Is this a good way to insulate drafty windows?
We moved into a condo that has some poorly insulated venting windows and sliding doors to a balcony. If there existed a rectangular clear plastic bladder with three layers that could be made to fit in the space between the inner and outer windows, and if this bladder could be blown up with air, would it be effective in eliminating drafts and and behave much like a triple glazed window? Who would make a prototype to test the idea? The bladder would be easy to insert or remove and would be almost invisible. I think the idea has merit.
Fixing leaks around windows is important, but I think your solution lies more in caulking or tape. I’m having a bit of a hard time visualizing how what you describe, sounds like you are proposing putting something between the panes of glass of a double pane window? I can’t see how that goes down myself, and the thing about prototypes…. Those get made in garages usually by the inventor unless you can find someone with deep pockets that thinks it’s a winner of an idea. I would check these pages first for fixing air leaks around windows and other improvements that will make you more comfortable and save energy and money –
Best Energy Saving Tips for Green Homes - 10 Tips
Top Tips for Getting a House Ready for Winter
The reason I say that you'te better targetting the edges with tape or caulking is that while there is radiant heat loss through a double pane glass, I think the bulk of what is causing you discomfort is the air leaks and that doesn't come through the glass, that's the seal around the rough opening.
Another thing you are probably experiencing is thermal bridging in the floor as concrete would extend from under your feet to the exterior of the balcony, and that transports a lot of heat. Some insulated matts in front of the sliding door may offer some help too.
The double thermalpane windows that we have are good, triple pane would be better, because they are airtight windows and the trapped air between the windows acts like an insulation. But the single pane sliding windows and doors are the problem. With the plastic bladder I am suggesting, when filled with air it would prevent all air leaks and would still allow radiant heat. Storm windows can be custom made reasonably cheap and I think the bladders I am suggesting could also be made inexpensively, it needs to be tested and if it works it could fuel a whole new window industry sideline. Robert Schmidt