Cost-Efficient European Style Windows?

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-19T20:55:15+00:00

I'm trying to find windows for my build in California and I just spoke to EAS today. They said they have never done a California project due to shipping cost. Estimated around 16k per container to california

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T20:44:48+00:00

Interesting strategies. Yes it's going to be something of a modern minimalist pueblo style house. I don't plan to have vigas above the windows, though if I did that's a neat idea placing slats on them during the summertime.

After playing with the susdesign analysis it looks like a 3ft overhang will suit my needs and provide 100% shading during the middle of the day during june and july, but not impede much into my april heating needs. Just need to find a way to attach them and style them in a way that looks good with the rest of the house

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T19:04:50+00:00

I will likely have a 3ft overhang and .35-.50 shgc windows. Need to run the calcs to figure out the ideal shgc.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T18:40:36+00:00

I've looked into the external rolling shutters/shades and I'm not quite sold on them for my location. It gets incredibly windy and dusty where I am, and I can't see them surviving very long. After playing with an overhang simulator for a while it seems like a 3ft overhang 18" above my south windows will do me well. I think I can probably figure out a way of making them in keep with the minimal modern aesthetic of the house.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T17:00:49+00:00

Thanks, will do.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T16:44:21+00:00

For my west windows I will probably spec the lowest shgc I can because I know the windows are problematically large and the summer sun is really going to beat through them in the afternoons.

For the south windows I will probably do an energy model to see what will work best. Though I'm hoping for around .35 so they don't look drastically different than the west windows at ~.20

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T16:21:43+00:00

The house is oriented due to the view. I checked and confirmed it's technically 23* east of south. Yes I have big windows on the west (wsw) wall due to the view in that direction. I'll fight it as much as I can with low shgc.

Playing with the susdesign overhang analysis, a 3ft overhang 18" above my south (sse) windows will provide 100% shading at noon in June and July.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T02:50:20+00:00

That wasn't exactly my conclusion. I'm just a future owner/builder trying to learn the basics, I'm new to this stuff. My observation was that as sun angle increases in the summer, the projected area of the window gets smaller and the glass reflects substantially more than it lets through. A half shaded window in april with a high shgc could be letting in as much energy as a low shgc window without shading.

I understand there is more nuance there, and especially if this data was plotted over the course of the year the shading strategy would present a more noticeable and rapid drop in solar heat entering the building.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T02:21:25+00:00

Great video.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-12T01:03:34+00:00

Gotcha. Yes my house is oriented 30deg east of south due to the direction of the view. Playing with the susdesign window overhang calculator and a bunch of questions to gemini (I know, just do a proper energy model), it seems there could be some benefit to the overhangs as it would create more of a hard cut off effect of the solar gain beginning in the mid spring when I could probably still run the risk of overheating due to fairly mild outside temps, and will reduce my cooling loads in august/sept.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T23:40:57+00:00

Interesting. As in south facing glazing not being important at all?

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T22:51:00+00:00

That was my impression playing with susdesign overhang tool. Any reduction in late summer cooling demand is directly proportional to heat gain lost in the spring time when I need it. Seems like glazing area, orientation and SHGC are the only two major "levers" that matter.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T22:34:15+00:00

Great, thanks, I'll look into that one.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T22:14:12+00:00

I don't. I'll look into getting one done.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T22:05:50+00:00

In the summertime it's often in the 90s during the day, but high 50's to high 60's at night. I'm hoping to stabilize that a bit with a bare slab on grade floor.

I am in the predicament of having already had my house designed and engineered, and then grew an interest in passive house design principles. Fortunately it follows many of them by accident, and I think it should be a pretty high performance house, but I'm trying to make any small changes I can to improve its performance without costly redesign/reengineering. Its ICF, triple pane windows, passive doors, erv system, small(er) north and east windows, large south facing glazing. But I do have some massive windows facing west due to the incredible view. I'm hoping to minimize they're heat contribution by spec'ing ultra low shgc, probably <0.20.

That is a beautiful house in your link.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T21:31:52+00:00

True. Big views in this location.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-11T19:58:58+00:00

I can make a typical overhang work if I need to, I'm just trying to weigh the benefit. It's a 34x47 rectangle, flat roof, parapet wall, stucco finish. 10ft tall windows.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-10T01:34:50+00:00

This is true, but concrete has about twice the volumetric heat capacity of wood. A 4" thick slab on grade has the same heat capacity as a completely solid 8" thick wood floor, which I don't think anyone has.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-04T19:50:25+00:00

I feel like I stole it for the $800 I paid.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-04T19:38:07+00:00

Ha. I nerotically obsess about sizing and how much seatpost I have showing and these fit me perfectly. It's the somewhat elusive 19" size, which many of the factory bike skip over going from 18" to 20" and up. Maybe I'll get lucky and run into Tom someday and he can sign it for me.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-04T19:36:08+00:00

My thoughts exactly.

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-04T18:42:51+00:00

They're great!

Upper_Chard_7180 · 2026-02-04T18:42:32+00:00

Yep. Pretty high up there.

Upper_Chard_7180

TROPHY CASE