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REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK Deccmbcr7 IKS Homeowners can tap the suns energy Whether you are looking to supple your existing home healing system grow plants and vegetables yearround or add some versatile comfortable living space to your home a may be the an swer lo your needs The beauty of is they can be whatever you want them to be Properly designed and con can simply capture and transfer solar energy to your home or they can provide a spot of summer warmth even in the depths of winter Several options are commonly Before seriously considering a however you should be aware that these struct uresneeda southfacing location free from shade during the winter when the sun is low on the horizon If the layout of your home and property does not provide such a location a sunspace will likely be ineffective Sunrooms provide additional living space One of the most popular types of sunspace the attached sunroom is designed be lived in yearround Built as an addition to the home this area provides a warm and comfortable environment where your family can enjoy bright winter days and the beauty of thriving house plants On sunny days can contribute some heat lo the rest of your home At night or on heavily overcast days however auxiliary heating is required maintain temperatures in the For optimum performance sun rooms should be oriented 10 degrees of A solid roof with an overhang will reduce overheat mg in the summer and heal kiss m the winter Skylights can be added to allow light into the back of the typically have a large southfacing wall constructed of vertical sheets of double glazed glass Glass with a coaling can be used lo increase the insulating value of the windows East and west walls are usually solid and should be wellinsulated To minimize temperature variations walls and floors can be constructed using such energy mate rials as tile or masonry Solar collection spaces an energy option Solar collection spaces gather energy from the sun during the day and transfer the parent building by fans and ducts As such principal role is to provide supple mentary heat the home during cold weaiher Most solar col lection have no auxiliary heating and are sepa rated from the parent building bv a well insulated wall Temperatures can vary widely between day and night almost itus would be comfortable for limned limes each day and plants could not sur vivethefreezingwintermghis Solar collection spaces can however reduce home heating cosis by trans femng energy from the sun your home and by acting as a buffer your living space and the cold outside world Greenhouses make winter a growing season are designed 10 provide the conditions necessary plants in extended season can be a rewarding source of in the tiful flowers and house plants On overcast days auxiliary heat ing is required to maintain adequate temperatures greenhouses As a result greenhouses often consume more energy during the winter lhan ihcy collect from he sun Never theless for many homeowners the benefits of having a designated area for growing plants and fresh vege tables yearround can outweigh the energy cos is Greenhouses require a fair amount of overhead glazing to improve plani growth Mixing sunspaces As a fourth you consider a mixed home additions thai encompass different aspects of the three ready discussed When considering a mixed sun spate lake care not compromise purpose and efficiency of design In general ihesc areas should be viewed as expanded liv ing space in which to enjoy ihe sun or to grow plants and as a source of heat Doing the work Sunspace suppliers offer every thing from designed sun it yoursclfkils Home owners can also build one of these additions using common building Before you begin work check local authorities for building regulations and permits sou have these in hand hire an export contractor or do the work keeping in mind wing basil concepts the southfacing wall should have vertical doubleglazed triple glazed or coated windows triple glazing and low- glass are a bit more be airtight windows should open ihe floor and ceiling level andoral Ihe two end walls to improve ventilation and reduce overheating in the summer the ruof should be and feature an over hang on the soulh edge to shade the glass during hoi weaiher Overhead glazing should be kepi to a mini mum Hooting materials can range from on a concrete slab 10 interlocking stones any material ihai will store excess heal and release when the s Finally 11 is preferable lo be able to seal ihe off from the main house to avoid temperature van a Moris A thermostatically con trolled fan can be used lo enhance of worm ihe house goes We Can Make That Dream Come True If youre searching for your dream home the Heralds Real Estate Outlook can help Our weekly real estate tabloid is filled with the latest home listings from throughout the area To help you find that dream home weve included a map of the area and if you need assistance the selection of real estate agents will help If you would rather build your own home our Home Of The Week feature with its list of professionals will speed you on your way The Heralds Real Estate Outlook your first step towards owning the home of your dreams the HERALD The Home Newspaper of Halton Hills Established 1866 Guelph St Georgetown 8772201