Sustainable Window Design - Development Story
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This documents our experience in designing, building and operating the sustainable window design at the Green Garage.
Goals
- Provide 80% of the interior lighting with natural daylight.
- Provide adequate natural ventilation to minimize the need for mechanical ventilation whenever possible.
- Provide a sense of security and well-being within the living building, while providing an attractive and inviting addition to the community.
- U Factor (Thermal) < 0.30
- Window -to-Wall Ratio (WWR) < 27%
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): E = .30; W = .30; N = .30 ; S = .55; Skylight = .55
- Visual Light Transmittance (VLT or VT); E = .50; W = .50; N = .50; S(up) = .70; S (view)= .50; Skylight = .70
Design
- Challenges:
- Anchoring windows with 4" of foam insulation on outside.
- Maintaining R values of walls at window openings.
- Security
- After input from the security group, the window choices are:
- Use small windows, which are more difficult to come through.
- use security bars
- use security screens, (stainless steel, woven fabric).
- use security glass, typically some type of laminated glass.
- After input from the security group, the window choices are:
- The replacement windows in the historical facade must closely resemble the original showroom window.
The Walls
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