T
his article outlines the issues of buying building materials from overseas. Please find time to read it.
I can't stress strongly enough why it is important to buy Australian. If you can't afford it this year, then save up and buy Australian next year. You not only support the Australian economy but you know that the products that you buy are compliant and meet the Australian Standard.
Imagine a child going through a glass unit that isn't toughened correctly. It could be life threatening.
We recently pulled out 3 year old Chinese windows and doors from a new home in Franklin because the client wanted to save money. It cost him double on what it would have cost during the build. Please think about where you buy from.
www.solacecreations.com.au
www.awa.org.au
I have been driving energy efficient windows in
Canberra for about 8 years now and I am seeing an increase in home
owners who can see the value of their insulation (including windows and
doors). Some thoughts of mine:
1. Insulated windows and
doors have to form part of the building for new homes, it is crazy to do
the walls and ceilings and not the windows and doors which can form 30%
of the wall space. I think this will be more of a Building Code issue
than a local issue, however, if there is a way where we can make it an
essential element of the 6 stars then it may work? Builders and home
owners are focussed on the 6 star compliance requirements but this does
not relate necessarily to 6 star comfort. It is easy to get 6 stars
with single glazed aluminium windows and doors with the right
orientation and wall and ceiling insulation.
As a Board Director
of the Australian Window Association I am across emerging initiatives
that hopefully will help our cause. The new rating system will recognise
WERS ratings rather than generic ratings. There is work afoot to
recognise energy saving enhancements when homes are being valued and
this would include solar panels, double glazing, solar hot water etc.
This would make the 6 star more realistic.
2.
We don't want to drive change that becomes like the insulation and solar
panel debacles. Suddenly everyone will be an expert in double glazing
and we will have substandard installations and product happening in
homes. A rebate or some form of RECS similar to solar panels may encourage home owners to
upgrade their homes if they get a rebate on their energy bills.
3.
I can show in real terms the savings that new homes can make in their
first year with double glazing and do it on a case by case basis. Over
25 years it can be close to $25,000.
4. I would like to
see all new block owners issued with a "small" guide to energy efficient
design and products. There is not enough information in place to
inform new block owners. Perhaps this could be given to new new block owner when settlements take place
at the Land Titles Office?
My
vision is for all homes in Canberra to be double glazed - imagine how
much energy we would save as a city an how temperate and comfortable our
homes would be. As a minimum I would like to see our young in child
care centres warm and our elderly in retirement homes warm with low
energy bills.
Come and see us at our super showroom at 17 Townsville Street Fyshwick or call us on 6260 1621 www.solacecreations.com.au.
Karen
Yesterday I had the privilege to be invited to 666 ABC Radio Canberra to talk to Lish about how glazing contributes to a sustainable house. After 8 years of peddling double glazing to the Canberra market, I now believe that I have traction and more and more people are understanding why energy efficient windows and doors are importation the insulation package of their home.
After I finished at 666, I headed out to Googong as a guest speaker in the Shaw Living "Tinderry" House and gave two half hour talks on energy efficient windows. We had an audience of people who are looking to build new homes and those that want to improve their existing home. If I could put on a "light bulb" moment for several families then I did my job well yesterday.
I would like to see the Building Code changed to make insulated windows mandatory - not only for my business but for the future of Canberra. I can't understand why we are so heavy on the insulation of walls and ceilings but completely forget the wall spaces that contain windows and doors where we put in a single piece of glass. No Brainer really!
www.solacecreations.com.au
Karen
