[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 60, Issue 4

[jdianeol at aol.com]

 One more area that will need to be addressed if we hope to save any windows in Mass...

After having just replaced lousy, cheap & inappropriate vinyl windows, most with broken seals, with far more appropriate single glazed wood windows with high quality exterior storms, I just got told about 45 minutes ago in a Mass Save energy audit (from/related to National Grid) that I am eligible now for financial compensation (rebates? low or no interest loans?) to replace these single glazed windows with "more efficient" double glazed windows.  He also was confident that we must have installed these without a permit and was amazed to learn that we actually had gotten a building permit because "these can't meet the energy codes".

I explained to the kid who did the audit that not only do single glazed with exterior storms meet the codes, but that in an antique home that is a significant contributing property to a National Historic District it is strongly encouraged.  I then explained to him that my contractor & I had even tested the windows with an infrared heat sensor to compare the old to the new.  Even though we were testing single glazed windows that had just been installed (not yet completely acclimated to the heat of the building) to double glazed windows that had been installed for years, the old vinyl windows and the new single glazed WITHOUT storms tested essentially equal temperatures, but the single glazed windows with exterior storms installed all tested at least 2 degrees warmer than the vinyl double glazed.  This was even before all the weather stripping was fully installed or the newly installed windows had acclimated to the house temperature after having been stored in the unheated basement!

He was still amazed and left chuckling & shaking his head that we had this "difference of opinion", because I surely could not be speaking from facts, when I described how vehemently I dislike vinyl windows.  

cringe...
sigh...

PS-
Photos of the installation as it progressed showing change in appearance from vinyl to wood may be viewed in a publicly accessible album.  Please feel free to share if you think it might help... paste the following link into your browser after the obligatory http://
picasaweb.google.com/110296343327825370398/WindowProgress#

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: heartwood restoration <jade at heartwoodrestoration.com>
To: Steinitz, Michael @ SEC <Michael.Steinitz at state.ma.us>; John Newell <johnnewell at mac.com>; masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Wed, Feb 9, 2011 9:54 am
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 60, Issue 4


from what i understand, the CPA guidelines are just that, guidelines...though the CPC (community preservation coalition) works with municipalities, they have limited legal oversight....we as concerned preservationists and community members are welcome to speak with our local groups regarding how the funds are invested...arrive well prepared...the power of deep pockets continues to make its (false) case for new, bigger, better, faster, easier, replacement material...
 
i have been disheartened to drive by projects in northampton that display a large banner announcing 'YOUR CPA FUNDS AT WORK' only to see that gorgeous old windows are being removed, discarded and  replacements installed...
 
i just got off the phone with the CPA office in boston and had a very positive conversation with 'cathy'....she is going to forward to me their guidelines concerning window work as well as the name of the contact person for the northampton CPA group...we've got our work cut out for us but reaching out  and disseminating factual information that makes the best long term use of community funds will work to our benefit and theirs....
 
we're all in this together......
......jade
 
jade l. mortimer
heartwood window restoration
26 forget road
hawley, ma  01339
413-339-4298 p/f
  
----- Original Message ----- 
  
From:   Steinitz, Michael @ SEC 
  
To: John Newell ; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 9:00   AM
  
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] MassHistPres   Digest, Vol 60, Issue 4
  


CPA funds are considered local funds.  There is no MHC   review based on
CPA funding. 

Michael Steinitz
Director   
Preservation Planning Division
Massachusetts Historical   Commission
220 Morrissey Blvd
Boston MA   02125
617-727-8470
617-727-5128 (fax)
michael.steinitz at state.ma.us

-----Original   Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu]   On Behalf Of John Newell
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 8:06 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject:   Re: [MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 60, Issue 4

At 09:03 AM   11/02/07, Christine Beard wrote:
>.....  Also, remember that if   Springfield is using state or federal 
>funding for window replacements,   MHC will have to review the project 
>and would certainly request an   appropriate replacement sash in terms 
>of its   appearance.

         Does this   include CPA funds   expenditures?

         If so,   can some one cite the appropriate governing CMR or 
MGL or other compelling   authority.

           Regards,          ......niiiiiiiiii

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