Papercreters: [papercreters] Re: Passive solar papercrete homes?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

[papercreters] Re: Passive solar papercrete homes?

I think insulated drapes, shades, and even shutters are perhaps the single most underappreciated concept in insulating a home.

The best high performance windows have what? R-4 as an insulation value? Maybe R5 for extremely expensive windows? Any way you look at it, a window might as well be a thermal hole in your wall.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to live in a cave. I want windows. I simply think that the typical decorative fabric or louvered blind is completely inadequate. Ideally the window treatments should not only be attractive, but should insulate the window such that the covered window has an R-Value that approaches that of the rest of the wall. (Yes, I think good performance and good appearance can co-exist.

Done properly. Highly insulating window coverings could easily pay for themselves in most any house, papercrete or not.

Of course. Insulated window coverings are only effective if people CLOSE THEM when they leave the room or any time they aren't looking outside or using the natural light. A certain degree of personal discipline would be required to make them really effective.

--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, JUDITH WILLIAMS <williams_judith@...> wrote:
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> In my mind papercrete is best used with passive solar. Even if you live in a place that gets less sun, why not take full advantage of it. You can always have insulated drapes or shades for times when you want to keep the heat in.
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> Sincerely, Judith
> Visit my new website at http://www.papercretebyjudith.com
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> More info at www.judith-l-williams.com
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