energy-saving advantages

7.15 Energy-saving advantages come with time tested overhang design

7.15.USA-4-detail-c Highlights Relevant to Sustainable Design:

Overhangs count.

Developers and builders are typically motivated by cost savings and process efficiency over long-term utility cost considerations for the property users. Homebuilders often work from floor plan templates to reduce design costs, and the templates typically do not have adequate roof overhangs for solar shading purposes. The fix is simple. In many cases, builders trim the rafter overhangs on the job site. By cutting off less of the rafters or buying a slightly longer rafter, they can offer energy-saving advantages for homeowners over the life of the house. Look at overhangs on pre–WW II homes to see the difference in larger overhangs than postwar construction. The same consideration applies to the southern side of commercial buildings. The more we know about the local microclimate, the better, especially when it comes to the location of the sun.

Author and illustrator: Charlie Szoradi is an architect, inventor, and the CEO of Independence LED Lighting. He writes about many other topics related to energy-saving advantages through his extensive travels around the world.

If you have found this posting online, it is an excerpt from Mr. Szoradi’s book Learn from Looking that served as the inspiring seed content for this drawing share resource. For additional drawings and insights on energy-saving advantages such as southern overhangs, we hope that you enjoy exploring LearnfromLooking.com. You can search via general terms such as sustainability as well as narrower terms such as overhangs, solar shading, and energy-saving advantages.

The book Learn from Looking includes many other energy-saving advantages for residential and commercial properties. The real estate solutions include passive technology as well as active systems. Beyond buildings, the book addresses energy-saving solutions for transportation, urban planning, and food supply. As an example, for the food, energy, and water security nexus, the book also includes a chapter on a new paradigm shift for global food supply with a “Perpetual Food Machine.”

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