Low-E glazing, or glass with a low emissivity coating, has a direction. Basically, one surface of the glass emits less infrared radiation. If you live in a very hot region, this surface is pointed inward so as to not radiate heat into the occupied space. In a very cold region this is reversed.
I propose a reversible window design for the areas in between. In the summer you point the low-e surface in, and in the winter you point it out.-- Worldgineer, Feb 23 2006 (?) Tilt-and-wash http://www.larryswi...tures/window_05.jpgFor [zim]. Like these, just allow them to be re-attached the other way. [Worldgineer, Feb 24 2006] You've put a good spin on their invention...-- wagster, Feb 23 2006 I remember once seeing a building where the windows rotated horizontally about their middles when opened. They had to retrofit stoppers after a couple of people were knocked out by the windows they were trying to open, in one case falling out of the building.-- DrCurry, Feb 23 2006 Yes, that was Spindows version 1.0. The "kill off employees that are dumb enough to not know how to open a window" feature was less popular than I'd imagined.-- Worldgineer, Feb 23 2006 I remember a time in the not too distant past when I would have loved for Spindows v. 1.0 to have been installed in the conference room. I believe that the "kill off employees that are dumb enough to not know how to open a window" would have resulted in much shorter and more productive meetings.-- zigness, Feb 23 2006 So what happened - you became one of the unproductive ones yourself?-- DrCurry, Feb 23 2006 Actually, no. But thanks for asking.-- zigness, Feb 24 2006 I remember the old Spindows version 1.0. I think they were sold under the trade name "the Defenestrator".-- pathetic, Feb 24 2006 How?
Do you flip the window on a pivot?
I like this idea & have wondered about how to do the same thing, but haven't quite figured out how to make it work. (will flipping the windows work?)-- Zimmy, Feb 24 2006 You point the Low-E in
You point the Low-E out
You point the Low-E in
and you spin it all about
To avoid a konk you do it
with your knees bent
knees bent
That's what it's all about....[Zimmy]-- ConsulFlaminicus, Feb 24 2006 Larry La Prise, Hokey Pokey lyracist recently passed. - A sad day.
Meanwhile, back at the idea... Now that I know something about low-e glazing you get a learning bun for the introduction.-- Shz, Feb 24 2006 RIP Larry La Prise.
The time comes for all of us to "Put your whole self in..."-- Minimal, Feb 24 2006 Apparently they had some difficulty getting him into the casket. They put his left leg in and all hell broke loose.-- Shz, Feb 24 2006 [Zim] There would be many ways of doing this. Simply rotating would likely have clearance issues, though there are ways around this. How I have pictured it is using modern windows that tilt in for cleaning (link), and allow them to connect once tilted. Basically, you have 4 retractible pins on the window - retract the top ones and slide the window upwards, then extend the pins once the window is rotated. Repeat for the other half of the window.-- Worldgineer, Feb 24 2006 You might make a bunch of louvred windows. Thin strips of glass (somewhat like venetian blinds) would have a smaller turning radius, and should reduce the incidences of defenestration on Spindows 2.0
Sadly, louvred windows tend to be easily broken into, and require a lot of maintenance to keep them running smoothly.
Of course, the world is also long overdue for a Louvred Windows Version 2.0-- ye_river_xiv, Jun 17 2006 random, halfbakery