Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Aug 06, 2010 6:09 pm Can anyone please help with the best glass type and arrangement for IGUs for north facing windows in a cool winter/ hot summer Canberra climate? We have chosen 4/12/4 argon filled, low e , but now we have been advised to omit the low e from the northern windows to allow for maximum solar gain (and heat) in winter. This does make sense- but then won't we also lose that heat at night? The windows are uPVC . Eaves should protect from direct heat in summer, but there too wouldn't low e offer better (cooler) comfort against incidental radiated and surface heat? After talking with the glass people (V***) we are still muddled- after advising us to stay with the low e, (and having it on face 3)- we asked ' but what would you do in your own home?'-the agents answer was 'I wouldn't have low e on the north.' ???? Is this really right? Re: Double glazing for northern windows 2Aug 07, 2010 9:03 am I missed your post and just wrote a similar one! Sorry. We have the same dilema in Tasmania. We had been told by the people making the windows that we should put the LowE on the interior pane of glass but with the coating side facing the insulated unit. V*** says the coating should face the interior of the house. Then we read about LowE can suddenly crack..... we are thinking of not using it at all as we can't find any reliable info. Re: Double glazing for northern windows 3Aug 07, 2010 10:17 am sparks Can anyone please help with the best glass type and arrangement for IGUs for north facing windows in a cool winter/ hot summer Canberra climate? We have chosen 4/12/4 argon filled, low e , but now we have been advised to omit the low e from the northern windows to allow for maximum solar gain (and heat) in winter. This does make sense- but then won't we also lose that heat at night? The windows are uPVC . Eaves should protect from direct heat in summer, but there too wouldn't low e offer better (cooler) comfort against incidental radiated and surface heat? After talking with the glass people (V***) we are still muddled- after advising us to stay with the low e, (and having it on face 3)- we asked ' but what would you do in your own home?'-the agents answer was 'I wouldn't have low e on the north.' ???? Is this really right? The configuration recommended is the best, it will keep radiant solar heat out and conducted heat in. If you are not worried about solar heat gain (and that is my biggest concern), then omit the Low-E or as they say, have it on surface 3, and that will add a little (not much) to preventing heat loss. I would only use Low-E on Northern & Western windows to stop radiant heat coming into the home, to me it has no economic value on Southern and Eastern windows. Low-E should never be compared to double glazing, they are totally different, double glaze every window and you will experience the benefit. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Double glazing for northern windows 4Aug 07, 2010 11:01 am Thanks Ed for your reply. Hope you are better. In this house there is one who hates summer heat and one who hates winter cold! Not easy. Just to clarify -all windows will be double glazed- the advice was 4/12/4 argon filled-low e on all but the northern windows. Do you suggest not to bother with low e at all? With regards to the warranty situation. Or if at all only on the west? (There is only one western window.) Re: Double glazing for northern windows 5Aug 07, 2010 11:11 am sparks Thanks Ed for your reply. Hope you are better. In this house there is one who hates summer heat and one who hates winter cold! Not easy. Just to clarify -all windows will be double glazed- the advice was 4/12/4 argon filled-low e on all but the northern windows. Do you suggest not to bother with low e at all? With regards to the warranty situation. Or if at all only on the west? (There is only one western window.) I am better but not best I think with DG, it will be easier to heat a home when it's cold, than to cool it when it's sunny. If you have heaps of glass that is North facing, you need to either shade the windows/doors or use Low-E. If your windows are less than 20% of floor area, I would forget Low-E, as I don't think it's economically worthwhile. Ed EDIT: Sorry, I just re-read your post. You say, Low-E on everything EXCEPT Northern windows. That's a waste. I would use Low-E only on N windows if you don't want to overheat the place. Anywhere else would not be economically viable, cost would outweigh benefit. Heat radiation from a home is negligible compared to the cost of Low-E. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Double glazing for northern windows 6Aug 07, 2010 10:52 pm sparks Eaves should protect from direct heat in summer, but there too wouldn't low e offer better (cooler) comfort against incidental radiated and surface heat? Eaves are certainly better than low-e in protecting from direct radiation. However, you point out an growing issue in passive solar design. Reflected radiation from the ground can be significant. Other ways of addressing this is having extendable horizontal structures to also shade the ground in front of the house. Another idea is to have vertical external blinds that can extend from the ground up to block the radiation without blocking the view. Re: Double glazing for northern windows 7Aug 08, 2010 11:01 am We do have exterior roller blinds-they are the metal type that are actually quite oppressively shady and stifling in summer.They reach down to floor, but actually don't achieve much more shade than the eaves. I think the coolaroo-type pale shadecloth ones are far more comfortable to live with- we have these on other windows. Of course the large tree is even better. Re: Double glazing for northern windows 8Aug 08, 2010 11:08 am Why not use a 'green' shade... ie deciduous vines? They prodive shade in summer and let the light in during winter... and can supply fruit if you choose an edible variety. (passion fruit as an example) I dislike solid perminant shading but just in my opinion. Where you are coming from is where you are going to... This is one of the reasons I decided to go overseas for my double glazed windows. 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