Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Oct 22, 2017 11:03 am Hi all Im starting to see many more house designs, particularly modern, incorporate so much walls with floor window glass. Appealing and aesthetic as windows are, Im trying to grasp/understand concepts of the how does adding more windows to a room reduce the heat insulation. Assuming the scenario where passive solar warming is not considered, and focusing on pure heat insulation of a room design, how does it compare if a wall had 1.the best aluminium thermal break frame with double glazing vs 2. the wall having no window at all ( brick veneer with very good wall insulation) I presume the size of window is important, thus asking as more and more modern display homes using full floor to ceiling windows! Is there a way to calculate this, an online tool? or a rough rule of thumb estimate? Many thanks, MB ?More double glazed windows = more heat loss 2Oct 22, 2017 11:16 am mboy Assuming the scenario where passive solar warming is not considered, and focusing on pure heat insulation of a room design, how does it compare if a wall had 1.the best aluminium thermal break frame with double glazing vs 2. the wall having no window at all ( brick veneer with very good wall insulation) I presume the size of window is important, thus asking as more and more modern display homes using full floor to ceiling windows! Is there a way to calculate this, an online tool? or a rough rule of thumb estimate? Without thinking of all the variables, a well insulated wall will provide triple or greater the insulation of a window, because glass is thermally leaky and frames can be good conductors. If you are in the design phase, I suggest you take the time to read much of the Your Home website. The Government produced this site for the benefit of all of us, but very few know of its existence. Most people do more reasearch when they buy a mobile phone or car at a fraction of the price, so I applauded your interest in learning about better house design. Just about everything you want to know about glazing is in this topic: http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/glazing Also, window performance comparisons can be found here: https://www.wers.net Re: ?More double glazed windows = more heat loss 3Oct 22, 2017 12:04 pm Thanks arcadeit, appreciate the support and guidance. You see some impressive modern houses thats full of windows, and Im talking about Melbourne where it can get very cold in winter and a long winter like this year. I accept that these display home are often for design flair rather than thinking about sustainability. Thanks for the links, I'll go through them again, and Im comfortable to spend at the beginning to have a house that lasts comfortably and efficiently for a long time. ?More double glazed windows = more heat loss 4Oct 22, 2017 12:17 pm This is our build in the Monaro, which is alpine country. The house has been designed with passive principles in mind, as well as for looks, and the large windows face 15° east of north. We have no heating in there yet, but even through last winter, when temperatures got down to -7°C overnight, it was generally comfortable inside. The glass is double-glazed and argon filled, and the frames are thermally-broken Aluminium. What you don't see from that photo is that we have no windows on the western side and the windows on the southern side (apart from another giant sliding door) are only 800mm x 800mm to reduce heat loss without any gain. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I don't know them all, the first 2 top of your list are best known. Rylock is a good company, Stegbar is for sale. 4 12804 I’m in a similar position except I’m after sliding 3 stacking doors. I am on a second-story apartment of which the balcony would not adequately fit any bi-fold or… 5 12162 There may be answers here but can't find anything. I have a closed in veranda, four windows. North facing, just had sunblock blinds installed. A bit cooler (actually… 0 1786 |