“Stop the Leaks, Fix the Windows.” The Wall Street Journal Highlights How Thin Glass and WinSert are Redefining the Built Environment

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TL;DR: The Wall Street Journal's top technology and innovation columnist, Christopher Mims, recently highlighted Alpen’s WinSert secondary window insert as a practical solution for drastically lowering energy bills. Alpen’s use of lightweight ThinGlass technology is driving a critical market shift, enabling high-performance energy retrofits that dramatically improve energy efficiency and rebalances the built environment at a fraction of the cost of full window replacement.

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Last Friday, The Wall Street Journal’s top technology and innovation columnist, Christopher Mims, published an examination of a few practical solutions for lowering energy bills, spotlighting Alpen’s high-performance secondary window insert: WinSert.

This national attention is prescient, arriving just as winter approaches, and homeowners and building owners prioritize energy efficiency. More significantly, the column feature signals a fundamental shift in the market: High-performance glass becoming lighter, thinner, and easier to implement, opening new possibilities across the entire built environment.

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A Shift in the Building Envelope Conversation

For decades, the design and performance of the building envelope, the physical separator between the conditioned interior and the exterior, operated under an imbalance. While advancements in insulation for walls and efficiency for HVAC systems continually evolved, windows lagged behind. This created a consistent vulnerability for energy loss and an imbalance in building performance.

This is not the first time the WSJ has noted the impact of Alpen’s innovation and the importance of a building’s envelope. Earlier this year, the paper spotlighted how Alpen’s triple-pane ThinGlass Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) were poised to solve a multi-billion-dollar problem facing the window industry. Alpen is actively using ThinGlass technology to drive the window industry forward, expanding what’s truly achievable in building efficiency for structures of every type and age.  

While WinSert is usually used in commercial campus retrofits, LL97 remediation efforts in New York City, historic preservation, and ESCO retrofits, the WSJ’s mention of its residential application speaks volumes about where the market is heading. When high-performance technology becomes lightweight, durable, and easily deployable, it crosses over into the mainstream, enabling affordable and dramatic change. These spotlights on Alpen’s innovative ThinGlass solutions emphasize a commitment to a better, more balanced envelope.

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The Practical Solution: Why Top Engineers, Architects, and Building Owners are Choosing WinSert

The WinSert system is a revolutionary, lightweight secondary window insert designed by Alpen to upgrade existing, underperforming windows with minimal disruption. It is the economical solution that does not compromise performance, making it the premier choice for achieving a deep energy retrofit without the cost or complexity of full window replacement.

Here’s why industry professionals trust WinSert for their most challenging window retrofit and efficiency projects:

• ThinGlass Technology: Utilizes lightweight, high-strength glass to ensure the unit is ultra-lightweight (often $<1$ lb/sq ft) and easy to install, while significantly reducing both cost and embodied carbon.

• Highest Certified Performance: Independently validated as the top-rated AERC-certified secondary glazing system. It transforms existing windows into airtight, high-performance units.

• Drastic Energy Savings: Decreases air leakage by up to 97% over the existing window. Third-party field studies have shown whole-building energy savings of 12% to 18% and reduced HVAC loads.

• Maximized Comfort: Improves thermal performance by up to almost 6X over single-pane glass, raising winter interior window temperatures by up to 20°F and reducing summer radiant heat transfer.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces capital expenditure, costing as little as 10% of a traditional full commercial window replacement, ensuring a rapid Return on Investment (ROI).

• Aesthetic Preservation: Features a low-profile, super-insulated fiberglass frame with minimal sightlines, making it ideal for maintaining the architectural integrity of buildings requiring historic preservation.

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By bringing the performance of cutting-edge high-performance glass to the market in an accessible form, Alpen is providing a vital tool for engineers and architects to design a more energy-efficient and comfortable built environment.

Coming Soon: Calculate your savings with our interactive calculator! You'll be able to input your building's specifications and instantly receive a preliminary estimate of your customized energy savings you can expect from a WinSert retrofit.

If you’re looking for a reliable way to elevate your building’s energy performance, WITHOUT full window replacement, WinSert offers proven results.  

Have questions about WinSert’s capabilities, code compliance, or integration for your next project? Our technical team is here to help. Please reach out to us at 800-882-4466.

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Links to more:

• WinSert full specifications and performance data:  https://www.thinkalpen.com/winsert

• Previous coverage in the WSJ: Best Energy Efficient Windows? The Wall Street Journal Says Alpen IGUs Could Solve a Multi-Billion-Dollar Problem | Alpen Windows & Doors

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