Windows

Tips for selecting windows

Orientation

The orientation of windows in your new home should reflect that Manitoba's winters may be long, but are also sunny. In fact, Southern Manitoba receives more hours of sunshine than almost anywhere else in Canada.

With today's window technology, the solar gain provided to a home by a properly oriented window can exceed the heat it loses. Where possible, minimize heat loss and maximize heat gain in winter by locating the majority of windows in walls that face within 300 east or west of due south. North-facing windows should be kept to a minimum.

To avoid overheating in summer, large areas of unshaded windows facing west or south should also be avoided.

An excellent source for more information about designing homes to stay warm and bright by capturing the Sun is Tap the Sun: Passive Solar Techniques and Home Designs published by the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation).

Size

Where feasible, use fewer large windows rather than many smaller ones. Larger windows improve overall performance since they reduce the amount of frame area in relation to the glazing.

Style

Compared to operable windows, fixed windows have several advantages:

• cost less to purchase;
• require less maintenance due to lack of moving parts;
• are more secure against forced entry; and
• are more energy efficient because they seal tighter and have a slimmer frame profile.

However, fixed windows are not practical for all applications. Operable windows provide natural ventilation. Even more important, operable windows are essential in certain areas of a home to provide an escape route in case of fire. Details of the minimum acceptable size and required location for operable windows are specified by the Manitoba Building Code.