home&garden 31
coating that reflects up to 70 percent of
heat energy while allowing in visible light,
generally giving it an R-factor of around
4. Some higher-end windows also contain
other insulators such as heat-mirror film
that more than double their insulating
properties to R-9 or higher. Better-quality
windows are beneficial in sunny Colorado,
where you want to block hot summer
sunlight but let in warm winter sunshine.
Triple-paned windows insulate your home
and reduce street noise better than dou-
ble-paned windows, but they can cost
about 50 percent more. Do your math to
make sure the extra expense is justified.
Gas Fillers.
The spaces between
double- and triple-paned windows can
be filled with regular air or inert gases,
such as argon and krypton. Inert gases
are odorless, colorless and nontoxic, plus
they reduce heat transfer. Argon, for
example, has about 33 percent less ther-
mal conductivity than air.
Visible Transmittance Number.

The visible transmittance (VT) number on
your window’s label indicates how much
light the glass lets through. VT values can
range from 0 to 1, but most VT values

new standards.
Shopping for replacement windows
can be confusing. But armed with a
little knowledge and patience, you can
improve your home’s comfort at the same
time you cut energy costs and help pro-
tect the environment.
Boulder, Colorado
303-993-2645
bluevalleyenergy.com
Use the natural warmth of the earth to heat and cool your home.
• Geothermal systems can dramatically reduce energy use
• Save 40% to 70% on your heating & cooling bills
• The ideal comfort system for new construction and retrofits
Planet Earth
The best heating and cooling system for your home.
Call to learn more about new federal tax rebates for geothermal!
32
home&garden
Glorious
greenhouses
By Debra Melani
Winter is as welcome to gardeners as aphids
are to roses: No more red-ripe juicy toma-
toes, sweet-smelling flowers or warm hours
in the garden. Just snow, wind and cold.
But some green thumbs are easing their
winter blues by taking up greenhouse gar-
dening. “I just like the cozy feeling and the
greenery in wintertime,” says Sue Main,

to fit home, shade-cloth attachment can be
difficult to use
Glazing: Glass and twin- or five-wall
polycarbonate
Size, Price: Wide variety with some
customization available; under $3,000 to
$8,000-plus
SOLARGRO CAPE COD
Advantages: Attractive designs, headroom
for tall plants and hanging baskets,
sheds snow
Disadvantages: Could exceed height
restrictions, more area to heat than some
models
Glazing: Glass and twin- or five-wall
polycarbonate
Size, Price: Wide variety and can be
customized; $5,000 to $20,000-plus
Here are a few greenhouse models from Charley’s Greenhouse & Garden. Check charleysgreenhouse.com for more options.
SOLARGRO PHOENIX
Advantages: Designed for cold, dark
climates, deflects wind, sheds snow, most
energy-efficient model
Disadvantages: Can’t be customized,
except for door and door drop
Glazing: Combination of five-wall
polycarbonate and white insulated panels
Size, Price: 10-by-12 feet, 10-by-16 feet,
10-by-20 feet; $7,950 $9,490, $10,950,
respectively

So kit buyers shouldn’t assume a bet-
ter price is a better deal, Smith says,
“because you’re probably getting a lower-
quality product.”
You’ll also have to choose a style for
your greenhouse, which ranges from tradi-
tional (gabled roofs, A-frames and gothic
arches) to offbeat (domes and prisms).
Picking the “glazing”—a greenhouse’s
wall and roof material—involves fore-
thought, too. For Colorado, Main suggests
twin-wall polycarbonate glazing, or five-
wall, if you can afford it. “Unless looks
are especially important,” she says. “Then
you would want glass because you can see
through it a lot better.”
Glass also lasts longer—“unless it
meets up with a rock,” Smith says. But
polycarbonate is more energy efficient—
something to consider if you don’t want
to grow tomatoes that cost more than
store-bought varieties because of heating
bills. Twin-wall polycarbonate costs about
the same as glass, but five-wall bumps
up the price considerably. However, the
increase could quickly be recouped in
energy savings.
For those on a budget, Smith suggests
Solexx greenhouse kits (solexx.com).
The company’s polyethylene blend might

go, Smith says. Although not useful year-
round, they do allow you to grow seedlings
very early in the season and keep greenery
growing through late autumn.
Single or Attached?
Perhaps the biggest decision is whether
to buy a freestanding or house-attached
model, which has some advantages,
Smith says. “I’ve always contended that
the closer you are to your greenhouse
physically, the better you’re going to take
care of it. And if you attach it to your
home, that’s about as close as it gets. You
might be more apt to sip your morning
coffee out there and think, ‘I need to
fertilize my orchids.’”
A well-insulated attached greenhouse
on the south side can also decrease home
heating bills, he says. At the same time, the
house buffers the greenhouse from north-
erly winds. Heat, electricity and plumb-
ing are probably more accessible with
an attached greenhouse, which is impor-
tant if you want to garden year-round.
“Otherwise, you shut it down for the three
coldest months or grow only incredibly
tolerant plants,” Smith says. There are also
propane-heater options for greenhouses.
On the flip side, freestanding green-
houses set up anywhere, and come in

bubble-wrap-like material) on the
east, west and north walls, and north
roof portion. Insulate the foundation’s
outside perimeter with a 1-to-2-inch-
thick vertically placed Styrofoam board
that extends down for at least a foot.
Weatherstrip vents and doors,
and caulk cracks
. To determine where
leaks are, close up the greenhouse,
light an incense stick and hold it
against the walls and joints. If the
smoke moves, seal that spot.
Line the north wall with metal
or black drums filled with water. The
drums absorb heat during the day and
release it at night.
Invest in a night curtain, which
you can roll across the inside of
the greenhouse at night. Just like a
blanket, it’s useful in extremely cold
and windy areas.
—Source: Shane Smith,
greenhousegarden.com
“GREEN”HOUSE TIPS
Glass greenhouses
(left) showcase plants
because you can see
through the walls. But
they don’t insulate as

To accomplish that, you’ll need a few
essentials on hand: a thick, plush robe
and cushy slippers; a washcloth, a back
brush, and a loofah or other scrubber;
a pitcher of chilled spring water with
lime or lemon and a fancy drinking glass;
a teapot for steeping green or white
tea; your favorite CDs; cleansers, toners
and moisturizers; coarse sea salt, body
scrubs and pumice; fluffy hotel-style cot-
ton towels; luxurious hair-care products;
a bath tray, a pillow and a cooling-gel
eye mask; an aromatherapy diffuser and
natural essential oils; self-massage tools;
PHOTO BY BRIAN CHASE