- Windows weren’t always made of glass.
The earliest windows are believed to have been openings in the roof of a home just to let in light during the day—they would be covered with animal hide or wood at night. Eventually humans fashioned flattened pieces of translucent animal horn, marble, or paper to allow light but protect from the elements. The Romans were the first that we know of who used glass, but the glass at that time was likely too thick to even see through.
- Windows weren’t common in homes until the early 17th century.
Before they were prevalent, windows were actually seen as a luxury item. Aristocrats would even have their windows removed and stored somewhere safe while they were out of town, like you would with a nice car or other pricey valuables. After they became common practice, England and other European countries enforced a “window tax” that was based on the number of windows on a property. This is why some homes of that era have bricked-up window spaces—all because savvy residents wanted to avoid these high taxes.
- The White House has 147 windows.
And it’s likely that they’re mostly made of ballistic (bulletproof) glass. It’s even possible that there are 294 panes of glass, as backing existing windows with another layer of protection can be standard for government buildings. The 147 windows of the White House vastly outnumber the 8 windows that the average US house has. Buckingham palace, however, has a total of 760 windows.
- It takes workers three months to finish cleaning the windows on the world’s tallest building.
It’s called the Burj Khalifa, and it’s a skyscraper in Dubai that stands at more than 160 stories. It apparently takes a team of 36 window cleaners a whopping three months to get through the half-mile of windows, and those involved have to carry electrolyte packs and wear clothing that resembles moon suits. Definitely not a job for the faint of heart.
- The US Department of Energy predicts that 25% of energy bills are due to faulty windows.
In 2017, the average household electricity bill was around $111. If you’ve noticed that your energy bill is higher than you’d like, it might be because your windows allow too much heat transfer. This can be especially true for those who live in areas like Houston, where weather sees extreme highs and lows. Glass is simply a poor insulator. This is why window film is such a viable option for many—it allows for sunlight that makes your home appear open and spacious, while still filtering out the sun’s UV rays. Call EP Window Films at 832-271-3750 if you want to improve the look of your windows and see a reduction on your home’s heating and cooling costs!
