manufacturers apply NFRC labels to their products. So, what are these labels supposed to tell us exactly?

Ok, if we zero in on just the window or door’s thermal and energy performance, ta-da, that information is all on the:

Why does our mind play these fun little games with us – and usually when we are alone or trying to sleep!? Well, for me, I believe it is all of those glorious horror movies I watched growing up! Especially when a major contributor of the creep factor was the spooky house that the movie monster was running amok in. Every intricate staircase just waiting for that mystery hand to reach through, every home with windows that seemed like eyes staring out at you (yeah, you know the one), that closet that was a portal to another dimension, or when that mystery ball bounces down the stairs into the basement - that has you yelling at the fictional person on the screen, “WHAT?? ARE YOU CRAZY!? DON’T GO DOWN THERE YOU FOOL!”. These realistic home settings grab ahold of our imaginations and pull us in with the actors and give us that adrenaline jolt we crave.

Let’s take a few moments to stroll through the architecture of some real-life houses that play starring roles in our movie and tv nightmares.