How To Incorporate Energy Saving Windows Into Your Renovation

If you are planning a renovation for your home or business, you need to consider the energy efficiency of your plans. You have a unique opportunity before you plan your renovation to dramatically decrease your future energy bills and improve your comfort while living there. You should select windows that conserve as much energy as possible and this article will outline a few of the main ways you can do this.

Get A Home Energy Audit

Before you consider renovating your home, it's worth paying an expert to come and audit your home. You can do this yourself but it's worth paying for. You'll gain a greater insight into the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems, your insulation and lighting. It's worth investing in this process as you'll gain a greater understanding of your home and gain new ideas of how you can plan your renovation to improve your home's energy efficiency.

Guide The Renovation Process

You can hire a 'green' consultant to help your renovation plans run towards the goal of making your home more energy efficient. Most business directories have listings for 'green architects' and hiring one is worth the extra cost. Your renovation will be far more successful at making your home more energy efficient if you receive expert guidance.

Incorporate Double Glazing Where Possible

The main reasons for energy inefficiency in windows are that they are uninsulated or leak air. Your home renovation should include high quality double glazed windows where possible in order to improve the thermal efficiency of your home. Triple glazing is far more expensive and only really necessary for reducing the transmission of sound. Double glazing will reduce the amount of sound coming into your home as long as the two panes of glass are different thicknesses. The principal advantage of using double glazing for your home renovation is that you'll spend less on heating and cooling besides creating a more comfortable and quieter living environment.

Consider Window Film

After you have selected double glazed windows for you renovation project, consider having tinted window film applied to windows that are in direct sunlight during the afternoon. Window film can be professionally installed or you can buy it and fit yourself by following simple instructional videos on YouTube. This film will block UV and reject solar heat while letting in natural light. You want to be careful about not going for a dark tint as this won't let enough light into your room and can be depressing. Well-chosen solar film will reduce your cooling costs in summer and improve the energy efficiency of your home.

What Are The Alternatives?

Renovating your home gives you the chance to explore solar shades which are large mesh shades fitted to the exterior of your home, over the windows. These are permanent and affect the look of your home but they reject a lot of heat while letting lots of light into your home. These shades last a lot longer than the 7 years most window film companies guarantee their film for. They also protect you from heat and UV even when you open the windows to let fresh air in, unlike windows with film on.

Capital Building offers the best house renovations in Melbourne. They provide building professionals dedicated to good design and construction of efficient, sustainable quality homes.