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Evalock Cedar Windows & Doors

Evalock Cedar Windows & Doors passive solar design of windows


With climate change we are all mindful of the need to lower our environmental footprint on the earth, so when designing your home you should bear in mind the passive solar design of windows. The objective is to control heat gain within the building and to control heat loss from the building. The window type, size and position are very important considerations to the control of heat gain within, and loss from, a building.

The largest windows should face north. This is to allow an adequate amount of solar access into the building. The area of this northern glass should be limited to approximately 25% of the net floor area of the northern rooms. Any greater and the heat loss during winter may be excessive. Northern windows are easily protected by wider eaves, a pergola or suitable vegetation.

The east and west facing windows should be kept to a minimum, approximately 5% of net floor area. This is to limit heat gain into the building as these windows are the most difficult to shade effectively. External adjustable shutters and awnings, the use of landscaping or adjacent buildings or internal heavy curtains with pelmets are the types of measures that provide shading for eastern and western windows.

The southern windows require no shading but should be kept as small as possible to limit heat loss in winter.

Clerestory windows (ie windows situated along the top of the wall) should be protected by an overhang and curtains to control heat gain in summer and should be double glazed to control heat loss in winter.

Skylights are not able to be protected by shading and should be located on south sides of roofs. When using skylights, make sure that a diffuser exists at ceiling level to control heat loss in winter.

The above information supplied by the University of Wollongong in the 1990's.

The use of double glazing on windows will reduce our energy requirements for heating and cooling. Single glazed timber windows experience 82% heat loss while double glazed timber windows experience only 54% heat loss. Double glazed units can reduce outside noise by up to 65%.



Evalock Cedar Windows & Doors Profile

02 4871 2144

102 Lyell Street, Mittagong NSW, 2575

Evalock Cedar Windows & Doors Profile

02 4871 2144

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