energy efficient - Restoration & Design for the Vintage House | Old House Online

energy efficient

Products of the Week

crown point kitchen

Kitchen Cabinets, Counters, & Backsplashes

Crown Point Cabinetry offers custom cabinets for period style kitchens, baths, offices, laundry rooms, home bars and more. Styles include Shaker, Arts & Crafts, Early American, Victorian and Transitional.

marvin windows timber frame

Marvin Windows and Doors offers customized, high-performance windows and doors.

Shuttercraft exterior shutters

Family owned manufacturer of top quality red cedar, mahogany, basswood, poplar, and red oak shutters for interior and exterior, and providers of full painting services, a large selection of exterior hardware and endless cutout design.

Despite the amount of glass, these triple-glazed french doors from JELD-WEN could qualify for Federal energy tax credits.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Looking to cut your energy costs and perhaps score a tax credit? Plenty of period-friendly windows and doors meet the new standards.

Lopi Stoves’ Flush Wood Plus woodburning fireplace insert comes with a patented ignition system that starts the fire without the need to open the door, helping reduce smoke buildup.

Old-House Tips, Restoration Stories, & More

Thick walls, deep eaves, and high ceilings are all reasons why old houses feel cooler in hot weather and warmer in winter than more recent buildings do. Even so, many old houses lack insulation and central HVAC systems, making it hard to retrofit them with the latest in technological advances.

Queen Anne cottage

This transitional better than net-zero Victorian house in energy consumption is very comfortable.

sealed cracks

Repairs & How To

How to use low-tech materials to seal air leaks and insulate walls in an old house while maintaining historic integrity.

Furnished with period lighting fixtures, antique rugs, and furniture collected by the homeowner, the interior of the 1894 house suits her contemporary life.

Measure the existing threshold

Repairs & How To

Keep drafts at bay by installing an adjustable threshold under your front door.

Rafe Churchhill welcomed the challenge of building a new old house run without fossil fuels.

DIY fixes like weatherstripping around windows can add up to significant savings.

Repairs & How To

Boning up on easy old-house energy fixes can save you lots of green—and benefit the planet, too.

Opening windows at key times during the day can be an energy-saver by encouraging natural ventilation.

Repairs & How To

Want to save more energy in your old house? Start with these simple behavior tweaks.

Built in the late 18th century, the Lyman Estate’s main house was remodeled over the years by successive generations.

Restoration Projects

An energy-saving retrofit at a National Historic Landmark demonstrates how old-house owners can increase efficiency with minimal disruption.

With some tune-ups, original doors can be just as efficient as new ones.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Follow these 4 steps to keep a lock on energy savings.

Homeowners David and Susanne Neiblum were able to take their 1922 French Norman house off the grid while maintaining its historic character.

A family in West Chester, Pennsylvania, digs deep to heat and cool their 1922 house with geothermal technology.

Shady landscaping and awnings can help reduce solar gain and cut air-conditining bills.

Repairs & How To

Going green doesn't have to be a major investment—here are 7 simple ideas for tuning up your old house.

Striped awnings protect a beachside Queen Anne.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Many companies offer new windows that take cues from historic architecture. Kolbe has Classic and Heritage window series.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Repair or replace? The ongoing tug-of-war has gotten more heated with renewed concern about energy use. Here are 8 guidelines to help you decide.

The detailing on this Norwood window designed by architect Peter Zimmerman reflects classical elements, with its pediment and reed trim.

Interiors & Decorative Accessories

Blending technology and tradition in new old windows.

Common places where your house may be losing heat—such as the walls, roof, and attic floor—are good targets for insulation.

Repairs & How To

7 tips to keep in mind when retrofitting your old house with insulation.

A few smart moves can keep your old house snug all winter long.

Repairs & How To

Quick tips on tightening up old houses for better cold-weather comfort.

Repairing interior walls or replacing exterior siding presents rare opportunities to make improvements in an old house "weather envelope." Be sure to carefully consider the building's composition before you add insulation.

Repairs & How To

Questions—and answers—about insulation materials for old house

Weatherstripping helps keep winter weather at bay on even the coldest days.

Repairs & How To

Get ready for winter's chills by learning how to properly install weatherstripping on your windows and doors.

Architects & Interior Designers

Radiators, Grilles & Registers