Building/Remodeling: 

General Recommendations

Materials

Windows.   We have vinyl clad (inside and out) double hung windows.  We regularly get condensation, so you need windows and sills that can deal with water.  Consider vinyl in AND out.  Windows on south should be 7% of sq footage.  If the main floor is 1000 sq ft there should be 70sq feet of windows facing south.  Another comparison is to say 25 to 35% of the wall sq. footage.  We found it easier to deal with the overall sq footage, but note we have high ceilings in the main living space.  Reduce the number of windows on the North, East and West (the south is dependent on whether you want to do passive solar) and make sure they have storm windows (regardless of how good they are supposed to be).

There should be one foot of siding ABOVE the top of the window and 4 feet of overhang.  This permits shading in the summer and full exposure in the winter.  To get this same effect for the basement windows, create a 4ft deck running the length of the house, it can have a wider area but remember a wider deck shades the basement more and you will loose solar gain. Sustainable by Design Overhang Design page  will allow you to calculate the exact overhang for your latitude and longitude.

South facing windows should have a high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) – usually 0.60 or higher – to maximize heat gain, a low U-factor (0.35 or less) to reduce conductive heat transfer, and a high visible transmittance (VT) for good visible light transfer.  See passive solar design for more information.

Window shades. Manufacturers are increasingly developing energy conservation products or remarketing old products with efficiency pitches. A main issue is heat transfer by way of sunlight streaming through windows. Blackout products are usually mentioned as sleep aids, but they also block out heat during summer months. If you want to reduce your air conditioning bills but still want to light rooms naturally during the day, cellular shades might be the answer. Cellular Window Shades, a small Vermont company, manufacturers shades with a honeycomb structure, that lets in light while blocking out ultraviolet radiation. Cellular's Symphony™ shades are more than twice as effective at blocking heat than blinds or shades.

Roof .  Use a 10x12 pitch.  It’s good for snow shedding and a good angle for PV (photovoltaic).  If you are putting in SDHW or PV consider getting the mounts in place before the roofers do their thing so they can work around it and to reduce wear and tear on your new roof.   Get a 20 yr roof, you don’t want to put a new roof on especially if there is PV or SDHW over it.  Also consider rain water recovery – have downspouts run to barrels on high ground so you can use gravity to your advantage. 

See also Flooring, Decking, Insulated Concrete Forms, and Cabinetry, Closets and Woodwork.

Links

Northern Blinds - Canadian website for window coverings.  Recommends cellular shades and roller shades for maximum R-value.