18 - Friday, Januzry 27, 1989 - North Shore News SOLAR HEATING Greenhouses may need From page 17 winter nights. Solar collection spaces can, however, reduce home heating costs by transferring energy from the sun to your home and by ac- ting as a buffer between your liv- ing space and the cold outside world. Greenhouses are designed to provide the conditions necessary for growing plants over an extend- ed season. They can be a rewar- ding source of fresh vegetables in the heart of winter, not to mention beautiful flowers and house plants. On overcast days, auxiliary heating is required to maintain adequate temperatures in greenhouses. As a result, greenhouses often consume more energy during the winter than they collect from the sun. Nevertheless, for many home- owners the benefits of having a designated area for growing plants and fresh vegetables year-round can outweigh the energy costs. Greenhouses often require a fair amount of overhead glazing to improve plant growth. As a fourth option, you might consider a mixed sunspace — an addition that encompasses dif- ferent aspects of the three sunspaces already discussed. When considering a mixed sunspace, take care not to com- promise the purpose and efficiency of the design. In general, these areas should be viewed as expand- ed living space in which to enjoy the sun or to grow plants, and not as a source of heat. Sunspace suppliers offer ing from custom-designed sunrooms to do-it-yourself kits. Homeowners can also build one of these additions using common building materials. Before you begin work, check with local authorities for building regulations and permits. Once you have these in hand, hire an experi- enced contractor or do the work yourself, keeping in mind the fol- lowing basic concepts: ethe south-facing wail should have vertical double-glazed, triple-glazed or low-emissivity- coated windows (triple-glazing and low-emissivity glass are a bit more in Home or Business . Consuitation WE OFFER: ¢ Carpet & Vinyi « Measuremeni & Installation | © Lifetime Service Guarantee 270-9219 AlL AT COMPETITIVE PRICES Take the guess work out of buying floor covering. Shop in comfort of your own home! expensive but offer added com- fort). e@end walls should be well-in- sulated and have minimal window area. © the overall construction should be airtight. ¢ windows should open at the floor and ceiling level and/or at the two end walls to improve cross ventilation and reduce overheating in the summer. © the sunspace’s roof should be well-insulated and feature an overhang on the south edge to shade the glass during hot weather. Overhead glazing should be kept to a minimum. © flooring materials can range from tiles on a concrete slab to in- terlocking stones, or basically any material that will store excess heat and release it when the sun goes down, Finally, it is preferable to be able to seal the sunspace off from the main house to avoid temperature variations. A thermo- statically-controlled fan can be us- ed to enhance the transfer of warm air to the house. rt | [@HOLLBUR 3 rm BLACK & EWESTCOAST WOOD WINDOWS LTD! Ji2089-80th AVE. SURREY V3W 34] THE “MARVIN E-Z TILT PAC KIT” ra ee LUMBER COMPANY DECKER 10” Mitre Saw ony 249% Powerful 2 hp motor for smooth and easy operation Manual push-button brake stops blade Quickly without sacrificing motor life Sawdust chute can be adjusted to aim dust away from user and 22% degree mitres, left or right 160 Hanes, North Vancouver 2 biks south c* Capitano Mall ; onit Reclere durability and accurate mitring for the blade of his choice Lockiag handle secures rotary table at any mitar angle, prevents creepage LUMBER COMPANY sa 980-3484 7 am - 5:30 pm 8 am - 5:00 pm Sat. 10 ami - 4:00 pm Sun.