Survey for Engineering Class

[SSMike]

Hello, I am currently taking an engineering class and am in my senior year of high school. I, along with two other students, am designing a device to quickly and easily open and close house windows. In order to do so, we need to know which type(s) of windows are most common in people’s homes. I have attached our survey (only 4 questions) and my group and I would greatly appreciate any feedback that you can give us.

Note: The first two questions are the most important. Pictures of common types of windows are in the attached document.

Thank you for all your help!
--Mike

EDIT: In accordance with Don's suggestion, I added a poll to the thread. Please continue to specify the other parts of the survey though. Thank you to all of you who have already given your input, it is greatly appreciated.

[Elgin Clock]

1) Double Hung

2) Double

3) Not really. All the windows we open are fairly accessible in a short amount of time (re: under 3-5 minutes to open/close all windows) but that is only 6 out of the 16 or so windows throughout the entire house.

4) Sure, why not?

I'm personally not a huge fan of opening windows - would prefer to turn on the AC... (I know, I know, not really reducing my "carbon footprint" in that sense, but oh wells.)
The only time I ever really need to open a window would be if I burned something in the stove, & needed to air the house out or something.
If a switch were in place, it would be nice to be able to select which windows to open out of all 16.
Or, have it set up to basically work in "zones" like your home heating, or thermostat controls tend to do.
Put all the first floor windows in one zone, & the second floor windows on another, etc, etc...
Is that asking too much? LOL

[smurfgirl]

For my house:
1. Double hung
2. Double
3. Don't generally keep many (if any) windows open; house has central air
4. Sure, that would be cool.

For my dorm room:
1. Double hung
2. Double
3. I only have three windows to close when it rains, but they get stuck opening/closing to it can take up to 10 minutes to close the three of them. We aren't too happy about this because our beds are under the windows, and in a downpour that means soggy sheets.
4. Again, that would be pretty cool, especially if it would save me from wrestling with the windows.

[Carlee10]

1. Double or single hung.
2.single
3.yes
4.yes

[tdlrali]

1. Casement
2. Double
3. Somewhat... I usually only worry about my own window.
4. Yes (aren't you supposed to keep windows closed during a fire? and if i was trying to escape i would certainly not bother opening the window first)

[lasereyes]

1. Double hung
2. Single
3. Yes
4. Yes

[DonRotolo]

It should be possible to create a poll for this thread, might make it easier.

Anyhow:

1. Double Hung and Casement
2. Single and double (respectively)
3. Yes. The double-hungs have pins inserted to lock the sashes together (extra security) and it takes time to deal with them. The casements are easy.
4. Probably not, my concerns are cost, installation and appearance.

[Dan Petrovic]

1) Awning

2) Single

3) Nope, dorm rooms have one large window.

4) In my situation, it would be more trouble than it's worth. Even at home... probably more trouble than it's worth.

[GaryVoshol]

1. Mostly double-hung, sliding on one large window (two sliding panels).

2. Double

3. No

4. No

[Molten]

1. Double hung
2. Double
3. Yes
4. No

[Dick Linn]

1. Casement
2. Double
3. No.
4. No.

[Tristan Lall]

1. Mostly sliding (20+ years old, with a couple 5? years old), a few casement (1 year old) and a few fixed (1 year old). Also large glass sliding doors (20+ and 30? years old).
2. Double. The sliding windows and doors have two separate layers (4 sashes—2 fixed, 2 sliding), while the casement and fixed windows have gas-filled double-layer units.
3. No. The windows are all screened, so rain isn't a big deal.
4. Interested, yes, in principle because it's an amusing feature—but I would hardly consider spending much money on it. It's the sort of thing that might be worth considering as an option on a new home, or when replacing windows, but which certainly wouldn't be a priority.

I could see this device being useful as a security device (as in, jamming the window at a set position), but a quick manual override would be desirable. Also, consider the obtrusiveness of it: I would expect it to be installed within the frame or wall, and it shouldn't interfere with Venetian blinds. Also, check into your local building codes: in Canada, electrical devices (if you're considering a motor) need to be specially approved in order to be hardwired into the electrical system and concealed within framing or behind walls—absent approval, you'd need to provide a cable to a standard outlet on the wall (which is ugly).

And of course, I hope you're investigating the strength of common window construction. My sliding windows are aluminum extrusions, and pretty strong and stiff, but the more-efficient and cheaper modular plastic windows (like the new casements) are not necessarily as strong.