Impact of Window Orientation on Natural Lighting and Heating/Cooling

The orientation of windows in a property structure has a complete impact on the amount of natural sunlight that comes inside the space during the daytime. 

Recognizing this connection is vital for constructing buildings that reduce the need for natural lighting as well as excessive cooling and heating. Let’s look at the ways window orientation affects natural lighting and heating/cooling.

Important Factors to Consider

Window Orientation

Window orientation regulates the way from which natural light comes into your space. Consider these facts:

• North-facing windows get little direct sunlight
• East-facing windows get direct sunlight in the morning
• South-facing windows get the largest amount of sunlight during the day
• West-facing windows get the most sunlight in the late afternoon

Contemplating the location of your windows can aid you in leveraging the sun’s movements and increasing the amount of natural light.

Window Size

Window size influences the amount of natural light that enters a room. Bigger windows let in more sunlight, creating a more inviting, comfortable setting. However, it’s critical to have some balance. Huge windows can cause extreme heat entering in the summer months. This results in a high level of discomfort and increased dependence on your cooling unit.

Window Shape

Window shape affects the allocation of natural light. Windows with a vast surface area, like floor-to-ceiling windows, let light enter promptly, brightening a bigger space. Moreover, features such as skylights and bay windows can create a sense of spaciousness and distinct lighting effects.

The Impact of Window Orientation on Heating/Cooling

The orientation of windows influences a building’s energy use. Here are some important factors to consider:

Ventilation and Cooling

By tactically installing windows and using window treatments, it is conceivable to reduce heat gain and lessen the need for air conditioning. North-facing windows can be helpful for natural ventilation since they promote better cross-ventilation without extreme heat increase.

Natural Lighting

Window orientation affects the amount of natural light within a building. For instance, south-facing windows offer the most reliable natural lighting during the day. This decreases energy usage and removes the need for artificial lighting. North-facing windows offer diffuse light that diminishes glare and helps spread light more equally across the space.

Energy Usage

The right window orientation can considerably decrease the energy usage of a building. West and east-facing windows, for example, get strong sunlight during certain times of the day, leading to a boost in running a cooling unit. However, meticulously arranged window orientations could generate energy savings of over 25%, cutting energy bills and eliminating a negative environmental impact.

Denver’s Window Orientation Experts

Our Denver window company has a seasoned team of professionals with years of experience managing window orientation jobs that increase natural lighting while reducing the need to consistently use heating/cooling units. We invite you to browse our website and explore our window options.  When you’re ready to get started on your windows project, contact us for a free consultation.