It is impossible to cut out heat; we all need it in the winter! However, it is possible to reduce heating costs based on two physical principles related to glass with low argon gas emissivity (LowE): Benefiting from the sun's rays during the day and minimizing heat loss during the night.
To obtain low emissivity glass, a very thin layer of metallic coating is applied to the exterior surface of the pane that is placed on the inside when mounted in a double glass pane. The coating, invisible to the naked eye, blocks the short waves (UV) and obstructs the long waves (infrared). This filter reduces the sun's heat during summer days and maximises the heat gain in winter. According to the overall features of a building, this technological advancement can result in savings of 9 to 18% in energy costs.
To counteract the flow of cold air or the cool sensation when nearing a window, our most common reaction is to turn up the heat. Most air leaks or losses of heat can be eliminated by the flawless installation of high energy performance windows. When we are comfortable, we leave the thermostat alone.
In an eco-energetic high performance home, proper windows contribute to maintaining low heating costs in the winter and low air-conditioning costs in the summer. During very hot days, the low emissivity glass does the same work as in the winter: it obstructs the infrared rays and blocks the UV rays responsible for the premature wear of the window dressings. Therefore, during the day, it is easier to withstand the sun than with ordinary glass. The interior of the home is cooler and therefore less costly to air-condition.
In most Canadian regions, heating costs are much higher than air-conditioning costs. It is therefore recommended that windows be chosen based on the Energy Efficiency ratio. However, in sunnier and warmer regions, where air-conditioning costs exceed heating costs, it is preferable to choose windows that reduce the gain in solar energy.
The very dry air in winter creates several inconveniences such as an electrical discharge each time you touch a handle or switch, dry skin, nose and throat irritation, the poor appearance of plants and damage to furniture. Remember that hot air will always be absorbed by the cold. Therefore, if there are weaknesses around a door or window, the warm air from inside the home will be drawn toward the outside, bringing the home’s natural humidity with it.
To restore a comfortable level of humidity, an air humidifier can be installed. However, it is difficult to maintain a consistent, balanced and stable level of humidity. Also, certain areas of the home will always be dry while others will be excessively humid. Windows will fog up and black micro-fungi will appear on wooden frames.
In order to avoid an unbalance in the humidity, it is preferable to ensure a proper interior/exterior ratio. As such, it is recommended that you install high-efficiency, weatherproof doors and windows that are always easy to open. They will prevent air leakage and therefore the excessive loss of humidity.
It is possible to trap inert gases such as Argon (most common) and Krypton (less common) between two panes of glass. These gases are heavier than air, and contrary to the latter, their molecules are difficult to put in motion. As a result, they only have a slight reaction to variations in heat and tend to muffle sound waves. Consequently, inserted between two panes of glass, an inert gas acts mainly as a thermal barrier and according to the same principle, as a sound barrier. However, since acoustics are very complicated, the reduction in sound is a bonus; it is not the most important quality of inert gas.
It seems obvious, but we have a tendency to forget that the first quality of a window is to bring an abundance of light! Drawing on natural light reduces energy consumption in two ways. Firstly, it is not necessary to turn on lights during the day. Secondly, and resulting from the first, the energy consumed by a light bulb is transformed into 15% light and 85% heat... Therefore, in summer, the fewer lights that are used, the lower the need for air-conditioning; this double savings is particularly observed in large buildings with central air-conditioning.
Beautiful large windows provide a much larger view of the world, they strengthen the psyche by procuring a feeling of well-being and freedom – we no longer feel like a prisoner in our home, we see our neighbours go by, in summary, we are part of life!
Windows that can be opened all year round restore the tradition of airing out the home each day to renew the oxygen intake and drive out any excess humidity. Finally, letting the sun come in is healthy as it is the largest natural sanitizer…
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