In his latest “Tips, Traps and a Little Science” column, MICHAEL DRAGE, founder of Reimagined Habitat, Passive House and energy efficient home designers, looks at the value of high-performance windows.

ONE of the key ideals from last month’s column was high-performance windows and doors.

I have touched on windows previously, but think it’s worth spending some more time on them.

Windows and airtightness are the two key drivers in the performance of a home. 

Why? Airtightness will determine the volume of air that needs to be thermally maintained, and the windows and doors are the weakest points of the building from an insulation point of view. A house is only as good as the weakest points.

The best way I can illustrate this is a recent comparison of window quotes for a new home. 

We were able to get triple-glazed windows at more than twice the energy efficiency compared to the specified thermally broken aluminium windows. The prices were virtually identical.

The modelling shows that the house will use around half the energy for heating and cooling throughout the year. 

We were stunned that we were able to source this at virtually the same price. Triple-glazed windows for the price of double glazed is an amazing outcome for the clients for ongoing cost, health and energy usage.

Tips, traps and a little science

TIPS – Check around as to what is available at what price. Companies such as Net Zero Plus are now offering triple-glazed windows at similar prices to double-glazed, at much higher performance levels.

TRAPS – Talk to your builders about options. Many have used the same companies for years and use them due to personal and business connections. Nothing wrong with this, but there are more options available now than ever before. Make sure you get the best quality window for your budget.

Thank you to all who contacted me regarding last month’s topic on Passive House. It is not a building standard here in Australia yet, but using the science behind it provides the key to building for the future. Keep your questions coming in, we love helping people upgrade or build better homes! For more details on the triple-glazed windows go to the Net Zero Plus website netzeroplus.com.au or call me any time on 0419 391282. For questions, comments or queries, email us at info@reimaginedhabitat.com.au or visit reimaginedhabitat.com.au