Low-E coatingsare something we always recommend whether you’re installing double ortriple glazed windows. So when you talk about having aPassive Housewell-designed, Low-E coatings would be a big part of that solution.
They will help reflect heat back in during the winter and help reflect heat back out in the summer. So it will save on heating and cooling costs, and if you don’t use air conditioning, when done right, it can lead to greaterinterior thermal comfort. We have a page that explains everything you need to know about window selection, have a read here first -
There is a lot to it, and it is honestly best left to those who do energy modelling. An example to look at would be ourLEED V4 platinum Edelweiss Housewhere we employed a very comprehensive passive heating and cooling strategy in our and we had different coatings on the north windows compared to the south. The south windows were a lower R-value, so they do lose more heat in the night, but the Low-E coating was chosen and applied in a way that they would gain far more heat in the day than they lost, so in the end they offer a net heat gain. north windows will offer virtually no passive heat gain, so you want the highest R-value windows possible to reduce heat loss.
And remember that maximising your southern exposure for passive heat gain needs to include a passive cooling strategy such as overhangs or sun shades to prevent overheating in summer or you'll be spinning your wheels and spending all you heat savings on AC in the summer. That is all explained here in ourPassive solar home design video series.
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Low-E coatingsare something we always recommend whether you’re installing double ortriple glazed windows. So when you talk about having aPassive Housewell-designed, Low-E coatings would be a big part of that solution.
They will help reflect heat back in during the winter and help reflect heat back out in the summer. So it will save on heating and cooling costs, and if you don’t use air conditioning, when done right, it can lead to greaterinterior thermal comfort. We have a page that explains everything you need to know about window selection, have a read here first -
How to choose the best windows for High Performance Homes
There is a lot to it, and it is honestly best left to those who do energy modelling. An example to look at would be ourLEED V4 platinum Edelweiss Housewhere we employed a very comprehensive passive heating and cooling strategy in our and we had different coatings on the north windows compared to the south. The south windows were a lower R-value, so they do lose more heat in the night, but the Low-E coating was chosen and applied in a way that they would gain far more heat in the day than they lost, so in the end they offer a net heat gain. north windows will offer virtually no passive heat gain, so you want the highest R-value windows possible to reduce heat loss.
And remember that maximising your southern exposure for passive heat gain needs to include a passive cooling strategy such as overhangs or sun shades to prevent overheating in summer or you'll be spinning your wheels and spending all you heat savings on AC in the summer. That is all explained here in ourPassive solar home design video series.