New windows open doors: New technologies offer benefits

The Colgate Palmolive building, Rockefeller Center, 1 Wall Street, and The Empire State Building are perhaps the most notable commercial spaces in New York City to have invested in window replacement in recent years. Their landlords, however, are far from alone in their decision to change their old windows for newer models. Thousands of commercial windows in New York City have windows replaced each year. If that number is surprising, then the number of buildings in the commercial sphere that could benefit from window replacement is nothing short of staggering. All landlords presiding over buildings with windows ten years old or older would be wise to consider entering the market for window replacement. The substantial technological improvements made in windows in the last five years --noise reduction, clarity, insulation, and safety--should not be the perks of recently constructed buildings alone. For the busy tenants of commercial spaces, in particular, the executives in glassy corner offices, no price can be put on comforts like natural lighting, noise reduction, and a clear view of the world outside. New window technologies enabling these comforts include low-E glass, which reduces the heat loss through the glass while still allowing nearly all natural light in. Not only do these technologies benefit the day-to-day mood and productivity of employees, they help create an atmosphere that appeals to company's potential clients as well. New technologies in insulation have improved the ability of windows to retain heat during winter and coolness during the summer. These developments in insulation, which often involve three glazes with gas pockets between them, reduce HVAC needs, helping both the environment and the pocketbook in major ways. Studies have found landlords going with new, greener windows that meet current energy codes save up to 25% in HVAC costs, a savings that usually pays them back for their investment in five years. Finally and perhaps most importantly, are the technological improvements in safety. Most people can recall a news story or two about a window washer hanging precariously from a tilted platform or even plummeting to the sidewalk below. By allowing cleaning to be done from a building's interior, new window hardware prevents these accidents and greatly decrease the difficulty of a window washer's job. Aside from technological improvements, many windows installed in New York buildings in the late '80s and early '90s now need to be replaced. With the advent of aluminum windows back then, the government offered flat-rate tax incentives for landlords and co-ops to replace their windows. The result was a rise in the number of window installation businesses, many of whom were ill-trained. Those poorly installed are now presenting problems many landlords and co-ops can't afford to ignore. All in all, office spaces in buildings with outdated windows unable to offer the comforts of new windows are leased less often than their more comfortable counterparts. Windows today are nearly as soundproof and insulating as walls. They're safe, and they let in maximum light. Thanks to new technologies and landlords' desire to keep current with energy codes, NYC is currently experiencing a boom in window replacement. Those buildings that choose to forgo the investment may find it harder to lease than ever before. Richard Apfel is the president of Skyline Windows, Bronx, N.Y. Richard Apfel, Skyline Windows