Guide to Window Orientation for Energy-Efficient Buildings
Energy is among the most critical global catalysts in economic growth, wealth generation, and social development. Buildings have a significant share of total energy consumed globally; therefore, they profoundly impact the environment. Energy is used in every phase of the building right from inception to completion. It includes locality, structural systems, architectural design and material selection, building construction, usage and maintenance, demolition, reuse-regain-recycle, and waste disposal.
According to Worldwatch Institute data, buildings are responsible for the annual consumption of 40% of the world’s energy. This blog explores energy-efficient methods to reduce the negative impact on the building’s lifespan through the lens of orienting aluminium doors and windows more mindfully.
There is no doubt that the orientation affects the energy saving of the house. According to some variables that precisely define the characteristics of the place, we choose the best position for the aluminium doors and windows. Here is a breakdown of the cardinal directions, how they affect the aluminium doors and windows, and their influences on architecture.
North
This is the most desirable direction for day-long light. It’s a safe direction to have aluminium doors and windows since they are protected from overheating concerns. For best daylighting, sliding aluminium windows and sliding doors should be minimally designed and should include rain protection systems. Covered porches over north-facing windows will dramatically reduce natural light available to the inside.
North-facing windows are not appropriate for heating performance. In the winter, they have a negligible contribution to solar heat gain. However, high-performance windows can help overcome these drawbacks. Advanced sliding aluminium windows and sliding doors can contribute adequate heat, even on the north sides of a home.
South
The south is the most crucial direction for heating performance. We can generate free heat, daylighting and passive survivability by increasing the south-facing window area and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients SHGC.
East
Sliding aluminium windows and sliding doors in this direction are for spaces like bedrooms or kitchens and for people like early risers or those that appreciate the morning sun. On average, East windows have a neutral effect on the overall energy performance of the building, contributing morning heat in the winter and unwanted heat in the summer depending on shading, porches, the number of windows and SHGC.
West
The west is typically the least efficient orientation in our climate. No direction contributes to overheating and discomfort like the west. Unshaded west walls without sliding aluminium windows and sliding doors have a measurable negative influence, heated by the setting, summer sun. Low SHGC glass, smaller sliding aluminium windows and sliding doors like those from covered porches, and landscaping help control this orientation of most concern. It’s wise to reduce the number of west windows as much as possible in our mixed climate, especially if not well protected by covered porches or appropriate landscaping.
Not all sites and designs will allow the generalities discussed here, so it is wise to involve professional designers and energy modelling to help fine-tune the variables in the planning and design stages. Good design and smart window choices help achieve sliding aluminium windows and sliding doors in desirable directions.
