October is Energy Awareness Month and the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign is a national call-to-action to encourage every individual in the United States to help save energy and protect the environment through energy-efficient lighting. More on October is Energy Awareness Month

Green Communities, and initiative sponsored by Enterprise, will be awarding grants of up to $50,000 per project for developers committed to providing green affordable housing. The deadline for applications is Friday, August 31, and awards are expected to be made by November. On Wednesday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET, Green Communities will hold an online meeting to review the application process. For grant guidelines and an application, click here. Information about the grant can be obtained by telephone (410-715-7433) or email.

Planning funds may be used to:

• Cover expenses related to the integrated design process including the additional costs of architectural work, charrette, engineering, site surveys, analysis of energy use, and environmental reviews.

Construction funds may be used for:

• Costs related to Green construction items, such as more efficient HVAC system, green materials, energy efficient appliances, etc.
• Costs related to architect’s certification that Green Communities Criteria have been met, as well as costs of any other third party assistance in certifying a development.
• Costs of tracking the incremental cost (if any, and not to exceed $3,000) of implementing individual items in the Criteria; this tracking will be required.
• Third-party costs of establishing systems and tools for property management and resident education, to maximize the benefits of the green measures once the property is operating

A storm panel added to a single-pane window can reduce winter heat loss by as much as 50%. They are also less expensive than double-glazed windows. You can add them to the exterior or interior side of windows.

Exterior Panels
There are two types of exterior storm window panels: single and combination. Single storm panels are made of glass, rigid plastic, or plastic sheeting. You typically put them up in the fall and take them down in the spring. A combination panel consists of two window panes and a permanent screen over the window. In the summer, you can slide one of the panes up and the screen down for ventilation.

Exterior storm window panels need to be custom-made.

Interior Panels
Interior storm window panels consist of flexible (like polyethylene) or rigid plastic. Rigid plastic panels are typically mounted using Velcro, magnetic, or snap-in seals. You can easily install the flexible type in window frames using snap-in retainer seals or double-faced tape. Despite their ease of installation, interior panels are usually not as clear as their rigid counterparts. Flexible panels may also wrinkle or sag after installation.

Heat-shrink film, however, doesn’t wrinkle. This type of flexible film adheres tightly against the seal as it’s heated using a hair dryer.

Interior storm window panels should go up before the heating season and come down before the cooling season. They are more useful for windows with awnings or for those that crank-out, where it’s difficult to use an exterior storm window panel.

Unlike exterior storm window panels, interior panels don’t have to be custom-made to fit windows, though custom-made ones are available from some window suppliers. Therefore, interior panels usually cost less. You can purchase interior panel kits from building suppliers or hardware stores.