Sun taming
This is an excerpt from an article in Sanctuary magazine issue 6.
It’s summer. The heat is intense and, somehow, it can seem nearly as hot inside as it is out. You have insulation and the blinds are drawn – what else can you do to raise comfort levels?
The first thing you should look at is shading. Imagine that for every square metre of glass in your house receiving direct sunlight, you are receiving a single-bar radiator’s worth of heat inside. Clearly, reducing the amount of direct sunlight that comes through your windows is going to make a big difference to your comfort levels. The good news is, you don’t need to pull down the blinds and live in the dark to keep your house cool. With a little strategically placed shading, you can block up to 90 per cent of all heat coming through your windows and still enjoy the view.
Shade structures can range from awnings to eaves, shutters, shade sails or trees. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Your taste will be a factor, as will be the orientation of your windows.
The side of your house that you can do most with is the north, where the trick is to employ “horizontal” shade structures such as eaves and awnings. In summer these will act like a sun visor to exclude the high and hot summer sun. In winter, the sun, travelling low to the horizon, will still peek under your shade structures to allow in precious winter warmth.
Adjustable shading gives you maximum control over how much sun you invite into your living space. Contemporary shade sails can introduce elegant lines and spaces to your home, and allow you to choose exactly how much shade you get on any given day – particularly useful in spring and autumn. Mechanical awnings also offer choice and convenience.
Once you’ve got your shading, the other thing you should look at is the windows themselves. The type of window you use has a huge effect on how much heat gets in (and in winter, how much gets out).
For all-round performance in windows, you can’t go past double glazing. It’s a common misconception that double glazing is only useful in cold climates. In fact, it’s as good at keeping the heat out as it is at keeping it in. If you have north-facing windows that you can shade in summer and open to the sun in winter, then double glazing is a must.
If you have single-glazed windows and you’re thinking of upgrading, there are a few options. You can get double glazing installed, or you can go with one of several products designed to be attached to the inside of a window frame. Price will probably determine which option you choose.
