Energy efficiency on the Eastside
A warmer adobe on the Eastside, without trading away its history
Thick earthen walls hold heat beautifully, which means the windows are where an old Eastside house loses most of its comfort. Single panes and loose sashes let the warmth out on winter nights and let the dust in every spring.
There are two good ways to fix that here, and the right one depends on your windows and the rules for your address.
Two routes to an efficient historic house
| Tighten the originals | Efficient replacements | |
|---|---|---|
| What it involves | Weatherstripping, reglazing and sealing the frame to the wall | Insulated low-E glass in traditional wood or clad profiles |
| Best when | Sash and frames are sound and the city favors keeping them | Units are failing, or review allows replacement |
| Drafts and dust | Big improvement | Big improvement |
| Heat loss through the glass | Single pane remains | Much lower |
| Historic fabric kept | ✔ | New units, matched in look |
What matters most in Eastside houses
Air leakage usually outweighs everything else. Gaps where an old frame meets the plaster, and between the sash and the frame, can let more heat escape than the glass itself, and closing them is the first thing we look at.
Where replacement makes sense, south-facing openings onto a courtyard can keep more of the winter sun, while west windows facing a hot lane benefit from glass with stronger solar control. Units are built for Santa Fe's altitude either way.
Eastside efficiency questions
Is it worth upgrading windows in an adobe with very thick walls?
Usually, yes. The walls do a good job of moderating temperature, so leaky windows stand out as the weak spot. Tightening or replacing them is often the most noticeable comfort improvement in these houses.
Can efficient glass go into a true divided-lite wood window?
Yes. Many wood and clad windows offer insulated glass with true divided lites or with simulated bars that look the part from the lane, and we'll show you samples of both.
Will sealing my old windows trap moisture in the adobe?
We seal the window, not the wall. The plaster and adobe around the opening still need to breathe, so we use materials suited to earthen walls and leave the surrounding surfaces alone.
Keep exploring
More services in Historic Eastside
Energy-Efficient Windows nearby
Find out where your Eastside home is losing heat.
We'll check every window for leaks and condition, then price both the tighten-up and the replacement route.