Energy Efficiency

The versatility of our balcony enclosure means it can be fully open, partially or fully enclosed.

Solar energy, even on overcast days, naturally warms the space.  Ideally there should be a solid floor or wall to absorb the solar energy during the day and give off the heat at night.  Ventilation to the internal room adjacent to the sunspace allows this heat gain to provide warm air into the inner room.  As the sunspace is not heated artificially, it can be single glazed.  Any wind is kept out which would naturally cool the space via the wind chill effect.

The sun's annual cycle means in the cooler winter months, the sun is lower in the sky.  Having a more direct impact on the glazing and therefore increasing solar gain from the cooler outside temperatures.  In the summer months the sun is much higher and stronger.  During these warmer months the balcony then actually helps the inner rooms to remain cooler.  Heat is absorbed by the balcony façade rather than the buildings façade.  If the balcony panes are opened this heat can then be released back into the atmosphere, or alternatively it can be held as a thermal store in the balcony space and then allowed to permeate into the inner rooms as the evenings cool down.

Windoor provide all the necessary information to ensure that owners/occupiers understand how to use this system effectively to maximise energy efficiency reducing the need for artificial energy.

This topic is covered more in depth in our CPD.  For further information visit our CPD & Training page.