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As homes are heavy users of energy, Australia has developed a new Building Code encouraging energy efficient design, so that new homes will need less artificial heating and cooling.
In a tropical climate, the energy efficient solution is to keep the sun's rays out and the cool air in.
Energy efficiency in a temperate climate requires a home that can minimise the effects of the sun's heat during warmer periods, then insulate when it's cooler to reduce the need for heating.
In a cold climate the challenge is to insulate the home from the cold, while keeping warmth in, to reduce heavy energy use from heating.
Your designer or builder can use software packages such as NatHERS or FirstRate to explore different ways of using materials such as glass to meet energy efficiency requirements while maintaining good design principles.
Single glaze
Put sunglasses on your home with ComforTone™ in hot climates. ComforTone is the simple, economical way to make your home cooler in hot climates. The tone of the glass helps to shade the inside of your home. This can keep your home up to 10% cooler, reducing air conditioning and energy bills.
Laminated
ComfortPlus™ is a high performance glass that provides greater comfort in all seasons. A special Low E coating on ComfortPlus means you enjoy insulation from both heat and cold. In winter it keeps over a third more heat inside than standard glass, so you stay cosier while enjoying uninterrupted views. In summer it works the other way, to halve the sun's direct heat entering through your windows, so you can save on air conditioning too.
Insulating Glass Units
The use of two pieces of glass separated by a sealed air space, creates a highly effective insulation barrier that can stop cold and heat from entering or leaving your home depending on the combination of glass used.
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