No, we are not talking about filling all of your house with water, but adding a water layer into windows could save heating and cooling energy. An article published in the Journal of Façade Design and Engineering report on a window design that incorporates a water layer to increase the insulation value of the glass and to absorb solar radiation. A small pump moves water from the window to a thermal storage tank where it can be used to heat other rooms.
Windows often represent one of the most inefficient parts of a home. While walls and the roof can be filled with insulation that reduces heat transfer, windows cannot. The R-value of a window is about one-tenth of a well-insulated wall. Further, glass allows in solar radiation in the summer and emits heat from the space in the winter, if not properly shaded.
A thin (15-20 mm) layer of water in the window slows heat transfer because it has a high heat capacity and absorbs more solar radiation than air. It is clear, so it will not significantly interfere with the view. And if the water is circulated through the window, the heat can be stored and used for space heating or to reject absorbed heat outside at night.
The authors constructed a mock-up of a house with the water window and found savings. Using modeling software, the system would produce savings in almost every climate – except polar regions. The typical heating and cooling savings for the windows were found to be around 50%. So your future home might resemble an aquarium, but that’s a good thing when you pay your energy bill. – Steve Terry, DTC HVAC & Refrigeration Instructor
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