uPVC windows and doors can save you thousands from rising energy costs

Ahead of the upcoming federal election the rising cost of energy prices in Australia over the last decade, and how the Government planned to tackle this, was at the top of everybody’s agenda. The rising cost of energy has had a huge impact on Australian households and businesses alike.

Changes have been promised and consumers are expected to enjoy savings reflected in their bills as early as July 2019, as the Australian Energy Regulator introduces a “price safety net” meaning all power providers must set their price against a default market price.

But with laws still to be passed and the effects of this yet to filter down to our bills and bank accounts (fingers crossed), what can we as consumers do ourselves to create energy savings, effectively and financially?

Windows & Doors – How They Are Affecting Your Energy Bills

Did you know that 40% of a home’s heat energy can be lost and 87% of heat energy can be gained simply through your windows and doors?

NSW BASIX® regulations are now requiring more and more homes to have energy efficient windows and doors. Why? Independent research shows that owners of new homes that comply with BASIX® regulations can reduce their annual water and power bills by up to $600/year on average. So how do we make our windows and doors more energy efficient?

uPVC – Energy Efficient & Energy Saving

You may not be familiar with uPVC (short for un-plasticised polyvinyl chloride) here in Australia, as more traditional materials such as aluminium and wood have been the preferred/popular materials used for window and door frames.

uPVC itself as a building material is a fantastic insulator. uPVC does not conduct heat in the same way a material such as aluminium does, meaning you’re not having to work as hard during those summer months to keep the building cool, or in the winter months keep the heat trapped inside. Not only that but uPVC provides tight seals, far superior to wood for example, further preventing heat escaping, or entering, the home. This energy efficiency is laying the strong foundations for why switching to uPVC double glazed windows and doors can result in a reduction of your annual energy costs, whether it’s hot or cold outside.

uPVC Double Glazed Windows & Doors – The Future Of Energy Efficient Homes

Double glazed windows and doors have been popular in the US and Europe for decades (as early as 1950 in the US). Why? Because double glazing offers an energy efficient solution, all year round. How? Unlike traditional single pane windows (what we’re used to here in Australia), double glazed windows have two panes of glass (the name kind of gives that away!) – between these two panes a non-toxic gas is trapped, meaning that for heat to travel through the space it has to work a lot harder than it would to get through a single pane of glass! The low conductivity of the gas between the two panes means that double glazed windows work to keep the heat in, or out, of you home.

And if heat isn’t escaping in the winter? You won’t have to spend as much on your heating bill; the impact of running electric or gas heaters in the home to keep your family warm during the colder months in Sydney can have a huge impact on your energy bills.

What about the summer, surely that would mean the home would be even hotter? Quite the contrary, in summer the double glazed windows and doors work to reduce the heat coming in through your windows from the sun, and can trap cold air, circulated by an air conditioning unit for example, quite easily. These windows and doors work hard all year round. Meaning they can offer big savings for homes and businesses alike, all year round.

Energy Efficient Windows & Doors – Don’t Sacrifice Style

Okay so you’re sold, you want to take control of your energy costs for your home or business, and want to invest in double glazing which can last up to 35 years. The fantastic thing about uPVC is it’s versatility, meaning that it is available in a wide variety of finishes so you can rest assured you will be happy with the aesthetics of such a long term investment.

If you want to replace your single pane wood windows for a thermally efficient solution, but don’t want to sacrifice the aesthetic look and feel of your building, you can choose from a ‘honey oak’ or ‘nut tree’ natural look option (for your windows or doors). Moving from aluminium, try the ‘grey aluminium’ or ‘silver’ finishes. Energy saving and stylish window and door solutions.

Want to know more about the energy efficiency of double glazed windows and doors and how much your home could save? Contact Integra Windows to learn more about how you can join the increasing numbers of Australians making the switch to energy saving window and door solutions.