![How to Ensure Your Windows are Eco-Friendly](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/window2NEW_7556_2018-07-17_11-50.jpg)
Upgrading to ENERGY STAR-rated units can lower your monthly utility bills up to 15 percent, according to the EPA. For maximum efficiency, consider dual- or triple-pane units or those that are argon-gas filled with low-E coatings and a low U-factor (the lower the U-value, the better).
If replacing existing windows isn’t feasible, upgrade efficiency in current units with simple steps like caulking and weather-stripping around air leaks and adding a protective solar film, exterior shades or UV-diffusing window coverings.
There are plenty of good weatherstripping options to choose from, depending on where your window needs it most.
![Bronze-Flange-paint_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-07](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/Bronze-Flange-paint_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-07.jpg)
Brass or bronze flanges are secured along one edge and then sprung along the other to press tightly against the moving sash.
![Plastic_Flange_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-08](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/Plastic_Flange_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-08.jpg)
Polypropylene or nylon flanges have a barbed leg that inserts securely into slots cut into the stop moldings, jamb or sash; their “spring” is shaped during manufacturing.
See also Air Sealing Your Log Home
![Integral_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-09](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/Integral_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-09.jpg)
Integral weatherstripping has a metal strip with a rigid fold that is nailed to the jamb and inserted into channels cut into the sash.
![Sill_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-11](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/Sill_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-11.jpg)
Soft, ribbed, adhesive-backed foam is easily applied to the bottom rail of the sash.
![MeetingRail2_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-14](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/MeetingRail2_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-14.jpg)
Interlocking metal weatherstripping consists of two opposing U-shaped metal strips designed to cup together and provide an airtight seal between the meeting rail’s mating surfaces.
![MeetingRail_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-16](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/MeetingRail_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-16.jpg)
Thin compression silicone tubing can be applied mechanically in a slot, or via adhesive, to seal the smallest gaps between meeting rails without affecting locking mechanisms.
![Compression_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-18](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static-loghome/media/Compression_WS_1_7556_2018-07-17_12-18.jpg)
Thicker silicone compression tubing attaches to the top of the upper rail to accommodate larger gaps that develop as a result of house settling and paint buildup.