If we compare the cost & polution of making windows and getting them to market, does it make sense to upgrade?

Question

It seems to me that a lot of energy goes into this process and the energy savings is limited. Can you show me the numbers

Answer 1

Generally the overall cost-effectiveness of what you are doing will wash that out.

Much of the cost of anything is the energy to collect the raw materials, manufacture, transport, install and maintain the product.  

If the energy savings, without artificial subsidization, outweighs the cost over time then there is net energy saved.

Answer 2

Your instincts are dead-on about the over-all carbon footprint of certain manufacturing,packaging,delivery and installation processes and methods of certain products. Untill every aspect of industry and it's products' final intentions,are thouroughly investigated and logged, will we begin to see a more defined error/failure vs. correct/triumph line of truth ,begin to take shape.

Answer 3

good point sorry I cant do the numbers for you.

an example in auto industry would be 4x4 requires more 'energy' and outputs more Co2 etc to the environment making anew one than running an older one( fully maintained) for 15 -20 years.

  The energy in making a new glass window system with associated C02 etc will probably;y take a decade at least to recover.

Answer 4

Yes, there is a environmental cost associated with manufacturing the windows and transporting them to market.    Machines are relatively efficient, and the materials and finished product are transported in large quantities.

But this is relatively small compared to the benefits, better insulation and lower energy usage.

As an example, for a $200 window, a significant percentage of the revenue goes to the retailer, say $50.  Of the remaining $150, most goes to labor costs and cost of supplies.   The cost of energy to manufacture and transport the window and an indirect cost to the environment can't possibly be more than $5-$10.

The savings in energy for several eco-friendly windows could easily be 10% of your energy bills over the life of the window.