If you are spending thousands each year on your utility bill, the chances are that you’ll need to look at your windows and doors. Most people blame high utility bills on poor maintenance, aging appliances and more. However, the truth is that your windows play a significant role in regulating the temperature in your home.
In fact, up to 40 per cent of thermal energy can be lost at the window! How, then, can you make your home more energy efficient? The answer lies in double glazing. Since aluplast uPVC double-glazed windows are a significant investment, you might be wondering whether it is worth your while.
This article will discuss the benefits of double-glazed units, passive solar principles, and more to help you decide whether installing double-glazing is a wise decision.
What Is Double Glazing and How Does It Work?
Double glazing is made from two glass panes, as the name implies. Dehydrated air or argon fills the area between these two panes.
Once entrapped, this air creates an insulating layer that lessens the flow of hot or cold air through the window. It is an easy and incredibly economical approach to conserving energy.
Moreover, installing these insulated glass units is a passive energy-saving solution that aims to lower your carbon footprint while saving you money and improving your quality of life.
Modern air conditioners and heaters may not be necessary if double-glazed windows are installed throughout your home.
The Benefits of Double Glaze
Double-glazed windows offer a number of benefits for homeowners in Australia. Here are the benefits you can expect when you install double-glazed windows:
Insulation – you can trap hot air in during the cold months
Energy efficiency – when you install double-glazed windows, you won’t need additional heating or cooling to regulate the temperature within the home
Noise reduction – you can keep unwanted noise out thanks to an additional layer of glass and gas
Better security – since many intruders gain entry through windows, installing double-glazed windows provides an additional barrier to prevent anyone from gaining unauthorized entrance to your home
Increased property value – you’ll also enjoy a higher property value when you install these windows
Lower energy bills – spend less on heating and cooling with passive energy regulation
Hassle-free maintenance – double-glazed windows are easy to clean, so you won’t have to spend hours trying to clean them
Single Glazed Windows and Double Glazed Window Systems
If you’ve been looking at installing new windows lately, you may have seen the terms “double glazed windows,” and “single glazing,” but what does it all mean, and which one is better for improving energy efficiency in your home?
Let’s start by defining each type of window system:
Single glazed windows – These windows are made up of one glass pane and offer no insulation or barrier for heat loss
Double glazed– Windows that have been double glazed contain two glass sheets. The air trapped between these two panes helps to allow less solar heat to flow through the window
Low Emission Glass Versus Double Glazing
Using low E-glass is another way to improve the insulation of your windows. It involves coating a window in a reflective film, but is it better than double glazing?
The truth is that low e-glass will only reflect sunlight, which can offer some benefits in the summer months. Even when you don’t want it, the low-E coating will always lower the heat passage through the window.
You may be dissatisfied and in need of additional heating if your building was constructed using passive solar design principles and you were counting on those lovely north-facing windows to maintain the warmth throughout winter.
As double glazing often has a higher SGHC value, it will perform an excellent job of trapping heat inside the home but will also allow more heat build-up during the wintertime.
How Energy Efficient Windows Improve Thermal Performance
It’s crucial to take into account the two heat exchange mechanisms (solar gain and conduction) in the context of your environment and tailor your glazing to site-specific requirements to maximize energy efficiency and thermal performance. We’ll discuss these mechanisms in the section below.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
The transfer of heat from solar radiation via a glazing system is the second aspect to take into account. It evaluates the proportion of solar energy that escapes through a window after being absorbed by it and is represented as a value between 0 and 1.
A window is more efficient if its SHGC is lower since it transmits less solar radiation. When the weather is cooler and heating is required, permitting some solar energy into the building can lessen the requirement for synthetic heating.
On the other hand, there are instances in which a higher SHGC window is more efficient. This is especially helpful for north-facing window glazing.
Conduction
The conduction or U-value of a glazing system, which includes the spacers, glass, frames, and seals, reveals how well it conducts heat. A window with a high U-value transfers heat easily, while windows with a low U-value are better at insulation and should be the goal for buildings.
If your property had 50m2 of transparent single-glazed windows, glazed doors and windows with aluminium window frames, the heat loss would be approximately 3100W, which is a significant quantity of energy that is needed to ensure that the house is warm.
However, you can reduce the quantity of heat lost and the energy needed to warm the area in half if you opt for aluplast uPVC double-glazed windows.
Double Glazing for the Australian Climate
Australia can be divided into two regions, the cooler areas and those that are warmer.
Warmer northern climates – double-glazed windows can help to keep hot air out, regulating the temperature indoors and keeping you cool
Cooler southern climates – your double glazing will work to trap hot air inside the home, ensuring that you are kept warm
Other Technical Aspects That Influence the Performance of Energy Efficient Glazing
The truth is that other characteristics of each sheet of glass affect how well double glazing performs. This includes:
How big the air gap is
Its gas content
The material of the frame and spacer
Although the thickness of the glass helps to increase noise transmission and the strength of the window, it has no effect on heat transfer. Because this might sound confusing, you can talk to one of our experts to learn more about double-glazed windows.
Ready to Invest in Double-glazed Windows? We Can Help!
Double glazing offers a plethora of benefits and can help to save you money on your heating and cooling bills and increases the value of your property. If you are ready to invest in these window systems, you’ll need a reliable contractor to ensure they are installed correctly.
Thermaglaze Double Glazing has been a premium service provider for all things double-glazing for the past 15 years in Australia, so you have the assurance that you’re in the right hands. Let us install a flawless window system that will work for you all year round!
To find out more about our services or request a free measure and quote, give us a call today at 1300 022 867 or complete our online contact form.
