Energy Efficient Homes—Windows, Part III
Generally cold will come out of the north for most of the northern hemisphere. The cold coming down from the North Pole will penetrate the small cracks between the glass and the frame of even the best operating type windows. If personal preference is to have northern windows make them small and use the best insulating type thermal windows with sensor, Low-e coated glass, or argon technologies available. Some times it is not in a person’s budget or not feasible in cost savings to install the best insulating type thermal windows with the different technologies available throughout the home. At least install the better more energy efficient type thermal windows on the north side and reduce the northern cold air infiltration from the pressure that is exerted in the winter from the north.
South facing windows produce more heat gain in the winter. This is known as passive solar heat and will be expounded upon in a later section or chapter. As greater resistance technology is added to window upgrades the cost goes up substantially and it may not be worth the savings realized in the short run to make such an upgrade. However, if the windows in your home or the home you wish to purchase need to be replaced anyway it may be worth it to go for the higher cost argon filled and/ or Low-e coated glass windows to reduce your heat transfer and realize maximum savings. Your decision may be based on considerations of how long you expect to live in this home, or the resale value it may hold for the future as others become more conscious and aware of energy efficiency in homes.
Skylights are windows in the ceiling/ roof cavity and greatly reduce the overall performance of your attic/roof insulation. Most people would not have them if they realized how much heat comes in through them in the summertime and in the winter how much heat escapes compared to the benefits they offer. In some applications skylights are a must for egress, for light, and a source of fresh air. The skylights can affect an attic with an R-Value of R-38 and reduce it to an R-27 depending upon the surface area of the skylight glass in relationship to the area of insulated ceiling space.
Green house additions or solariums can be of added benefit in heat gain savings if they are closely monitored and designed properly. The room made of glass (thermal preferably) can have fast heat gains on sunny days. Conversely they also have the potential for fast heat loss during the night and on cloudy days. Devices should be installed to release heat gains that are too great and that close down to retain heat when temperatures drop too low. It is best for these monitoring and adjustment controls to be automatic. It is not practical or feasible to rely on humans to monitor conditions all the time—people go out, they take vacations, etc. It is best that a green house or solarium addition be designed so that it is confined away from the rest of the house for the above reasons, and more not yet discussed.
Copyright © 2006, Dennis Maq & Siti Crook, The Energy Efficient Home Team™
South facing windows produce more heat gain in the winter. This is known as passive solar heat and will be expounded upon in a later section or chapter. As greater resistance technology is added to window upgrades the cost goes up substantially and it may not be worth the savings realized in the short run to make such an upgrade. However, if the windows in your home or the home you wish to purchase need to be replaced anyway it may be worth it to go for the higher cost argon filled and/ or Low-e coated glass windows to reduce your heat transfer and realize maximum savings. Your decision may be based on considerations of how long you expect to live in this home, or the resale value it may hold for the future as others become more conscious and aware of energy efficiency in homes.
Skylights are windows in the ceiling/ roof cavity and greatly reduce the overall performance of your attic/roof insulation. Most people would not have them if they realized how much heat comes in through them in the summertime and in the winter how much heat escapes compared to the benefits they offer. In some applications skylights are a must for egress, for light, and a source of fresh air. The skylights can affect an attic with an R-Value of R-38 and reduce it to an R-27 depending upon the surface area of the skylight glass in relationship to the area of insulated ceiling space.
Green house additions or solariums can be of added benefit in heat gain savings if they are closely monitored and designed properly. The room made of glass (thermal preferably) can have fast heat gains on sunny days. Conversely they also have the potential for fast heat loss during the night and on cloudy days. Devices should be installed to release heat gains that are too great and that close down to retain heat when temperatures drop too low. It is best for these monitoring and adjustment controls to be automatic. It is not practical or feasible to rely on humans to monitor conditions all the time—people go out, they take vacations, etc. It is best that a green house or solarium addition be designed so that it is confined away from the rest of the house for the above reasons, and more not yet discussed.
Copyright © 2006, Dennis Maq & Siti Crook, The Energy Efficient Home Team™
posted by Siti | 2:51 PM
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