Designed shading minimises overheating in summer and maximises solar gain in winter
Shading
Under Site and Ecology we covered Solar Access and its importance, the Glazing section also covers the importance of optimising daylight and solar gain. This section covers shading as a means of controlling solar gain into a building as and when required, typically in the summer time but also in the shoulder seasons. Without shading internal temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels. Shading should be considered along with ventilation for optimum temperature control on warm days.
Typical shading features come in the following forms:
- Overhangs
- Fins
- Louvres
- Vegetation
- Screens
In the Summer the mid-afternoon Western sun is the most warming and therefore in our house design we have kept Western glazing to a minimum. In the Winter the early afternoon Western sun is the most warming which will enter our house through the Northern glazing (as the sun tradjectory in winter is further to the north).
Section showing shading in summer and solar access in winter
We have included the following shading options on our house:
- Fixed overhangs to reduce midday sun on the northern side.
- Corner fins to reduce some of the Eastern sun on the Northern elevation.
We are also considering sliding shades along the North elevation that can be extend/contracted or moved as required and vegetative shading on the Eastern elevation to help reduce low level sun during the Summer months. These shading features will be developed when we have lived in the house for a year and have a good idea how it performs in the summer. Whilst a computer model can be used to do this it cannot tell you what conditions you find comfortable.
