Posted on January 7, 2019

Which direction your windows face can drastically change your energy conservation at home for heating and cooling. Whether you're making decisions for a new build or renovating your existing home, here's what you should know.

Did you know that up to 25% of all energy that we use for heating and cooling is lost through windows and doors? Leaky, thin, or poorly-installed windows and doors can slowly sap energy from a home due to lost heat or cool air.

How your home and windows are laid out can play a big role in energy conservation at home, too.

Which direction should windows face to reduce heat?

At LAS Windows + Shutters, we've been working in the Gulf South climate for over 60 years. We know that homeowners in our area suffer from brutal heat and humidity in the summer.

If you also live in a warm climate, you can reduce heat by situating your home and its windows in certain ways.

For new builds, situate your home to face north-south and put most of your windows on the cooler northern side of your home
If you're adding new windows, focus on adding them to the northern side of your home or on the southern side with an overhang
Add an overhang or deck over the majority of southern-facing windows to reduce sun exposure during summer months
Reduce windows as much as possible on the western side of your home, opting to put utility areas like laundry rooms or bathrooms there instead
Add shading with trees or other screens on the western side of your home

These guidelines will help you reduce as much direct sunlight on your home during hot summer afternoons.

Which direction should windows face to retain heat?

If you're in a cooler climate, you can incorporate similar tips to get benefits both in the winter and summer.

For example, retain heat in your home during winter by adding more windows to the southern side of your home. Because of the sun's lower path during winter months (for those in the northern hemisphere), it's possible to build a precisely measured overhang or deck that allows light into your windows during winter and blocks it during summer.

Next, on the western side of your home, plant deciduous trees. You'll get summertime shading, and when the leaves fall, the sun will help heat your home through winter.

After you've added windows in strategic areas, consider energy efficient models. They'll further reduce energy use in your home.

Today's energy efficient windows are made from low e-glass. This lowers a window's emissivity, or its ability to transfer energy. These windows reflect back heat and energy during summer months and retain heat during colder months. When professionally installed with the best materials, these energy efficient windows can reduce energy usage up to 18-30%.

Is it time for you to look into energy efficient windows? If you're in the Gulf South, contact us today at LAS Shutters + Windows. Our team provides free estimates on how you can improve energy conservation at home.

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Julia,
On behalf of Lighthouse Louisiana (formerly The Lighthouse for the Blind), please convey my thanks once again to your coworkers for supporting our summer camp for children who are blind. It is a rare thing to see a corporate family like yours, where people get together and give from their own hard-earned paychecks to local groups that are doing good work in the community. As donors, sometimes it’s hard to know what donations to organizations we care about are actually being used for. We consider LAS an important investor in our work, and we cannot thank you enough for helping us serve our clients.

Thank you,
Erin McQuade Wright
Director of Development

We just finished getting new windows from LAS and I can’t be any happier. From start to finish, this job was done professionally. The salesman, Garrett, came to the house on time and explained the windows and the process and answered any questions that we had at the time. He indicated the person who would do the measurements would call and set up an appointment within two weeks and the the windows would be built and installed in about 5 weeks. Well, the job – from the initial estimate to complete install – was three weeks. The installed that completed the job did an excellent job of install, caulking and cleanup. We can’t give them a higher rating. The most amazing thing so far is the look and how much it has cut down on outside noise. I highly recommend LAS and since they are local, from repairs to employing people, we keep it right here at home. We are very satisfied customers.