Double hungs are traditionally not as energy efficient as Casements because of the split of the unit. I have European Tilt turn casements which allow me to leave the window open without a swinging effect. The unit tilts into the room and I can leave my window open at night without fear of someone breaking in. They are not inexpensive but totally love this style of window. If you truly like double hung windows, the European casement come as a false double hung, basically with a mullion in the middle.

Tilt Turn windows

Good luck!

Those look great, but I imagine double the cost of a standard casement. How are modern double hungs not as energy efficient when they have better seals than the past? I thought the decent ones had magnetic seals - too?

I prefer double hungs. If you have an alarm system with sensors for the windows, you can have an additional sensor placed to allow the alarm to be active and have the upper window cracked open. If someone tried to get in at night they would then set off the alarm. I haven't seen anything similar for casements.

I also don't like having screens on the inside.

We did double hung windows in most places but we did do casements in our kitchen (to make them easier to reach to open) and in our great room (for the unobstructed view).

I wish double-hungs had a roll-up screen. I like the inside roll-up screen of casements, the screen and the space between window and screen stay much cleaner.

I started using my new double hung in the way they are designed for, lowering the upper and raising the lower, in the spring & summer, has greatly decreased my AC use.

I used both types of windows in my house. I used casement in the kitchen and double-hung in the rest of the house for the purposes of traditional colonial architecture. I agree with nini804 that the style of your house may determine your choice of window. Yet I have seen several new houses in the area that are a blend of traditional house design with a modern spin so casement windows looked fine there. It seems you are facing a dilemma of view/aesthetics vs function/practicality.

I believe that similar quality casement windows may be more energy efficient than similar double hungs.

You can search Energy Star ratings to compare energy efficiency.

In our area, for decades casements have had the edge because of price. As downtown areas gentrified, the first modern "upgrade" was new windows. Out with the single and double hung, wavy old glass and all-in with new casements. But they're the bane of historical accuracy, the equivalent of missing teeth in the Mona Lisa.

Most of the fake mullions and muntins--what posters here simplify to "grilles"--were an attempted improvement. But, saving money again, the skinny white plastic ones that proliferated were even worse, if that's possible.

Since the predominating North American style is Neo-Eclectic, i.e., whatever I think looks good, mix 'n match is your right. And a century from now it'll be the "way cool" new Retro look to emulate!

Good thoughts from all. Unless historical or style mandate it when choosing windows, select tilt and turn, casements and swinging doors over double hungs and sliders. Regardless of which operation you choose, take a close look at how many operable windows are being specified. Egress and ventilation are often addressed with a single window which means the majority of windows can be fixed or inoperable. Fixed windows have the lowest upfront costs, energy and maintenance concerns and they allow the most view and light with thinner frames.

Double hungs and sliders typically have leakier weatherstripping that wears out faster than swinging type windows and doors. Double hungs have more frame area which means poorer thermal performance (center of glass is better insulated than edge). How windows look from the exterior is obviously important, but I'm also interested in how they look from the inside. It drives me nuts to have a horizontal division in the middle of a double hung window, viewing out from in.

Double hungs have only half the egress and ventilation area compared to casement, awning and tilt and turn. Cracking open a casement window should provide plenty of ventilation on a windy site without becoming a problem . A windy site would benefit even more from the better airtight characteristics of casement, awning and tilt/turn compared to double hungs and sliders.

It drives me nuts to have a horizontal division in the middle of a double hung window, viewing out from in.

When I'm seated I never notice the division. We're doing all fixed windows or single hung.

Perhaps another note, not practical but more philosophical. We adjust to what we have and live with it without any issues most of the time. Unless it is a GROSS problem, your windows will be fine in the end. Maybe this will take the pressure off a bit.:)

Well if you want to play that game, here are two important windows in my old home. First in the kitchen, with no seating near the window, from standing position is how I view my backyard and bird feeding stations. I can stand an uncomfortable inches away to peer over the meeting rail or crouch to get better views below it. The front yard photo from a comfortable standing distance has the meeting rail block the best part of my water feature.

Bird feeding stations are an experiment with many deleterious effects. Not to mention that stations less than ten feet to clean windows injure and kill birds.

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An academic argument in many cases. My teens keep their blinds tightly shut 24/7/365 so as not to interfere with their screen lives.

Came across this today. It reminded me of your house. http://farmhouse.countryhometours.com/2016/04/02/washington-dc-farmhouse-gets-rebuilt/?src=fbfan_50735&t=fbad&rp=20161002&k=lgrhaen004

I just skimmed the thread, but I'd have to vote for in-swing casements (to keep the screens on the outside, and any shutters operational), assuming casement windows are appropriate for your home's architectural style. :-)