I prefer a window insulation kit. It's clear and works really well. When I lived is a very old house with double hung window, I used this stuff. It made the place very toasty and is very inexpensive and easy to install.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100135637/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I'm renting an OLD drafty house and in desparate need of something like the insulation kit. How well does it remove later? I've heard it's not always super transparent but can be a little foggy or like looking through water I'll take the less-than-transparent as long as i can remove it cleanly in the spring.

Highlander - I've used a product like you suggest, but it took the paint off my window frames when I removed it.

It did work nicely until then though!

@LBro - beware! Our house has painted woodwork and the top layer of paint comes off when we remove a plastic insulation kit (since you use an adhesive as well as heat to apply). Admittedly, the previous owners may have skipped steps when they painted and used inferior products, but if you have painted woodwork in your rental, I'd consider whether you want to repaint everything before moving out.

I just bought this stuff and created a window shade with it that attaches with velcro to the window sill. Seems to work fairly well as the space between the window and the insulated shade is much colder than the indoor room temp. I also have that plastic insulation on other windows and that works well too.

I too am renting a drafty place. I always put up the plastic window covering. It is a bit fiddly because you use double sided tape to attach the plastic to the window frame. BUT I find it really keeps drafts at bay.
You make it really clear by blow drying the plastic, which make it taught. However, when the temperature changes inside or out you may see the plastic expand and contract.
This install job does go faster with two people!
I am interested in this new product though, especially for the patio door in my guest room, because I think it needs a more "heavy duty" product.

This is not a new product - I had 'warm windows' Roman blinds in a house I lived in 20 years ago.

If it's the same stuff, you can make a roman blind with your preferred decorative fabric on the side that shows. Ours had magnetic tape down both sides so it really adhered to the window frame (obvs we had to install magnet tape on the frame as well). It worked well and it was fairly attractive.

The plastic stuff is also good - I've used it - but I don't think it's fair to compare them. They really are different products. One tip with the plastic is to mount the tape around the outside edges of the window, where it won't show much if it removes paint.

A quick and dirty alternative is to buy something quilted (I've used microfiber bedspreads and also Boutis from France) and hang it as a curtain with those clips over windows and doors in the winter. It makes a much bigger difference than you would imagine.

This looks interesting. Our office gets so hot from the sun shining in, so I'd really like to try this stuff out. I need to find one of those 50% off coupons!

lol
you had me
at
punch it in its face
love it

Bubble wrap makes great insulation. Use clear packing tape to achieve the size you need. I wrap it around the molding and use t-pins to secure it. The t-pin can slip between the molding and drywall without leaving marks and damaging the paint.

If you have large really large windows you can put a second layer directly on the window held in place with double sided tape.

The Container Store has the very best prices on bubble wrap because they sell so much of it. If you are not close to a container surf the web for good deals. Ebay use to have the best now there are a lot of small companies popping up that have good prices.

CHEAP Window Insulation - Buy spring loaded rods to fit inside window frame. Remember to get two per window, one for top, one for bottom. - Get fleece from the fabric store, and be sure to check the remnant table first. OR, find a large fleece blanket and cut it up, and get Fabric Glue at the store. - Cut the fabric twice the length of the window and twice the width of the window. Be generous. Tucking is recommended. - Glue the ends together. - Loop the fleece over both rods, and hang. Push the rods as close to the wood as you can, and be sure to tuck in the sides. Foam can also be inserted between the layers. - To take them down, pull. I haven't seen these rods leave marks. - The rods are a dollar on up depending on window width. The fleece can be as little as a dollar a yard on sale. A friend of mine cut up wool blankets he already had, and made a very cosy warm nest.

5)

I have 100 year old large windows. Before I upgraded, I made frames from 1 by 2s, stapled heavy clear plastic over the frame and used Mortite to secure it inside the window frames and seal out drafts. They would fill with air when the wind was strong, but they did the job, we're used for years and were inexpensive. No damage to my paint.

@Village's idea really does work - I did it in a rental home I lived in - however I got the JoAnn's 50% off coupon (just sign-up on their website to get those regular coupons) and bought rolls of quilt batting to use - and - spring tension rods at a dollar store (2/$1).

I've reused some of those materials in the home I'm in now but for privacy, I use multiple thicknesses of sheer linen (privacy but doesn't block the light), leaving a 1 ft. space at the top for light to flood in and leaving a 1 ft. space at the bottom for the pets to look outside (if I don't they'll claw them down) and then I have a more formal curtain on either side of the window for looks. It's been a good interim measure until I can decide what sort of blinds I do want.

I saw this in someone's home but never knew what it was or where to get it. Cool! Until we replaced our windows last year, we used the plastic stuff (tape around outside edges of windows) but we have little kids, so doing the patio door was never an option (curious little fingers trying to poke holes!). And now those same little hands have destroyed a roller shade meant to keep his room dark, so this might be a good alternative.

I used Warm Windows to make a window shade and it worked beautifully. I liked how well it insulated the window and that I could sew whatever fabric I wanted for the shade. Also it looked really nice from the outside. It did completely block all light, though. During the daytime you want some natural light.

I just found a new product (at least new to me) and I love it! It's seal n peal caulk. You use it to seal any areas where drafts come in and It's temporary so when it starts warming up you just peal it off. I live in a 100 year old house and the windows are extremely drafty. I just used a caulk gun a put it along the cracks where the window opens and closes and I could notice a huge different right away. It looks a lot better than the plastic and it's really easy to use, actually, kind of fun. It's clear and is supposed to be vanilla scent but it in no way smells like vanilla. I would definitely recommend it! I found it near the window insulating kits and it was around $7 per tube. One tube worked for 4 large windows with huge cracks.