Key Elements of and Materials Performance Targets for Highly Insulating Window Frames

TitleKey Elements of and Materials Performance Targets for Highly Insulating Window Frames
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsArlid Gustavsen, Steinar Grynning, Dariush K Arasteh, Bjørn Petter Jelle, Howdy Goudey
JournalEnergy and Buildings
Volume43
2583
Issue10
Pagination2583-2594
Date Published10/2011
KeywordsFenestration, heat transfer modeling, thermal performance, thermal transmittance, u-factor, window frames
Abstract

The thermal performance of windows is important for energy efficient buildings. Windows typically account for about 30–50 percent of the transmission losses though the building envelope, even if their area fraction of the envelope is far less. The reason for this can be found by comparing the thermal transmittance (U-factor) of windows to the U-factor of their opaque counterparts (wall, roof and floor constructions). In well insulated buildings the U-factor of walls, roofs and floors can be between 0.1 and 0.2 W/(m2 K). The best windows have U-factors of about 0.7–1.0. It is therefore obvious that the U-factor of windows needs to be reduced, even though looking at the whole energy balance for windows (i.e., solar gains minus transmission losses) makes the picture more complex.In high performance windows the frame design and material use are of utmost importance, as the frame performance is usually the limiting factor for reducing the total window U-factor further. This paper describes simulation studies analyzing the effects on frame and edge-of-glass U-factors of different surface emissivities as well as frame material and spacer conductivities. The goal of this work is to define material research targets for window frame components that will result in better frame thermal performance than is exhibited by the best products available on the market today.

DOI10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.05.010
LBNL Report Number

LBNL-5099E