After the frame is put together, prime it on all sides and paint it in a well considered color to match or accent the house. Screen frames are a good place to try something a bit bold. Use of solar screening on West facing windows and any others that get too much sun will reduce heat gain, the load on the air conditioner, the power bill and fading of interiors. A silver colored solar screening is now available that looks reasonably like standard aluminum screen although it costs more. Solar screen is available that reduces heat gain by 70 to 90%. You will probably have to special order any color other than black. It is worth it to keep your windows from disappearing behind a black veil. Those who would like to support City government by continuing to pay the same electric bill might consider putting the re-painted wooden screens frames back up without screening as a purely decorative feature, or painting the screen recess itself around the window facing with an accent color. However, the energy saving potential of solar screening makes real screened windows an attractive proposition. The adventurous may want to actually try the occasional day or night in the spring or fall with natural ventilation without risking exotic mosquito-borne viruses.

So, for not much money and a reasonable amount of effort it is possible to complete and beautify your old house while increasing its energy efficiency. How about it?

--	Gary Penn
	HPNA Co-President
	(512) 452-3103
	garypenn@swbell.net