Solar Screens
Last Post 19 Oct 2011 09:42 AM by ICFHybrid. 2 Replies.
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Bill NeukranzUser is Offline
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16 Oct 2011 05:21 PM

I'd appreciate some help with solar screens.  I did a search on the forums here for "windows screens," "solar screens," "Phifer," and "Twitchell," but, nothing of relevance came up.  (This is surprising, BTW.)

I'm looking at installing Phifer manufactured SunTex or Twitchell manufactured Textilene solar screen fabric on the exterior of my residential windows to reduce summer time interior heat gain.  The sales pitch is that these solar screens stop either 80 or 90% of the sun's rays from coming through the window (i.e. there's an 80% product and a 90% product) by absorbing and dissipating solar heat before it reaches the window glass.  The material is a PVC coated polyester yarn.

I live in a warm season climate (Dallas) so heat gain (requiring cooling) is much more of a concern than heat loss (requiring heating).  My home requires about 84,000 KBTU of cooling annually, and about 19,000 KBTU of heating annually.

In the summer time, for windows exposed to direct sun, do these solar screens really work (significantly reduce heat gain)?  And do they work equally well for West, South and East facing windows in direct sun?

During the cooling season does the screening on other windows not in direct sun provide any heat rejection benefit (i.e. other windows in shade on a South exposure, simply to maintain 'look and feel' across the house's entire South side)?

Do the screens provide benefit in the heating season too (i.e. an insulating layer in front of the window glass such that the glass doesn't get as cold)?  Or is there a corresponding increase in structure heating need due to reduced solar heating coming through the windows?

Lastly, does the solar screen need to have some kind of gap between the screen material and the window glass to be effective?

Comments would be appreciated.  Many thanks!

Best regards,

Bill

Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
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cschmelzUser is Offline
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17 Oct 2011 10:50 PM
I use the Sunsetter version (sold at Costco) on a majority of my south facing windows. They roll into a metal sheath in the winter so I can let the winter sun in, but then you just roll them down in the summer. They have some bungees that attach to hooks you mount at the bottom of the window to keep them from flopping around.

Work amazing. Incredible difference between rolled up and rolled down.
ICFHybridUser is Offline
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19 Oct 2011 09:42 AM
We have to use screens on a passive solar here in WA state, where we are not particularly known for having lots of sunshine. In order to extend the useful season of the passive features, you have to defeat peak Summer sun, particularly the late afternoon Westerly radiation when it starts sneaking in under the overhangs. Screens are the best way to do that.

During the cooling season does the screening on other windows not in direct sun provide any heat rejection benefit
No. It is only the direct radiation that they screen. There may be some situations in which a window is not receiving direct solar radiation, but gets a lot of scattered radiation, but by and large, no.

simply to maintain 'look and feel'
Why buy additional screens? I'd only use them where they are needed.

Do the screens provide benefit in the heating season too
Not really. There would be some air film modification, but the loss of Wintertime solar radiation would be the worst thing. See cschmelz's comments above. You really do want the roll up/down variety. Even if putting them up or down is a seasonal thing as opposed to a daily thing. Some of ours are even motorized. The house decides if it can get more radiation or needs shading.
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