accessibilitywindows
How can you open the top of a double-hung window when you are short and elderly? I have air conditioners on the bottom of the windows, but I would like some fresh air on cool days. I am in no shape to remove the air conditioners. I thought perhaps something like a garden hoe might work.
Can you help?
From treehugger.com
"When air passes over your home, it works the same way as it does over an airplane wing: the Bernoulli effect causes the air on top and on the downwind side of the house to be at a lower pressure than on the upwind side. So if you have double hung windows, you can open the bottom section of the upwind side of the house (usually west) and the upper section of the downwind side (usually east), and the low pressure will suck the air through your house. Make the outlet openings (top section) larger than the inlet opening (bottom section), it increases the draft."
The standard approach to sealing the top of the lower sash raised for the AC is a foam strip placed between the outward facing uper edge of the inner sash and the outer glass pane.
This gap is on the inside of the house.
The birds you mention must be getting in through the lower gap between the lower rail of the upper sash and the glass pane on the inside sash. There is no reason you could not use the same type of foam insulator on the outside (assuming you can safely reach the window). While this is not a hard barrier that will prevent a forceful assault by a determined attack bird, it probably will be enough to discourage the accidental intruder.
The foam will likely deteriorate much more quickly outdoors, but should last a season.
Best Answer
Many air conditioners have a "fresh air" setting; at that setting, they blow air from outdoors into the house. Although it does cost electricity, it's better than opening the window because it moves are even on dead-still days.