WindowDressers program helps lower heating costs in Lakes Region

By Dina Mendros

Winter is coming and Mainers are concerned with keeping their homes warm. One low-cost way to do so is by participating in the WindowDressers program which provides insulated window inserts to help keep heat in for free or at a low cost.

Community residents are asked to sign up for free or low-cost
insulating window inserts intended to reduce home heating 
costs. The WindowDressers program is administered locally
by Age Friendly Windham and the deadline to enroll is
Dec. 10. PHOTO BY SOFIA REALI

“WindowDressers is a grassroots volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that trains, supplies, and supports teams of volunteers who host community builds to construct insulating window inserts for local residents,” according to program spokeswoman Sofia Reali. “WindowDressers brings community volunteers of all economic and social situations together to improve the warmth and comfort of interior spaces, lower heating costs, and reduce emissions by producing low-cost insulating window inserts that function as custom, interior-mounted storm windows.”

Those living in the Sebago Lake Region, which includes Windham, Raymond and Standish, can sign up now for inserts which will be built and distributed in January.

Insulated window inserts help prevent heat loss in homes, much of which occurs through windows.

“About 30 percent of an average home’s heat loss occurs through windows and doors,” Reali said. “In homes with older windows, the situation can be even worse, and Maine has the fifth oldest housing stock in the nation.”

“Our custom-built window inserts significantly reduce this heat loss by creating two additional sealed air spaces: one between the insert and window and another between the two plastic layers,” she said. “This effectively doubles window insulation, making homes more energy efficient and comfortable throughout the winter. Our research shows that, in a typical house, one medium sized insert (30 inches by 52 inches) can save an average of 8.5 gallons of heating oil every year.”

This is the first year that Age Friendly Windham (AFW) is heading up the WindowDressers community build for the town.

AFW is “participating to help homeowners and renters, as well as any interested business, keep their space warm and reduce heating cost while reducing the impact of traditional fuels on the environment,” said AFW Coordinator Erica Bell-Watkins. “It aligns with our action plan to help facilitate weatherization programs for the community. It also aligns with the town's energy plan 2023 to educate and assist residents with utilizing energy efficiency programs.”

The community build is a five to seven day “pop-up’ event” with a goal of building 200 to 300 inserts with 50 or more volunteers, Bell-Watkins said. Most households will receive about seven inserts.

“Together, our volunteers have built over 78,000 custom-made insulating window inserts since 2010, with between 25 to 35 percent given to low-income families for no or low cost,” Reali said. “After signing up for inserts, the first step is to schedule a measuring appointment with the local Build Team. At these measuring appointments, trained volunteers visit homes to measure windows and determine the number of inserts needed.”

The inserts are built of attractive pine frames and wrapped drum-tight with two layers of durable plastic film. These layers create an insulating air space while letting in all the light and views. Foam weather stripping around the outer edges stops drafts and ensures the insert’s snug fit.

All inserts are built at the community build event, where volunteers and customers come together to assemble them. Each insert is made in a few simple steps with the help of custom jigs, which guide every step of assembly so that anyone, regardless of experience, can easily and consistently build inserts.

“Customers install the window inserts themselves once they bring them home,” Reali said. “The inserts are lightweight and designed to slide easily into the inside of the window. Each insert has a small pull tab at the bottom to remove them at the end of the heating season.”

WindowDressers offers up to 10 inserts per year for no-cost or whatever you can afford. For middle- and high-income homes and businesses, the price is a fraction of the cost of similar commercial products. Pricing is based on the exact size of the insert. A medium-sized 30 inch by 52 inch insert in pine costs $50.98 plus tax.

The WindowDressers program is supported through a diverse range of funding sources, including individual donations and grants from foundations across New England.

The Sebago Lakes Region community build is partnering with Saint Joseph’s College to host the local event from Jan. 22 to Jan. 26.

The team is looking for community volunteers to help measure windows and participate at the community build event itself. Anyone interested in volunteering at the build can sign up at windowdressers.org/community-builds-maine/.

For anyone interested in signing up to receive inserts they can do so at windowdressers.org/insulating-inserts/ or call 207-596-3073. Locally, send an email to Erica Bell-Watkins at eabellwatkins@windhammaine.us. The deadline for having windows measured is Dec. 10. <