North, east and west facing windows
To save heating energy
Close window coverings at sunset to keep room heat in and open window coverings at sunrise to let warm sun in.
| Heating Season | April to September |
|---|---|
| Open your window coverings to let warm sun in at | approx. 07:07 hs |
| Close your window coverings to keep room heat in at | approx. 17:22 hs |
| Heating Season | October to May (*) |
|---|---|
| Open your window coverings to let warm sun in at | approx. 06:14 hs |
| Close your window coverings to keep room heat in at | approx. 20:13 hs |
(*) Overheating risk: During the heating season there is a period (January and February), where there may be some hot sunny days. Keep your window coverings closed on those days to prevent your home from overheating.
Unoccupied rooms:
If there are rooms you do not regularly occupy and you don’t want to operate the window coverings twice a day, use the WincovER heating rating to help you decide whether to leave the window covering open or closed.
Heating Season:
- For window coverings with a heating rating of zero, leave them open.
- For window coverings with a heating rating greater than zero, leave them closed.
Automated window coverings:
If you have automated window coverings that are sensor or timer driven, program the controller according to its capabilities.
Sensor operation: if your controller is able to automatically open and close at sunrise or sunset, use that automatic function.
Timer operation: set your controller to operate the window coverings at clock times close to the average sunrise and sunset time over the season instead (these times are listed above). Reprogram at the start of the heating season indicated for your LGA, OR at the beginning of April and October if your climate needs heating all year and your controller does not automatically adjust for sunrise/sunset at your location.
If your controller can use additional weather service or sensor inputs to control the window coverings, make sure that they will automatically close on hot sunny days in the heating season to avoid your home overheating.
Periodically check that your window coverings are operating as expected.
Heavy shaded and south facing windows
To save heating energy
Close window coverings all day in the heating season to keep room heat in.
Notes:
- All times are approximate local times that have been averaged through the season and take into account daylight savings where applicable. However, note that the start and finish dates of daylight savings changes from year to year.
- This schedule of operation may assist users in maximising the energy efficiency benefits that can be obtained with window coverings and operable external shading. Users must use their best judgment in adjusting the schedule of operation to suit the household needs for natural lighting and privacy for the building occupants, pets and indoor plants.
- Every effort has been made in compiling the data presented in these operation schedules. Please note that there may be variations within a region due to altitude, orientation and other circumstances. The energy efficiency of a home will also be affected by building materials, insulation, type of doors, windows and glazing used and other factors.
Data Sources:
- Heating and cooling seasons based on: ASHRAE Climatic Design Conditions (2017) ashrae-meteo.info
- Australian BOM weather station location information: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/stations/
- Sunrise and sunset calculations based on: https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html
