Volunteers make low-cost insulating window inserts for homes in Dover-Foxcroft region

It’s not too early to sign up for 2018 production. Local Window Dressers volunteers in the Dover-Foxcroft region 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 Commons at Central Hall, is eager to help local families reap the benefits of this fabulous 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,” said Dr. Lesley Fernow, organizer and volunteer for the local effort.

Residents in Dover-Foxcroft, Milo, Dexter, Sangerville, Garland, Exeter, Abbot, Parkman and Guilford can sign up to have their windows measured by local volunteers and then help make the inserts at the community workshop, scheduled for the week of Oct. 6-14 at a site yet to be determined. Measuring will be completed by the first week in September for the 2018 season.

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. Window Dressers 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 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 local Window Dressers team needs volunteers to help with the community workshop, including assistance with the build itself, calling volunteers and clients, providing food and snacks for the work teams. Everyone can help in some small way.

You can sign up for window measurements or to volunteer by calling Lesley Fernow at 992-6822. A local measuring team will contact you to make an appointment.