Due to rising power prices, homeowners are searching for cost-effective ways to reduce their power bills. One of them is passive solar design. Renewal By Andersen® of Long Island, your go-to company for patio doors, shows you how they can help homeowners below.
How Does Passive Solar Design Work?
To take advantage of solar energy, conventional homes would need to use pumps and fans. Houses with passive solar design, on the other hand, don’t need them. That’s because they directly absorb heat when struck by sunlight.
How to Incorporate Passive Solar Design in Your Home
Since passive solar design relies on sunlight directly hitting your home, you’ll need larger windows. If you’re living in a warm climate, placing them on the north side of your home can help maximize the amount of solar heat. Meanwhile, those living in colder climates should place them on the south side.
Insulated Glass
Keep in mind that windows can be a double-edged sword, especially for houses in colder climates. Windows can let in sunlight and leak out heat at the same time, which is why you make sure your new windows have insulated glass.
The US Department recommends installing a triple-pane window with a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of at least 0.6 and a U-factor of less than 0.35. The SHGC gives you an idea on the amount of solar heat that can pass through a window. The lower the SHGC, the less heat that passes through. The U-value, on the other hand, gives you an idea on a window’s insulation capabilities.
If you’re looking for an energy-efficient window, Renewal by Andersen offers premium windows with Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass that provide year-round energy efficiency. Compared to a traditional dual-pane window, windows with Low-E4® glass are 70% more energy-efficient in summer and almost 50% more energy-efficient in winter.
To make sure you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of an energy-efficient window, only hire reputable contractors. Whether you need new windows or doors installed, you should always vet a contractor before hiring them.
Looking for reputable contractors in your area?
Renewal By Andersen® of Long Island offers a wide variety of premium windows and doors, including french doors. To get a free estimate, call us at (866) 609-5033. Or leave us a message on this form. We serve homeowners in Long Island, New York.
