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Leading Architect Champions Double Glazing

Melbourne architect recommends double glazing with uPVC framing.

Leading Melbourne Architect Recommends Double Glazing

 

Rebecca Naughti recommends double glazing.Best of Houzz award-winning Architect, Rebecca Naughtin, runs Rebecca Naughtin Architect– a small boutique practice that specialises in residential projects in Melbourne.

I came across her work by following up an article she authored for Houzz,  Renovating on a Budget: How Get More From Your Windows For Less.

What struck me was that, even though she was talking about working to a budget, she believed that double glazing was the best choice. In the article, Rebecca advises…

Don’t dismiss double glazing as an option
Most of the cold and heat enters through windows so double glazing has been installed in these aluminium-framed windows. They look smart, contemporary and the double glazing does not compromise the frame structure which is lighter than a timber frame. Double glazing should be considered for all projects; you may be shocked by how economical it can be and it provides a very comfortable environment.

In the article, she went on to discuss her preference in framing material…

Consider long-term maintenance costs
uPVC windows are relatively new in Australia, however they are incredibly durable, low maintenance and can resist wind, rain, corrosion, peeling and chipping. Something to consider for ongoing costs of your renovation.

More and more architects are recommending double glazing to their clients, with many good reasons!

 

 

 

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 Categories : Installation Thermal Insulation uPVC
 Posted on : May 25, 2016

Adjustable External Window Shading

Adjustable shade sails keeping sun off windows.

Using Adjustable Shading To Prevent Summer Overheating

By Alan Pears

Alan Pears, environmental champion, discusses overheating in Sibereia.More on windows causing homes to overheat in Summer…

The frustrating thing for me is that good adjustable external shading can fix a lot of the overheating problems.

 

Roller Shutters Can Be One Shading Answer

Before last summer, I installed those European external roller shutters (made in South Australia, and reasonably priced with solar powered motors) on my most exposed windows, along with a reflective roof coating. Despite a pretty hot summer in Melbourne, my living room never went over 25C with no cooling. In the past it would get to high 20s-30.

 

Shade Cloth Is Another Excellent Form Of Adjustable Window Shading

I also helped design a lightweight holiday home on the Victorian south coast neary 20 years ago. It had quite a lot of low-e double glazing, which made it fantastic in cooler weather. In summer we would hoist large areas of shade cloth and (with the help of the coastal climate) it was always comfortable without active cooling. My impression is that this was because the shading kept the direct sun off the windows, and the low-e coating reflected the re-radiated heat from the ground and decks. I was there one hot day when I didn’t bother to put up the shading: it was 35C in the living room by 10am!

 

Unfortunately, The Building Regulations Need Updating On Shading.

A concern to me is that, as far as I understand, the building regulations don’t allow you to rate a home with high performance internal or external adjustable shading. And the basic model assumes the home has fairly light coloured Holland blinds that are pulled down if significant sun falls on the window. This means consideration of effective shading is undermined by the present regulations… Someone needs to do more work on this.

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 Categories : Energy Efficiency Standards Thermal Insulation
 Posted on : May 11, 2016

Efficient Heating and Double Glazing Now ‘Home Essentials’

 

UK home buyers rank double glazing as 'must have'.

How Does Double Glazing Rank With UK Home Buyers?

Where does double glazing fit into the list of ‘must haves’ for UK home buyers? The pleasantly surprising answer, according to UK comparison website GoCompare.com,  is #2. Yes. double glazing outranks a garden, friendly neighbours, even an ensuite bathroom.

Energy efficient heating comes in at #1 of the ‘must haves’. You can understand that in the cold UK climate. In Australia, we’d probably say ‘efficient heating and cooling‘. Needless to say, fitting double glazed windows and doors to a home makes both the heating and cooling systems more efficient. They don’t have to run for as long, they cost less to operate, and they last longer.

#3 on the list is ‘secure windows and doors’. Double glazing again! Modern double glazed windows and doors are generally far more secure than the old windows they replace. Better design, burglar-resistant construction  and multi-point locking, all contribute to enhanced home security’.

‘A good energy efficiency rating’ also makes it into the Top 10 wanted features, at #8. Of course, double glazing contributes significantly to any measure of the energy efficiency of a home.

In the late 1980’s, I was in Real Estate. I can attest that most home purchasers were oblivious to energy efficiency measures or energy efficient design, and most new home builders knew and cared even less. Today, many buyers have become much more aware of the issues of energy-efficiency, both from financial and global warming perspectives. Unfortunately, the Real Estate Industry is still lagging behind. And the Building Industry? Having to be dragged kicking and screaming to better standards.

Ben Wilson, from Gocompare.com Home Insurance, summed up the UK survey…

“Our research suggests that today’s potential home-buyers are putting practical concerns ahead of aesthetics by looking for properties which are cosy, energy efficient and secure, rather than full of character. With ever increasing gas and electricity prices, fuel and financial economy are a concern for many households, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that well-insulated homes and efficient central heating systems are key priorities for buyers.”

I haven’t seen a similar survey done in Australia, but it certainly indicates that any measures you take to improve the comfort and energy-efficiency of your home will not only make life better for your family, but they’ll be rewarded at sale time.

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 Categories : Energy Efficiency Home Security
 Posted on : April 7, 2016

Climate Change: More Heatwaves & Double Glazing

Australia can expect more and longer heatwaves due to climate change.

Study: Heatwaves Will Get Longer, Hotter & More Frequent

The evidence is in… again. The University of NSW has used a database that tracks the last 50 or so years of heatwaves , to discover any trends.

Their analysis shows that heatwaves are getting longer, more frequent and more intense in Australia. One of the climate scientists involved in the study, Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick explains how and why in the video below. She also reflects on the value of using double glazing to reduce heat inside the home, and reduce air conditioner use. In an ABC 7:30 Report aired on 20/11/2015, one of the climate scientists involved in the study, Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick explains how and why. The Interviewer is Julia Baird.

“JULIA BAIRD: And given that emissions are going to increase, obviously there is a debate about to what extent, are we at the point where we need a cultural change, a change in our thinking, where we all start to say okay instead of toughing it out this summer, instead of perhaps buying more air conditioners, we actually try to adapt to it and accept that our lives will be different now?

SARAH PERKINS-KIRKPATRICK: Absolutely I think we needed that about 10 years ago. People sometimes think that double glazing on their windows on their houses for example isn’t a good move because you only need that in cold climates to keep the heat in but insulation goes both ways, if you want to keep the heat in, you also want to keep the cool in and vice versa. So perhaps using those sorts of measures when we are building our houses, maybe making it easier, or cheaper for people to buy those sorts of resources.

That also goes for insulation in the walls of the house, in your roof, making these resources more available. So that goes into our architecture or how we live our daily lives. There are also other ways like maybe the times of days that we move, like it is peak hour out there now, I’m sure a lot of people don’t want to be out there in this hot weather. Perhaps if we moved at different times or could potentially work at home to stop people being out in this extreme weather and getting heat stroke as well. But I would say we needed those changes and that cultural shift to start quite a while ago.”

I couldn’t agree more. We shouldn’t need to point out that double glazing is insulation. and it works both ways. It’s nice to have a scientist remind us that double glazing helps keep us cooler in summer, as well as warmer in winter.
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 Categories : Climate Change Thermal Insulation
 Posted on : March 10, 2016