For China, India, and many other rapidly-developing countries, water scarcity will increasingly and negatively affect growth-with 2.7 billion people living in water scarce basins in these countries alone by 2050, up from 1.4 billion today.
Replace window putty if it has become old and cracked. Window putty commonly is referred to as glazing compound. It is made to remain semi-flexible throughout its lifetime, so it both firmly holds the glass in place and keeps the edges of the glass leakproof. Properly installed putty looks like an extension of the window frame, and can be painted to match.
Our house has awning windows that are in great shape. There's a lever you pull up that allows you to crank each louver open. To close them, you crank them back in and push the lever down. I think it creates a suction and security that the windows are closed.