By Kate Hamblet
Windows are a really big part of creating a healthy and sustainable home. They can literally make or break the comfort and energy efficiency of your house. Choosing your window selections and placement carefully are critical for a wellness-focused home. Windows can either be a beautiful way to invite nature into your home or they can be a glass box of pain and misery. Sometimes they’re both. However, if you design your windows right, they don’t have to be the latter.
How to get your windows right
Placement
Where you put a window is the most important aspect of getting your windows right. Every home is unique as far as getting the exact placement right, but here are a few guidelines:
Put most windows on the south face of your home, with the exception of hot climates like Tucson, AZ (then put them on the North). South-facing windows are easy to shade in the summertime and let in the warm sunlight in the wintertime. Windows on the east and west faces are hard to shade. West-facing windows can overheat the house if they aren’t shaded.
Design for cross ventilation. Having windows on two opposing sides of a room allows for air to naturally ventilate through the room when the windows are open. Take advantage of this! Especially in living spaces and bedrooms. I like to put bedrooms on corners so they can have windows on two sides. Plus, having windows on two sides of a room helps make the room feel less dark.
Consider your views. This is probably the first thing you consider when deciding where to put windows, but make sure you also take into consideration the other placement guidelines as well. Windows are the easiest way to create a connection to nature while you’re indoors, so take advantage of your views. Don’t worry if you don’t have a stunning view of the Rocky Mountains, you can always make your own nature views by creating a garden in your yard.
Size
The insulation value of windows is much better than it used to be, but it’s still not as good as a solid wall. So you want to think carefully about how much glass you want to have in your walls because the more windows you have, the less energy efficient your home will be.
Floor-to-ceiling windows aren’t as awesome as they look. While they are dramatic, they are going to be hard to shade in the summertime and they won’t keep the heat in very well in the wintertime. If you want floor-to-ceiling windows, use them sparingly and be very thoughtful about where you place them.
You don’t need a wall of glass to create a stunning view or capture a connection to nature. A few large windows can have a similar effect on your view outside as an entire wall of windows, but your energy bills and comfort level will be much happier with a few large windows.
Small windows can be dramatic too! Only giving someone a glimpse of something piques their curiosity, which is a fun way to create mystery and liveliness in your home.
Shading
South-facing windows will benefit from exterior shading devices like roof overhangs and awnings. You want your shading device to totally block the sun from hitting the window during the summer. If you can keep the sun off the glass, your home will stay a lot cooler. This is hugely important when designing south-facing windows! Make sure they are externally shaded in the summertime.
In the winter, the sun will be so low that it goes under the shading device to bring warmth into your home.
Type
There are so many window types to choose from! Here’s my quick guide on what and what not to choose.
What to choose
Tilt-and-Turn Window: Tilt-and-turn windows can swing into a room like a door and tilt in like a hopper window. These are the most high-performing operable windows you can get because of how snuggly they lock into place when closed. This creates a super air-tight seal and makes for a very energy-efficient window. They can be made to look modern or traditional so you can use them for any project type.
Casement Window: Casement windows crank out toward the outdoors. They are my second favorite window type after the tilt and turn. They won’t have quite as good air-sealing abilities as a tilt and turn, but they’re the next best option. They have a pretty big opening area, so they’re really nice for opening up a house to nature.
Awning Window: Awning windows crank up toward the outside so the opening is at the bottom. They seal just as well as casement windows. The downside is that they don’t have as much of an opening area. These are often used when a window is wider than it is tall, but they can be used for windows with either orientation.
What not to choose
Slider Window: Slider windows are the least energy-efficient window type because of the way they slide. Tilt and turns, casements, and awnings all get a good air-tight seal because they are able to clamp shut. Sliders don’t have the ability to clamp shut, so they’re leaky. They also fail more frequently than other window types by falling off their track.
The one exception is with a window type called ‘Lift and Slide’. The lift and slide mechanism allows for a super air-tight seal similar to a tilt-and-turn window.
Double / Single-Hung Window: Double / Single-hung windows are the most common style, but sadly, they are not the most energy-efficient. Just like with the slider, double hung don’t have the ability to clamp shut. So there’s no way to get a super air-tight seal. They also have gravity working against them. The upper sash of the window is trying to hold itself up and over time, the connection to the frame gets weaker and weaker.
Fixed Window: Fixed windows are windows that don’t open. They’re the opposite of operable windows. I’m being overly dramatic by saying not to choose them, but I mean that you need to put operable windows into your home. There are certainly times when fixed windows are the right things to use, but always pair them with windows that can open. The nice thing about fixed windows is that they are very airtight.
Glass
You’ll have the option to choose between double-pane and triple-pane glazing. The right choice depends on your climate and where the window is going to be in the house.
In cold climates, the extra pane of glass is very nice to have. You’ll never feel cold sitting next to a window again! Since triple-pane windows are a lot more expensive than double-pane, you can be selective about where you use triple-pane windows. Rooms where you’ll be sitting or sleeping near the windows are good places for them.
In temperate climates, double-pane windows with the right coatings and gaseous fillings are usually enough to keep you comfortable. In hot climates, triple-pane windows will help with heat control, but the extra cost of the windows usually outweighs the energy efficiency payback. The best things for windows in hot climates are to shade the windows, use windows with a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), and have argon-filled glazing.
Windows have such a powerful role in your home design! They control comfort, happiness, feelings of awe and excitement, and sustainability. When you get your window design right, you’ll be a happy camper.
By, Kate Hamblet
The Wellness Architect Balanced Architecture
Kate helps health-conscious families create homes that support and promote health, happiness, and longevity. You'll find her at www.balancedarchitecture.com
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