Build it with what you have. Single should be fine for you. Look into heat-activated, non-electric, pneumatic openers. I think I saw that the Chinese Consulate, um, I mean Harbor Freight has them for about $20. There are also solar powered attic vent fans available at places like Home Depot for a bit more. If you go with single but find that you want more heat retention in the winter, look into preventing heat loss by air infiltration through small gaps in the walls and around the door and windows, insulate your north, east, and west walls, and consider temporary plastic over the windows to raise their R-value. I assume that in the heat of the summer you'll be leaving the place empty.

No storm windows--happily (or sadly for lovers of seasons!) we're in Northern California, where the climate is pretty temperate. (To wit: we've been able to just lean a board over the opening where the window once was for the past week...) At this point we've ruled out insulated glass and are down to deciding between laminated glass and just sticking with single-paned. (We learned that insulated glass will look quite different because the muntins need to be shallower to accommodate the thicker glass; this is apparently less of an issue with the laminated glass because it's thinner.) Still not sure we will get enough benefit from the laminated glass to be worth the extra cost, so it may just come down to the final estimates, which I hope to have today--but still welcome any other thoughts! This post was edited by artemis78 on Mon, Mar 17, 14 at 14:34

I am in window hell. Being on Texas Gulf coast, I am subject to new specs by TDI ( TX Dept of Insurance) -- apparently put in place after Hurricane Ike in 2008. I can only use windows that have been specially tested and show up on TDI website. DON Young is out -- horizontal slider has not been tested -- $12K NT Windows -- only double hung tested -- $13.5K. I want single hung. Now looking at Vinyl. Gulf Coast Windows -- $23K Home Craftsman -- $9K Window Mart -- $9K I have a Bay and a Bow window, Contractors tell me they will have to install two 2x4s at each mullion. So , I will go from 3inches between windows to like 8 inches! This will be a significant change in the looks -- beefier! Plus less glass. The four windows making up the bow window currently have 21 inches of glass each. Will be reduced to about 17 inch width! One guy suggested I "outlaw" Bay and Bow by not including them in inspection. He would do a wedge configuration on 2x4s to narrow the mullion. Not approved installation by TDI. Somehow my 40 year old windows have survived every hurricane to date! HELP! Opinions of vinyl options, please. Opinions of "outlaw" installation. Why are Gulf Coast Windows so pricey and are they worth it? If I outlaw Bay and Bow windows why not do the same for 2 sliders and go with Don Young, my original choice? This post was edited by betsyelise on Mon, Jan 12, 15 at 13:52

As I recall, in the post where I suggested mounting a laminated glass lite to the interior of the exisiting windows (as mentioned above), the homeowner was very specific in that they were only interested in blocking as much unwanted sound as they could through those windows and not worried about possible aesthetic considerations. Firecodes are certainly important and must be considered whenever modifying a window or a door in a home. However, any interior (or exterior) storm window is going to affect egress through a window - whether the glass is laminated or not is a secondary issue that must also be seriously considered. Soundproof windows in essense installs a laminated lite (or lites - in an IG configuration) to an exisiting window thus increasing the sound blocking capabilities of the window. That about covers it. They get excellent STC numbers for two reasons - first, the laminated lite has significantly better sound blocking ability than does non-laminated glass - and second, the introduce an airspace between the exisiting window and the laminated "interior storm" window which also helps to significantly reduce unwanted sound. A homeowner can do much the same thing, and achieve the same results at much less cost, by installing a sheet of laminated glass inside of an existing window...other considerations as mentioned in this and previous posts. Also, an IG unit manufactured with two lites of 1/4" glass and with a 1" airspace has an STC of 37 while a single 1/2" laminated lite, also made with 1/4" glass and a .030PVB interlayer, has a STC of 38. However, I personally don't care much for STC (as I have mentioned in previous posts), much preferring OITC - Outside Inside Transmission Class. In the case of a 1/4" / 1" air / 1/4" IG, the OITC is 30 while the OITC for the 1/2" (overall) laminated lite is 34. A laminated lite with 1/8" glass /.030PVB / 1/8" glass has an STC of 35 and an OITC of 31 - less effective than 1/4" glass and 1" airspace when comparing to STC number and more effective when comparing OITC numbers.