Mirror, mirror

[MikeT]

Most of us are building homes or cottages that are considered small.  Some are clearly larger than others.  But I have been wondering if anyone knows of websites, resources, or has advice on good uses for windows to maximize light.   

thanks,
mt

[glenn kangiser]

Mike Oehler has all kinds of methods of getting light into underground cabins but so many windows are likely not allowed by energy codes.

If you can give an example of where you want to get light, I may be able to give you an example of what Mike would suggest.

Mike is big on getting not just sunlight but light from all 4 corner of the compass.  He uses offset rooms, sunscoop -similarto a shed dormer, clerestory, Hollywood wing - a tipped up corner of a roof -- kind of a hippy effect.

[MountainDon]

Uhh... bigger windows let in more light?       

We selected fairly large windows for the space, 15.75x30 ft. We wanted lots of natural light and to be able to have lots of natural ventilation when we wanted it. The eves were calculated to overhang enough to shade the windows from the direct summer sun. In the winter, like now, the sun is low enough we do get direct sun in on the south wall. As for the winds for ventilation, 2 years of records show that the winds are predominately from the north or the south, plus or minus a point. That was another consideration in the cabin orientation.

The north wall has a 6x4 ft and a 3x4 ft. North side = no harsh shadows; artists light. The south wall has a 5x4 ft and a 32"x36" in the bathroom. All those are sliders. The west wall will have a 22"x22" window about 4 feet off the floor. There will be a stained glass hanging in there. It is a fixed pane, double, low-e like the others.

All our glazing is double pane, low-e, vinyl frames in slider configuration.

Along with selecting those window sizes I ran the figures through the ResChek program to see if the structure was within the state energy conservation code. It made it.