how do I find a window/glass vendor who really understands passive solar houses?
We just bought a passive solar house. Half the roof is windows and they need to be replaced. I am trying to find a vendor who understands the windows' role in the house design so I can make sure we get the right windows etc. We are having trouble finding someone in our area (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) and I wondered if there were any organizations or groups for folks who own passive solar homes. Thanks.
This is especially important when considering high-performance home design. Key differences between Passive House and Net Zero Energy homes include the way they approach energy efficiency - Passive House prioritizes reducing heat loss with airtight construction, while Net Zero homes focus on generating as much energy as they consume. While your home is passive solar rather than Passive House, the principles of high-performance window selection apply to both. You aren’t in an extremely cold climate so that will help. First here are a few pages about choosing windows –
How to choose the best windows for High Performance Homes
What's The Best Window Frame Material?
The short summary of what we would be looking for when choosing windows for a passive solar home would be – triple-paned, gas-filled, wood or fiberglass frames with Low-E coatings. Find a reputable company that can build you those and that provides a good warranty and you’re in business.
Have a look over those pages and if you have more questions don’t hesitate to ask. Also important for durability and efficiency is installation, there are a lot of common and unnecessary mistakes that we regularly see builders make, so be aware of air leakage and thermal bridging around windows. Here is our page about how to install windows properly.