[Greenbuilding] aerodynamic window arrangement - was tilt and turn

[Alan Abrams]

<Perhaps it boils down to what you grow up with, what you are used to.
Having
lived with both of these kinds of windows (every house in Germany has inward
opening casements) and with the assemblage of styles we find in the US,
there is in my mind simply no contest.

I would though be curious to hear you articulate the advantages of your
preferred style of window. I'm sure I'd learn something.>

****

I agree with Reuben as far as the aesthetics of true French windows (meaning
no division when the sashes are open). My familiarity is based on simple
1920's wood sashes, with "wavy" glass, and delicate wood muntins (and flaky
lead based paint, no weatherstripping, and sagging hinges...)  As beautiful
as dysfunctional...

I am experimenting with a variation of outswinging French windows, however,
in which the pairs of sashes are hinged back to back, to a center stile--so
they open like butterfly wings.  The rationale is that a breeze flowing
along the wall of the house would get scooped up by the leading window, open
maybe 30d from the plane of the wall, flow into the interior, and exhaust
through the trailing window, open at the same angle as the leader.  Its path
thus elongated, the breeze would accelerate and cause a slight venturi
effect, depressurizing the space accordingly, so that air could be drawn in
from a secondary opening.

This happens reliably in carburetors; I'll report soon on whether it works
in homes.


Alan Abrams, AIBD
Abrams Design Build
a sustainable approach to beautiful space
alan at abramsdesignbuild.com
www.abramsdesignbuild.com
202-726-5894 o
202-291-0626 f