1 min readAug 13, 2021
- You choose the right tree and it will be fine, and in this climate, if you don’t shade your south facing windows…as I pointed out, I have lived the difference. You’re talking easily a 10 to 15 percent increase in cooling needs. Right now, this is not something a German will appreciate, unless and until Europe warms considerably. I’m at the same latitude as Lisbon here and on the east side of a continent. Summer temperatures here AVERAGE over 30 celsius. For weeks on end. Shade trees are vital for not just comfort but health. You just plant something short so it won’t block the panels.
- Everyone here thinks Only Very Cold places need double glazing. As for energy efficiency standards? Locally determined, piecemeal, voluntary half of the time. Here, they apply only to new builds. Everything else is grandfathered. Double glazing is not required per se, there IS a window efficiency rule, but if the building is old, you can legally install whatever crappy windows you want. Single glazed windows aren’t as popular any more, but they are still LEGAL in a lot of places and they’re cheaper, so people still install them.