Gone with the Wind
White Bear Lake-based Window Inserts has come up with an innovative new twist on the age-old problem of drafty window panes.
Every year, the thought of through-the-roof energy bills prompts many Minnesotans to seal their windows with tape and plastic or even shell out thousands for replacement windows. Now, Window Inserts, a company with facilities in White Bear Lake and Reno, Nev., has patented an innovative middle-ground solution.
The product, the EnergySavr Window Insert, is the brainchild of Ron Badley, a Nevada heating and cooling technician who’s long been interested in finding an affordable, effective, and eye-pleasing window insulation product.
The aluminum-framed inserts feature optical-grade polyvinyl stretched across an aluminum frame surrounded by 1/2 inch of weather stripping around the outside. They’re designed to fit tightly inside an existing standard- size window frame. “The inserts have an R-value equal to a single pane of glass, and in addition to cutting heating costs up to 50 percent, they cut down on condensation, dust, and noise,” says Keith Kogler, the company’s sales manager. The company, which does most of its business via the Web at windowinserts.com, is co-owned by Badley, Nevada native Eric Swanson, and Minnesotan John Gutteter.
Swanson notes that while Window Inserts aren’t a new idea, they literally have a competitive edge. “What makes our product better is the compression fit,” he says. “Competing products often require tools to assemble and install. Our window insulation easily pushes into place on the inside of your current windows. Our 1/2 inch of weather stripping removes the need for tools and allows for a tight fit.”
While the Minnesota location has only been in operation since October 2005, it sold more in its first two months than the Nevada location sold during the entire year. “The potential to ramp up is huge,” says Swanson. “So we’re purposely keeping overhead to a minimum right now and working on business logistics. Our five-year plan is to get everything working smoothly and get to a much higher volume through the use of wholesale dealers as well as direct retail sales.”