With cooler temperatures on the way and rising energy costs now impacting many families, Australians are becoming more conscious of their home heating costs. While people spend large amounts of money on different heating configurations and home insulation, windows are not something many people think about in the context of controlling their home’s temperature, yet it has a dramatic impact.
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A regular, adequately insulated building can lose up to 49 per cent of heat through the windows in winter, and also let in a large amount of heat during the summer months.
It’s no surprise the nation is quick to crank up the temperature as winter creeps in, which leads to soaring energy bills. Many older Australian homes are poorly designed and have insufficient insulation on windows, walls and roofing, with heating and cooling together contributing to 40 per cent of energy use in the average Australian home.
Christine Evans, Marketing Director at Stegbar, said windows are one of the most critical elements that contribute to your home’s temperature. “High performance glazing options can help increase thermal performance, reducing the amount of heat escaping through the windows,” she said.
Double glazed windows improve the comfort of your home and assist in making your home comfortable during winter. “The sealed air, or gas filled, gap between the two panes of glass acts as an added layer of insulation. This extra insulation improves your home’s energy rating,” said Ms Evans
It is not just window glass that can improve energy efficiency but also window framing and furnishings. Furnishings such as blinds and curtains can enhance performance and can help overcome problems with existing windows.
“Insulation is key to maintaining room temperatures, and a few small changes can help your home be more energy efficient and keep bills down,” said Jenny Brown, National Marketing Manager for Luxaflex Window Fashions.
Luxaflex have a wide variety of window furnishings that can assist in maintaining room temperature. Some of their unique designs feature a patented triple honeycomb cell construction, with six layers of fabric that create five insulating air pockets that can help you save on your heating costs.
Another innovative product on offer are motorised blinds that allow you to control them from your smartphone or tablet. This allows you to control the temperature of you home, even when you aren’t there. “Our award winning PowerView® Motorisation uses clever technology so Aussies can now schedule their blinds to lower immediately after dusk – the optimum time to close them to help prevent heat loss,” said Ms Brown.