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Benefits of the International Residential Code's Maximum Solar heat Gain Coefficient Requirement for Windows
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Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)
Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu)
Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu)
Abstract
Texas adopted in its residential building energy
code a maximum 0.40 solar heat gain coefficient
(SHGC) for fenestration (e.g., windows, glazed doors
and skylights)-a critical driver of cooling energy
use, comfort and peak demand.
An analysis of the expected costs and benefits of
low solar heat gain glazing, and specifically the
SHGC requirement in the new Texas Residential
Building Energy Code,1 shows that the 0.40 SHGC
requirement is ideal for Texas and that the benefits
far outweigh the expected costs. For consumers, the
requirement will increase comfort and reduce their
cost of home ownership. The anticipated public
benefits are also substantial - the result of full
implementation can be expected to: 1) Reduce cumulative statewide cooling energy use
over ten years by 15 billion kWh; 2) Reduce cumulative statewide electric peak
demand over ten years by over 1200 MW; 3) Result in cooling cost savings of more than a
billion dollars; and 4) Reduce cumulative statewide key air pollutants.