Volunteers make low-cost insulating home window inserts

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Local WindowDressers volunteers in the Dover-Foxcroft are making appointments now to measure windows for cost-saving insulating window inserts. Window Dressers is a four-year old non-profit supporting barnraiser-like Community Builds in local communities in Maine, gathering neighbors to help neighbors build the inserts. The local group, organized under the leadership of the Maine Highland Senior Center and the Charlotte White Center-Thriving in Place Project, is eager to help local families reap the benefits of this community project.  

“This is a project that not only helps our friends and neighbors save money in the heating season, but it is an opportunity to build community and engage people in volunteering to support a really great project,” says Dr. Lesley Fernow, organizer and volunteer for the local effort.  

Residents can sign up to have their windows measured by local volunteers and then help make the inserts at the Community Build in Dover-Foxcroft, scheduled for the week of Dec. 7–11 at a site yet to be determined.  WindowDressers inserts can lower heating bills by as much as 25 percent and help the environment by lowering CO2 emissions levels by the same amount.

Inserts are custom measured and cut, then wrapped with clear polyolefin film and shrunk drum-tight on both sides to create clear views through an insulating dead-air space. Foam weather stripping around the outer edges stops drafts and gives the insert a clean custom fit. Window experts have said that, when combined with a good storm window, this is more effective than replacing old windows with new, expensive, double-pane  windows and is a fraction of the cost.

Inserts have an average cost of $2.10 per square foot, and are available in white or natural pine finish (white finish is an additional $4 per unit). Homeowners can usually recoup their investment in the first year with savings on heating fuel. Special pricing is also offered to low-income residents.

The group is also interested in recruiting people who will help with the community build in December. They will need help with the build itself, calling volunteers, providing food and snacks for the work teams. Everyone can help in some small way.  

To sign up for window measurements or to volunteer call 596-3073, go to the website www.windowdressers.org, email info.windowdressers@gmail.com or call Dr. Fernow at 992-6822. A local measuring team will make contact to schedule an appointment.