Copyright 2013, Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Center for Sustainable Building Research.
. All rights reserved.
Page 1
Introduction
The energy impact due to windows in a home depends on
several design decisionsclimate, window orientation, window
area, shading conditions, and window (frame and glazing) type.
Homeowners and designers need to know the answers to the
following questions. What is the best window type to reduce
energy use in a particular location? Does window area and
orientation affect energy use? Are shading devices effective in
saving energy?
Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are not quite as
simple as they seem. For example, there is a general perception
that homes with larger window areas use more energy than
homes with smaller window areas. This may be true for windows
with conventional clear glazing, however, with high performance
windows, a home with a large window area can use the same
amount of energy or even less energy than a space with a small
window area. The best option is not always obvious, so it is
important for homeowners and designers to be aware of the
available advanced technologies and to use calculation tools to
optimize design choices for energy-effcient performance.
To provide guidance, the following pages examine the energy
use impacts due to orientation, window area, and shading
strategies for homes in Phoenix, Arizona. The energy use was
calculated for many window design variations including 5
orientations, 3 glazing areas, 5 shading types, and 20 window
Key Issues
Orientation: Homes with windows facing predominately
north use less energy than homes facing east, south,
or west. With high-performance windows and shading
strategies, these differences can be considerably less.
Window Area: Energy use increases with window area
using windows with clear and high-solar-gain glazing. With
high-performance windows, energy use may not increase at
all when using a larger window area.
Shading Condition: On north-facing homes, shading
devices will have little impact. On south-facing homes,
overhangs can be effective to block the hot summer sun.
Shading devices have less impact when using high-
performance windows with low-solar-gain glazing.
Design Guidance for New Windows in a Hot Climate
types. The assumptions for these variations are shown on the
next page. All simulations were performed using RESFEN
and analysis was done using the Window Selection Tool. To
determine actual impact of window design variations on a
specifc project, use the Window Selection Tool or download
RESFEN.
Figure 1. Opening screen of the Window Selection Tool showing the cities, house type, and window type available for selection. You
can choose to see the map with the ENERGY STAR
zones or the IECC zones. The tool has options for new or replacement windows,
98 cities, 1- or 2-story home, and windows or skylights.
www.effcientwindows.org
Copyright 2013, Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Center for Sustainable Building Research. All rights reserved.
Page 2
Products Simulated Center of Glass Whole Window
ID Layers Description- Frame U-factor SHGC Tvis U-factor SHGC Tvis
1 1 Clear Metal 1.04 0.86 0.90 1.29 0.73 0.69
2 2 Clear Metal 0.48 0.76 0.81 0.83 0.65 0.63
3 2 Tinted Metal 0.48 0.63 0.61 0.83 0.54 0.47
4 2 Low-E, Hi SHGC Metal 0.26 0.67 0.78 0.65 0.58 0.61
5 2 Low-E, Med SHGC Metal 0.25 0.42 0.72 0.64 0.38 0.56
6 2 Low-E, Lo SHGC Metal, Thermal Break 0.24 0.26 0.64 0.63 0.26 0.49
7 2 Clear Metal, Thermal Break 0.48 0.76 0.81 0.60 0.62 0.63
8 2 Tinted Metal, Thermal Break 0.48 0.63 0.61 0.60 0.51 0.47
9 2 Low-E, Hi SHGC Metal, Thermal Break 0.26 0.67 0.78 0.42 0.55 0.61
10 2 Low-E, Med SHGC Metal, Thermal Break 0.25 0.42 0.72 0.42 0.35 0.56
11 2 Low-E, Lo SHGC Metal, Thermal Break 0.24 0.26 0.64 0.41 0.23 0.49
12 1 Clear Non-metal 1.04 0.86 0.90 0.88 0.64 0.65
13 2 Clear Non-metal 0.48 0.76 0.81 0.52 0.57 0.59
14 2 Tinted Non-metal 0.48 0.63 0.61 0.52 0.47 0.44
15 2 Low-E, Hi SHGC Non-metal, Thermally Improved 0.26 0.67 0.78 0.29 0.50 0.57
16 2 Low-E, Med SHGC Non-metal, Thermally Improved 0.25 0.42 0.72 0.28 0.31 0.52
17 2 Low-E, Lo SHGC Non-metal, Thermally Improved 0.24 0.26 0.64 0.27 0.20 0.46
18 3 Low-E Hi SHGC Non-metal, Thermally Improved 0.16 0.55 0.69 0.20 0.41 0.50
19 3 Low-E, Med SHGC Non-metal, Thermally Improved 0.15 0.38 0.63 0.19 0.28 0.45
20 3 Low-E, Lo SHGC Non-metal, Thermally Improved 0.15 0.24 0.51 0.19 0.18 0.37
Window Types Used in Energy Calculations
Assumptions
The following assumptions are used in the Window Selection
Tool for all energy use calculations presented in this design
guide. The annual energy performance fgures were generated
with RESFEN6 provided by Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory. The annual costs are for space heating and space
cooling only and thus will be less than total utility bills. Costs
for lights, appliances, hot water, cooking, and other uses are not
included. Natural gas prices are based on state-specifc average
natural gas retail price data for the heating season (November
March) for the years 20092011. Electricity prices are based on
average state-specifc electricity retail price data for the cooling
seasons (MaySeptember) of 20092011. All price data is from
the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The House
The house used in the simulations for this guide is a 2600 square
foot, two-story new house. The mechanical system uses a gas
furnace for heating and electric air conditioning for cooling. The
foundation is slab on grade. The building envelope consists of
R13 walls and R30 roof.
House Orientation
Orientation of the windows of the house are available in equal,
where the windows are equally distributed on all 4 sides, and
north, east, south and west where 55% of the window area is on
the dominant orientation with 15% on remaining 3 orientations.
Window-to-Floor Ratio
Window sizes were modeled with a fenestration window-to-foor
area ratio (which includes the area of the whole window with
frame). Window-to-foor ratios include 10%, 15%, and 20%.
Shading Systems
Overhangs were mounted directly above the window frame with
a 2-foot projection. The overhang extends the entire width of
the window. Interior Venetian blinds were simulated so that the
slats would have a seasonal SHGC multiplier (summer=0.80,
winter=0.90). Typical shading represents a statistically average
solar gain reduction which includes interior shades, 1-foot
overhang, adjacent buildings 20 feet away, and other sources of
heat gain reduction such as insect screens and trees. Maximum
shading takes into account interior shades, 2-foot overhangs and
obstructions that represent adjacent buildings.
Window System
There are hundreds of glazing systems available in the market
today, with varying combinations of glass panes, special
coatings, and tints. The Window Selection Tool models the
performance of 20 window systems, representative of the
breadth of options available. U-factor and SHGC are for the total
window including frame. For ease of comparing the performance
of glass features, all high-performance glazing systems in the
Window Selection Tool are modeled with an argon fll.
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Copyright 2013, Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Center for Sustainable Building Research. All rights reserved.
Page 3
Orientation
Figure 2 shows the range of possible annual energy costs for the
design variations grouped by orientation. This fgure shows:
The impact of orientation on energy use is not the same for all
windows.
The lower ends of the bars show that under certain conditions,
very low energy use can be achieved with any orientation.
West-facing designs use the most energy.
North-facing designs use the least energy.
Orientation has a reduced impact on energy performance when
high-performance windows are used.
In the past, windows had little capability in reducing solar heat
gain, so the design of energy-effcient houses in hot climates
evolved to protect windows from signifcant solar gain. In
warm to hot climates strategies include facing most windows
north, where there is little direct exposure, or to the south where
overhangs can be designed to keep out most of the hot summer
sun. West windows are subject to the full force of the strong
afternoon sun, at a time of day when temperatures generally
climb to their peak. East windows have the same problem in the
morning hours, but air temperatures tend to be cooler.
In spite of energy concerns, a house may have a spectacular
view or other amenity to the east or west. Fortunately, the
traditional patterns of avoiding east- and west-facing windows
are not as critical when high-performance windows are used.
Figure 3 illustrates the impact of 5 different window orientations
on annual energy costs in Phoenix, Arizona. In all cases, the
windows have typical shading. As expected, orientation has a
negative impact when clear, single-glazed windows are used.
The use of double glazing shows little improvement. When high-
performance windows with a low-solar-gain low-E coatings are
used, the window orientation has a diminished impact on energy
usenearly all the glazing can face west with less energy use
than the conventional glazings facing north.
Figure 2. Annual energy costs (heating & cooling) for all window design variations by orientation in Phoenix, AZ.
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Metal Frame Non Metal Frame Non Metal Thermally Improved Frame Metal Thermal Break Frame
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Range of Performance by Orientaton
South West Equal Average North East
Figure 3. Impact of orientation for 3 windows in Phoenix, AZ. The
results are for 15% window area with typical shading.
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Impact of Window Orientaton
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Single, Clear
Metal Frame
N E S W Q N E S W Q N E S W Q
Double, Clear
Metal Frame
Double, LSG Low-E
Metal Frame
Thermal Break
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Copyright 2013, Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Center for Sustainable Building Research. All rights reserved.
Page 4
Window Area
Figure 4 shows the range of possible annual energy costs for the
design variations grouped by window area. This fgure shows:
The impact of window area on energy use is not the same for
all windows.
The lower ends of the bars show that under certain conditions,
very low energy use can be achieved with any window
area when using windows with moderate- or low-solar gain
glazing.
The higher ends of the bars show that larger window areas can
have much worse performance when using windows with clear
or high-solar gain glazing.
When larger windows are desired, the combination of high-
performance windows plus appropriate exterior and/or interior
shading strategies can reduce the cooling impact to that equal
or better than a smaller, unshaded window.
Another traditional guideline to reduce solar heat gain is to
reduce the homes total glazing area. This can be effective with
any type of window, but it is particularly important when less
effcient windows are used. Because of the need for daylighting,
views, and natural ventilation, signifcantly reducing window
area may not be a realistic or desirable strategy. Figure 5
illustrates the impact of 3 different glazing areas (small-10%,
moderate-15%, large-20%) on the annual energy costs for a
house in Phoenix, Arizona. In all cases, the windows are equally
distributed on the four orientations with typical shading. With
single or double clear glazing, increasing the glazing area has a
very signifcant impact on the cooling load. The annual energy
use for a house with low-solar-gain low-E glazing exhibits the
same pattern of increasing cooling load as the window area
increases, but the differences are minimal.
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Range of Performance by Window Area
10% 15% 20% Average
Figure 4. Annual energy costs (heating & cooling) for all window design variations by window area in Phoenix, AZ.
Figure 5. Impact of window for 3 windows in Phoenix, AZ. The
results are for equal orientation with typical shading.
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Impact of Window Area
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Metal Frame
10% 15% 20% 10% 15% 20% 10% 15% 20%
Double, Clear
Metal Frame
Double, LSG Low-E
Metal Frame
Thermal Break
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Copyright 2013, Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Center for Sustainable Building Research. All rights reserved.
Page 5
Shading
Figure 6 shows the range of possible energy costs for the design
variations grouped by shading condition. This fgure shows:
The impact of shading strategies on energy use is not the same
for all windows.
The lower ends of the bars show that under certain conditions,
very low energy use can be achieved with any shading strategy
on any orientation.
The higher ends of the bars show that windows with no
shading and with overhangs perform the worst.
The impact of shading strategies is reduced when using high-
performance windows.
Any effort to shade traditional windows has had great benefts
in terms of comfort and energy use. The best place to shade a
window is on the outside, before the sun strikes the window.
Exterior shading devices have long been considered the most
effective way to reduce solar heat gain into a home. The most
common approach is the fxed overhang. For south-facing
windows, overhangs can be sized to block out much of the
summer sun. Overhangs have the advantage of reducing heat
gain and glare without diminishing the view. Other exterior
devices include grills, awnings, shutters, roll-down shades/
shutters, and canopies. The choice of shading strategy is often
distinctly regional, based on local traditions. The drawback of
some shading devices is that they block light and view.
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Range of Performance by Shading Type
Interior Overhangs Maximum Average Typical None
Figure 6. Annual energy costs (heating & cooling) for all window design variations by shading type in Phoenix, AZ.
Most homeowners use some form of interior window treatment
such as drapes, blinds, or shades on their windows. In addition
to their decorative aspects, drapes and curtains are used by
homeowners to control privacy and daylight, provide protection
from overheating, and reduce the fading of fabrics. To most
effectively reduce solar heat gain, the drapery used to block the
sunlight should have high refectance and low transmittance.
The impact of drapery on the solar heat gain is proportionally
lessened as the window is shaded by other methods, such as
exterior shading or tinted glass. The main disadvantage of drapes
and other interior devices as solar control measures is that once
the solar energy has entered the room through a window, a large
Figure 7. Shading strategies can reduce the solar heat gain that
enters through the window.
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Copyright 2013, Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Center for Sustainable Building Research. All rights reserved.
Page 6
proportion of the energy absorbed by the shading system will
remain inside the house as heat gain.
Blinds and shades primarily provide light and privacy control
but they also can have an impact on controlling solar heat gain.
These include horizontal Venetian blinds, miniblinds, vertical
slatted blinds, pleated and honeycomb shades, and roll-down
shadesall of which can be made of various materials. Unlike
other strategies to reduce heat gain, such as overhangs, interior
shades generally require consistent, active operation by the
occupant. Unfortunately, when shades are down, daylight and
view are diminished or excluded completely. It is unlikely
that anyone would operate all shades in a consistent, optimal
pattern as they are often assumed to be operated in computer
simulations. Motorized and automated shading systems are
widely available to solve these operational problems. The control
systems can be automated using sensors, time clocks, or a home
automation system. They can also be directly controlled by the
occupants.
By using high-performance windows to provide the necessary
solar control, there are two important benefts: there is less
need for operating the shades, and the window is covered less
of the time, resulting in increased daylight and unobstructed
views. If your goal is to minimize cooling energy use, or you
live in a house without air-conditioning in a hot climate, then
the combination of good shade management with low SHGC
windows will be the best strategy.
A broad-leafed tree is good at providing cool shade in the
summer. In addition to shading the building from direct
sun, trees have been found to reduce the temperature of air
immediately around them by as much as 10F (5C) below
the temperature of the surrounding air due to evaporation of
moisture. A window shaded with vegetation can have full
shade in the summer, while enhancing the view and perhaps the
ventilation. Trees and bushes can provide strategic shade from
low east or west sun angles that are extremely diffcult to shade
architecturally.
Figure 8 illustrates the impact of 5 different shading strategies
(typical, none, interior blinds, overhangs, maximum) on the
annual energy costs for a house in Phoenix, Arizona. In all cases,
the windows are equally distributed on the four orientations with
a moderate window area. With single or double clear glazing,
using no shading or overhangs signifcant impacts the cooling
load. Overhangs are much less effective against the lower angles
of the east and west sun, but can be quite effective on the south
orientation. Reliance on any form of shading is not nearly as
important, however, when windows with low-solar-heat-gain
coeffcient are used.
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Impact of Shading Type
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Single, Clear
Metal Frame
Typ None VB OH Max Typ None VB OH Max Typ None VB OH Max
Double, Clear
Metal Frame
Double, LSG Low-E
Metal Frame
Thermal Break
Figure 8. Impact of window for 3 windows in Phoenix, AZ. The
results are for equal orientation with typical shading.
For More Information
Visit the Effcient Windows Collaborative (EWC) for
more information. The EWC web site provides unbiased
information on:
benefts of effcient windows;
how windows work;
how to select an effcient window;
Window Selection Tool; and
EWC members that provide effcient windows.
The EWC is a coalition of window, door, skylight, and
component manufacturers; research organizations; federal,
state and local government agencies; and others interested
in expanding the market for energy-effcient fenestration
products.
www.effcientwindows.org
