Q. I have three large glass-block windows in two bathrooms on the east side of my home. Two are in the shower areas. There are not any trees or homes on that side to provide shade, so the windows receive full sun for hours and really heat up my house. What can I do to keep heat out during summer and let it in during winter?

A. There are many potential solutions. The first suggestion is to use some type of window blind or cover, but this may not be practical in the shower location. Another option for the two shower windows might be to use operable exterior shutters. On the other hand, shutters will affect the exterior aesthetics of your home and may not be the best option either.

You could also replace the windows with newer glass blocks or install acrylic glass block replacement windows. Several glass block manufacturers are now using UV inhibitors that help cut down on thermal gain in warmer months.

Acrylic glass block window inserts also can be used to replace the existing windows. These windows have similar properties to standard insulated glass vinyl windows and, in some circumstances, can be an excellent alternative to real glass blocks.