Preserving the charm and character of the appearance of historic buildings is often directly at odds with the need to update its functionality to modern standards. Older buildings contain outdated, inefficient windows; however, common measures taken to improve energy 
efficiency, sound control, or security may be too costly or too intrusive in altering the building’s historic design or materials.
Thermolite’s window system can provide its key benefits to improving window performance and implement them into historic buildings while preserving their historical integrity.
- Does not require major changes to materials, design, or structure
- Meets National Historic Preservation Act guidelines
- May be eligible for historic tax credits
- Significant ROI on energy costs – average energy savings of at least 20%.
- Meets Department of Defense blast threshold requirements for DoD occupied historic buildings without overriding preservation guidelines
- Can reduce sound control levels to STC rating of 49 in historic buildings.
- Easy, DIY install can be done by in-house facilities maintenance at times least disruptive to the building’s occupants and visitors, saving significantly on installation costs.
The following chart provides an overview of the monthly savings related to the utility cost at the building pre and post-retrofit of the windows Thermolite installed in the historic Sidney R. Yates Federal Building: (View case study: Sidney R. Yates Federal Building – Energy Reduction and Historical Integrity for full details)
(Gray = Pre-retrofit, Blue Bar = Post-retrofit)
After the installation of Thermolite’s interior retrofit window system, the Yates building reported an overall 23% savings in total utility reduction, including a 33% steam reduction.
Sidney Yates Federal Building
