Efficient Heating and Cooling System Design
Efficient Heating and Cooling System Design
Intent
To reduce non-renewable energy required for space cooling in the home by mitigating solar heat gain and using design features that promote natural ventilation.
Additional Information/How to Implement
Natural features, landscaping, and architectural features can help cool a home naturally and/or reduce unwanted solar gains that increase cooling load. The charts below provide guidance on the length of overhangs to achieve desired shading of south-facing glass for different latitudes in the country.
Shading of east and west windows is difficult to achieve with a fixed overhang because the sun is low in the sky when shading is typically desired. Moveable awnings or louvers allow the flexibility to shade windows during certain times of the day or year. In cooling-dominated climates, a covered porch may be a good solution on the west side of the home to mitigate unwanted solar heat gain.
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