What are the ideal windows for a cool house?

Question

I am pretending to build a cool house and have to know which type of windows would keep my house cool.

Answer 1

Well it all depends...

I guess you live a warm climate ?

You can buy windows with a high insulation factor 0.6 W / m².k

Such windows like for passive houses have double paned glass and an inert gas between

This means that with a difference of 1°C between inside and outside, you lose only 0.6 W per square meter.

Off course you can orientate the windows to the north when you build a house of plant a tree in the front to give shade. oustside rolling blinds can be automatize to roll down when the temperature of the house is over a certain limit.

Well the investment has to relate to your house... if you having hot air coming from outside from elsewhere such good windows might not be worth it. If you have a high tech house like a passive house then it makes sense

In warmer climate, (Italy) people build small windows in order to let less heat in.

Answer 2

Just a guess - But I would think you want UV protected glass.  All windows oriented in the house to maximize light without actually letting direct sun rays into the house. Also building the house largely underground would also help.

Answer 3

No windows.  Windows let solar radiation in.  Thats bad.

Answer 4

Is the house you are pretending to build cool, as in "Hey, that is such a cool house" or cool as in "Hey, turn the thermostat up, I'm freezing in this cool house"?

The answer to that question will clarify your question and make an appropriate response possible.

Answer 5

Double paned windows with reflective tinting would not only look nice, but reflect sunlight.  Just think of all of the skyscrapers around for the different tinting options available.  

Or you can just put up blackout curtains during the day to cut down on passive solar heating.

Answer 6

tinted

Answer 7

hmm. well, round ones seem very exotic. and imagine triangle ones?? do they even make them??

Answer 8

That is a very broad question.

There are many ways to keep a house cool related to windows.

You want to minimize solar gain (heat from the sun). Start with reducing amount of glass that faces the sun directly. Put windows on the north side of the house rather than the south side.

Design a roof with large overhangs than shade windows. Place the windows under these overhangs. Open these windows to allow a thermosiphon , drawing warm air out of the house.

Use Low e (low emmission) whick act like miniature blinds that filter out the infrared rays from the sun. Use triple pane glass to act as  insulation to minimize eat transmission via convection off of the surface of the glass.

Don't pretend to build a cool house, -Just do it!