Windows and doors are the second most important components of a build, apart from the construction system itself. They are a significant part of the design from an architectural and visual perspective. If not chosen or installed properly, they can be the weakest link in the thermal efficiency of your home.
In Australian homes people often think the function of windows and doors are to let natural light in, to have large glass panels for the view or to have a vintage look. The functional and thermal efficient parts of the windows and doors aren’t often given enough thought.
When thinking about the functions of windows and doors, the function of the home should be clarified first. Fundamentally, a home is a place where we would all like to feel safe, comfortable and warm. It’s a shelter that keeps us dry when it rains, keeps us warm when it’s cold and keeps us in shade when it’s sunny. Secondly, a home is a place where we feel we belong. We design and decorate it in the way that matches our style, our taste and our personality.
When we select windows, the priority should be in the same order. The main function of the windows and doors is insulation. They keep the temperature stable inside as much as possible. The window technology has evolved so much in the past few decades around the world. Timber, steel and thin aluminium frames with single glazed glass have been retired in many countries for decades. They don’t keep the inside temperature stable at all. Energy is transferred through them very quickly. Unfortunately, they are still very common in existing Australian homes and still being used in new builds even in the 6 or 7 energy star rated homes.
Today with climate change and energy saving topics, there are more people starting to pay attention to the importance of a well-insulated home not only for their health, comfort and wellbeing but also to consume less energy to save the planet and the ever increasing energy bill. Particularly in Melbourne after working from home for 2 years during COVID, people are more aware of the differences double glazed windows can make. It’s great to see that more people are looking to replace their windows with more efficient ones. However, like any product, not all double-glazed windows are created equal, especially from a thermal performance perspective.
Some key elements to look out for when thinking energy efficiency are:
The thermal performance. Thermally broken frames are important. Uw value is a common indicator for window thermal performance. The lower the Uw value is, the better the window will perform. Uw value ranges from > 5.0 for single glazed to under 1.0 for triple glazed Passive House standard windows. We recommend you select the windows with the lowest Uw value that you can afford. The investment will be worthwhile for your own comfort and the comfort of your family. The energy saving in the future will help to pay off the cost.
The glazing aspect. Thickness of the glass, the width of the argon filled gap, spacer material, double, triple or quadruple glazed, low E coating which allows the natural light to come in and deflect the UV rays. They can all increase the thermal performance of your windows and doors.
The quality of the windows. How airtight are they? Quality of the parts - Are they made to last? What kind of frames? How thermally broken are they. They should last as long as the house lasts and longer.
Contact us via m@mlwindows.com.au or learn more about ML Windows at https://www.mlwindows.com.au
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