Solar Heat Gain?
We are looking to replace our windows and I am wondering how to understand the solar heat gain numbers in a real life way? I want windows whose coatings maintain as much visible light transmittance as possible, and my partner wants very low U-values. My choice has about a .5 solar heat gain value, and my partners wants windows that have .35. To be fair, the windows line the entire south side of our house and our current 1980s double-glazed windows allow the house to become a sauna during the hottest days of summer (we live in the pacific northwest near Vancouver BC). But endless grey and rainy days starting in November for many months affect my decision. He gets hotter than me, and I like heat! We are getting triple glazed so it’s all about the coatings that we are finagling!
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Replies
Get the high shgc windows and add operable exterior shades to reduce the shgc to 0.02 as desired.
This article covers the basics, and then some: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/choosing-window-glazing
Before you spend a ton of money understand from a dollars and cents point of view window replacements never recover their costs in fuel savings. If you want to move ahead simply for comforter or aesthetics do so with your eyes wide open.
Yes, window coating can have affects but I am concerned that after spending a ton of money you will be underwhelmed by the results.
Have you consider exterior awnings and or plantings?
Walta