• The design implements the best-performing insulation and applies it to the maximum thickness before reaching the point of diminishing returns , Delfosse said . This includes extensive spray foam in the walls and thick insulation in the roof , where the highest heat loss generally hits this northern location .
• Windows are thermally broken designs , meaning highly conductive window frame materials such as metal are not continuous from the outer frame to the inner frame , but rather are interrupted by a less conductive component such as plastic . Windows also contain two or more panes , and between the panes lies a layer of argon , which is denser than air and conducts less thermal transfer through the window than an air layer would .
• Windows typically range from U-factors of 0.20 ( lowest thermal transfer ) to 1.20 , and the windows chosen for the CMC have a 0.29 U-factor . An even more efficient product – a translucent type of panel provided by KalWall – has been installed in the cavernous fieldhouse , where its 0.14 U-factor will keep cold and heat out while allowing diffused sunlight to naturally light the space , Delfosse said .
• Solar heat gain coefficient ( SHGC ) is another window performance characteristic the design team considered . SHGCs range from 0 to 1.0 . The CMC ' s windows have a 0.25 SHGC and were selected to control the amount of heat resulting from sunlight penetrating through the windows .
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