Glass
louvers that overlap one another form the panes of a jalousie window. Operated
with a crank or turn-screw, the glass louvers tilt to open, permitting air flow.
Besides the fact that they do not obstruct the view, their biggest advantage
is they allow ventilation. A wall of jalousie windows can be opened to let breezes
flow, making the indoors feel like outside. This advantage however is also their
greatest disadvantage -- they allow ventilation so well they are almost impossible
to seal. When closed, each glass louver rests against the one below it, rarely
if ever making an air-tight seal, and the hinges along the sides are almost
impossible to seal without covering the entire window. They are not energy efficient
and may be a security risk. Many building codes no longer allow jalousie windows.
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