Choosing thermal characteristics for a building’s transparent partition taking solar effects into consideration

Ensuring a sufficient level of thermal protection is currently one of the more important issues pertaining to buildings. It stems from the necessity to reduce operational energy consumption of the construction sector and the need to reduce the adverse effects of using “dirty” energy on the environment. This requirement pertains to both newly erected buildings and the ones being modernized. Decisions regarding choosing thermal parameters of partitions, including transparent ones, can be made by referencing the applicable insulation criteria, but also by using appropriate optimization procedures. These should be based on the heat balance measurement of the analyzed component that is as accurate as possible. In this article, the results of using an optimization procedure for windows proposed in energy audit methodology were compared to its extension which includes a component of solar heat gains. The presented extended method may be helpful to future investors, energy auditors, etc. in deciding on the thermal characteristics of transparent partitions.