Some people are really into natural lighting. The solar film will help with heat gain for glass but it may not be as inefficient as you think. Are you certain it is a glass window? Many times the "textured glass" type windows are not actually glass but hardened plastic plexi-glass in which case the U factor would be very different than single pain glass window.
Amhope, how would I tell if its glass or harden plexiglass? I'm not sure when I'll have a chance to go back. Meanwhile I'll research plexiglass. Thanks.
It looks like "architectural" glass and architectural glass is extremely expensive. Check out this link. I do stained glass, I sandblast glass to mimic authentic "frosted" panes, and I cut my own glass for repairs around the farm. I am familiar with various styles -- not an expert -- just familiar from working with and purchasing. I think you would automatically know if it were plexiglass simply by knocking on it, or tapping on it with a coin. Plexiglass is, well, plastic and it doesn't disguise its origins very well.
People who work with glass will say "double pane" but what that most often means is how thick it is, not that there are two separate panes of glass. When you replace a window the glass store will ask, single or double. You won't get 2 pieces of glass, you will get an approximate double thickness and 1 pane of glass. Around the farm there are some applications for single pane, and it is much cheaper for me to buy, but double pane "thickness" is best to use in the vast majority of applications because it won't break as easily.
I'm not sure how old that home is but it looks "young" enough to have been built when code required safety glass for applications such as that. In fact, I would almost bet it is double pane, architectural, safety glass. Every glass company has their own name for their different styles, or designs of glass. I wouldn't be so quick to "bust" it out if you replace it. You may be able to put an ad on craigslist and make a few bucks.
Oh, and BTW, Windows is right. Changing out a window that doesn't leak air will not increase energy savings by much. It will increase the comfort when sitting next to it. Here is a link. I don't mind my 1905 windows, but I do hate the maintenance. It doesn't look like there would be any maintenance on that window
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