[Greenbuilding] window area for solar house

[candtcampbell at juno.com]

Lawrence,

Does Mazria give any indication that there exists a latitude limit at
which south-facing glass loses more cooling energy in summer than it
gains in winter? E.g. does south-facing glass make any sense in Florida?

Tim

Yup.  Read Edward Mazria's books.  In "The Passive Solar Energy Book"
he recommends solar fractions, as a function of floor area, for various
climates and latitudes.  
 
He adds a caveat, that this rule of thumb is for preliminary sizing,
then detailed calculations should tweak it to precision.  
 
For example, for the Midwest he recommends South glass equaling 19% to
30% of floor area.      


Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP