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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.

Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


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  1.  
    Does anybody have any guidance on how to calculate the optimum overhang to prevent excessive solar gain in summer?

    I have heard that a useful rule of thumb is half-way between a projection that would shade the whole of the window at midday during the summer solstice and a projection that would shade the whole of the window at midday during the winter solstice.

    I know the formula:

    overhang = height of window / Tan (degrees of elevation of sun)

    Would work it out, but presumably things get more complicated if the window does not face the sun at midday (mine will face SW).
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeApr 17th 2016
     
    Depends also on the area of glass. I have to almost completely shed my south facing normal size windows on sunny warm days.

    You may be ought to try a computer model, this will tell you everything.
  2.  
    Thanks @Tony! What type of computer model were you thinking? One that calculates that solar gain? Or simply one that shows you where the sun will be shining at a particular day and time? I've set up a SketchUp model that can do the latter.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeApr 17th 2016
     
    Whole house building physics model, it will give you heat demand and identify how many days a year that you will be uncomfortably hot. It models solar gain, against weather and sunshine.

    Beware of west facing glazing, this can be bad for increasing overheating in the enemies when the sun is low and house warm already.
    • CommentAuthorgyrogear
    • CommentTimeApr 17th 2016
     
    http://www.susdesign.com/overhang/

    gg
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 18th 2016
     
    I don't have any guidance but I am interested in the question, as I'm trying to work out the answer for my own house. Brise soleil supplier websites have some formulae, but fascinatingly they aren't the same formulae. The height of the overhang above the glass also affects how it works, as well as the width. Draw rays of the sun at midwinter and midsummer to see why.

    I'm lucky that I have windows facing due south but even so I've postponed doing much more calculation or design for a while and will wait and see how the temperature develops over the spring and summer. It was up to 23°C during March but we're back down to 22°C now. We're contemplating using one or two patio parasols as shading if we just need a bit.

    As Tony says, a west facing aspect is more difficult because the sun is lower in the sky and an overhead projection doesn't help so much. Some people use vertical shading at the side of the window, or otherwise movable shading of some kind.
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