Earthship windows?

Does anyone know where to buy the solar windows for earthships and how much they cost?  I have been looking in sunroom and greenhouse window suppliers, but I do not know if they are the right kind for the solar gain that I am looking for.  I would like to recycle large used windows but am concerned about air and water leakage.  I may be able to use them if they are vertical windows with a roof overhang, but I like the effective slanted windows on the earthships.  I want to save money, but this is not worth the time and cost fixing problems! Any advice would be appreciated!  Thanks.

In Micheal Reynold's earthship books, he encourages using the standard size double pane glass that is used in sliding glass doors. You might look on Craig's list for free used sliding glass doors, and remove the frames. Leakage is an issue that is either solved or caused by how you detail and trim the glass and their frames in my opinion.
kent

I got a quote (in Canada) for 4x8ft double pane windows from Ostaco (good brand) meant for passive solar applications and I recall they were ~$800 each, a cheap brand wasn't much less. 4x8 sheets of glass are ~$125

They are coming out with these windows now that are clear but will process light as solar energy - FYI

http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/sharp-introduces-transparent-solar-cells/856037/

Double pane patio door glass is often available free when the seal fails. Cut the seal and split them apart. A single pane that is well insulated at night will give more heat gain than double pane in some climates. Your profile doesn't give a location. If you're in Greenland, go with tripple pane.

I agree with Kent. As a handyman by trade I often find sliding glass doors removed and stored in a back yard or actually remove them myself. I just removed a set and replaced them with French Doors.

Since the cost is high for buying you might place a add offering free removal or if your carpentry inclined maybe discount a install and replacement if you can have the old doors.

Even if the glass is only conventional pane you can purchase pane (1) in solar specs you need and use the glass door panes for the (2) interior portion. If more filtering is needed after that solar shades work well also with the option of rolling them up in the winter when you want the sunshine to warm the home.

While I don't have experience sourcing these windows, I agree that used sliding glass doors would probably be ideal. Post an ad on craigslist for them, or check out your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore if you have one in your area. I like the Ships that have vertical glass as opposed to the slanted ones. Easier install, no leakage, and no need for shading. While I understand one reason for the slant is it allows the angle of the glass to be perpendicular to the sun in the winter to allow max usable heat/light, I think the benefits of vertical glass far outweigh this modest gain.

If you can't find them on Craig'sList, I agree...Habitat for Humanity is a great resource:

US locations, or
CA locations

"Arctic Glass" in Wisconsin used to sell these patio door panels. Their website is kissourglass.com but it seems to have not been tended to since 2011. Good luck.

If anyone in Georgia is looking...http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mat/3643747030.html

There is some good research out there that suggests slanting the windows on the south side of a passive solar home has little to no measurable benefit. Cant remember where I read it but I think it was from a researcher at NREL.
Generally speaking, all windows will eventually leak water. Slanting them at an angle will emit more water sooner.

It can be tempting to buy used glass for your passive solar project. Be aware that most glass (glazing) currently available is Low E which typically translates to a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient SHGC. This can have a serious negative impact to the design.

Most passive solar designers try to get a whole window SHGC of .5 or above. The best passive solar glass is Low E and High SHGC. This glass will let the sunlight in and allow the interior space to lose less heat through the reflective properties of the Low E coating.

The best glass currently available is Cardinal's Low E 180. http://www.cardinalcorp.com/products/coated-glass/loe-180-glass/

Mike Sved wrote:"Arctic Glass" in Wisconsin used to sell these patio door panels. Their website is kissourglass.com but it seems to have not been tended to since 2011. Good luck.

Unfortunately, Arctic Glass has permanently closed their doors.

Brian Knight wrote:There is some good research out there that suggests slanting the windows on the south side of a passive solar home has little to no measurable benefit. Cant remember where I read it but I think it was from a researcher at NREL.
Generally speaking, all windows will eventually leak water. Slanting them at an angle will emit more water sooner.

It can be tempting to buy used glass for your passive solar project. Be aware that most glass (glazing) currently available is Low E which typically translates to a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient SHGC. This can have a serious negative impact to the design.

Most passive solar designers try to get a whole window SHGC of .5 or above. The best passive solar glass is Low E and High SHGC. This glass will let the sunlight in and allow the interior space to lose less heat through the reflective properties of the Low E coating.

The best glass currently available is Cardinal's Low E 180. http://www.cardinalcorp.com/products/coated-glass/loe-180-glass/

As you noted, the increase in passive solar gain from angling glass is minimal at best and while the potential for leakage increases when using slanted glass it's not generally well-known that angling dual pane glass also raises the U-value of the unit. The greater the angle from vertical, the more loss of insulating ability.

Cardinal has also recently introduced a new coating called I89 that has the highest SHGC of any coating used anywhere (glass-only SHGC .742 versus .771 for clear glass in a 3mm dual pane configuration) but still has a very respectable U-value as well.

No idea about solar door.