When I was just beginning to plan my remodel and consulting with a designer to get a ballpark estimate of what we would need to do the work, I said that I wanted a big 36" gas rangetop. She immediately said, "Well, then you'll need a proper exhaust system for it, and those require that you bring in air to compensate for what's being sucked out." This was news to me! The point being, I would certainly think that if such a system is necessary for your setup, then your designers should know and can make suggestions for you to consider. Have you asked them? I hope that's not too obvious--but hey, it's where I would start if I were you. And if the answers didn't make sense to me, then I'd keep asking, if you get my drift. Cj

You have to research what works and what doesn't in your geographical area. Online articles and research studies that generalize dont take into consideration different zones and what is efficient and operable there. Some folks take this as gold and dont look into what goes in their area and often times it gets them in trouble. What works in your area most often times is a different animal in other areas.

Our PV system cost us $8k out of pocket to install, provided $904 worth of electricity in the last year, and I just cashed a check on our first year of SREC sales of $1600. I don't expect the SREC numbers to stay anywhere near that high, but thats an ROI that blows away any other investment I have made. It should continue to crank out that power for the next 20-30 years. You may or may not agree with the public policy aspect of the subsidies provided, but as a homeowner you can't beat it with a stick. Last summer we ran up a $2200 bill for water, keeping a relatively small lawn alive (not something I would have done had I known!). If I had any intention of using that level of water a $10k investment to recycle would probably make a lot of sense. Not to me though; the lawn is on its own! We insulated and sealed the heck out of our place. Keeping the old house at 45 degrees for the winter before we began remodeling cost $1600 in oil. After doubling the size of the house and turning the thermostat up to 68 our gas bill was under $800 for the winter, with a bunch of sealing yet to complete. The payback will be much longer, but we also get the benefit of a very comfortable space, without the drafts int he old house. The beauty of insulation is that it should continue to provide that benefit for the next century plus, with no additional investment over that period. (Plenty of 2-300+ year old houses in the neighborhood, chances are good the house will survive). I expect my payback (taking opportunity cost into account) to be long, real returns of a few percent a year, with my heirs perhaps getting a better price for a quiet, well insulated house. I don't regret paying it forward in this way-- I appreciate the way our ancestors built with quality, and have a lot of satisfaction from creating a property that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

How did a discussion about windows turn into a cultural disagreement and charged political discussion? Left, right or wrong, please save the personal attacks. That said...I have an old (circa 1840s Greek Revival home with 6 over 6 double hung windows. Unfortunately, I had to replace them because they were in just too bad of a shape to restore economically. The closest I found in an affordable stock size and style was Brasco Boston 6 over 6 ADL (authentic divided light) windows (sash replacement kit--sash and balances only, no frame). A local mill was able to make custom wooden storms to match an original storm I found in the barn when I purchased the house. The windows cost a little over $100 each, the storms about $85.00. With a little ingenuity, I was able to make the Brascos fit into the original openings (the size difference was only about a 1/2 inch or so). From the outside, the house looks the same as it did in the photos I found at the local hisrorical society. The only drawback is the balances, which are vinyl with a spring mechanism. I was able to hide those with some creative interior trim work that doesn't look out of place. The net result is my heating bill has dropped significantly and my home is a lot less drafty. In the back turn of the 20th century addition that I had to completely rebuild due to structural issues, I bought pricey (stock) Marvin low E with argon 6 over 6 SDL's (simulated divided light windows--(prices ranging from $500 for a single unit to $1,100 for a mulled unit). The muntons are about an 1/8th of an inch thicker than the Brascos which matched the originals, but not noticeable since they are consistent on that portion of the house. Net net...The Marvins look great, operate smoothly (thanks to the quality balances) and are tight and completely draft free, but expensive. The Brascos look very close to the originals and with the storms seem to be as efficient. If I were in the position of the original poster, I would probably get removable interior storms and only put them in during the coldest months. The good ones don't look too bad and are a lot less expensive than replacing the windows. And my guess is the energy savings would pay back the cost within a few years or so. Perhaps Oberon can do the cost recovery calculation for you.