Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Feb 03, 2017 4:52 pm Hello, we are in the process of custom designing a house and I'm keen to add as many solar passive elements as possible. One of the things I'm puzzling over is a couple of NNW facing second storey bedroom windows. The facade of the house is Hamptons inspired, so these windows will be under the gabled end of the roof and probably will have no awnings. From experience I know that these rooms will get hot in summer ( it's a KDR and I grew up in the original house). I thought a solution could be to have working external shutters that could be closed. It seems to me that the external shutters preventing the sun from hitting the window would be better than internal shutters? Is this a correct assumption? We could also look at honeycomb blinds on the inside in addition to the external shutters. Anyone got any thoughts? We are in NW Sydney. Re: NNW facing windows no eaves 2Feb 03, 2017 5:16 pm Yep, you're correct. External shutters are much more effective than internal shutters or blinds. Short wavelength light from the sun passes through glass easily, & heats objects within the room. But re-radiated heat from these objects is long wavelength, which struggles to pass through glass, so is effectively trapped inside. So external mechanisms, which shade windows from direct sunlight are best. Whether that is eaves, external shutters, or awnings. Eaves would be my preference for north, or near north facing windows, as when designed correctly, they will shade summer sunlight, while admitting winter sunlight into the house. Low E glass & window tints are also an option, though these will have a negative effect in winter, by blocking sunlight. Re: NNW facing windows no eaves 3Feb 05, 2017 6:47 am Thank you ddarroch, that's one tick to the list of solved problems! Update from me! Couldn't find the trimmer - not sure if there isn't one simply because the eave is so narrow. Went ahead with the spring toggles and it all worked out… 7 5860 The two 15mm holes are obviously not compliant. The Dept of Fair Trading would love to see this one! Do the gutters pool water after it stops raining? Although it's… 4 7843 The warning is on the sticker on the door too. Second the aluminium powdercoat 6 18195 |