The Building Code of Australia (BCA) defines glazing as :

Volume 1 – Section J, A1.1

– “Means a transparent or translucent element and its supporting frame located in the envelope and includes a window other than a roof light”

Volume 2 – Section 3.12.2.1, Note 3

– “by referring to glazing elements this requires total U-values and Solar Heat Gains to be assed for the combined effect of glass and frames, as specified by the Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC)”

The efficient glazing website has been designed to highlight the effects of “glazing” on the thermal; performance of housing. With up to 40% of heat loss and 87% of heat gain in housing being transferred through windows this website aims to allow the most thermally efficient choice of “glazing” for your house.

Welcome to the Australian Window Association's Efficient Glazing website. This website contains online tools to empower the community to make the best choices when purchasing energy efficient windows and doors. With new technologies, increasing energy prices, ever changing regulation requirements regarding the energy efficiency of housing and the possibility of a carbon tax it is important that all stakeholders in the building market be able to choose products that meet their needs.
The tools on this website encourage participants to understand the benefits of energy efficient design in terms of thermal comfort, ongoing heating/cooling costs and carbon emissions.

The tools contained on this website allow you to make informed decisions about the windows you are purchasing for your house. It is little known that the largest energy consumers in the exterior construction of most houses are the windows and glazed doors. In testing, based on an average house containing 8% area of glazing in the entire building fabric (windows, walls, floor and roof), as much as 49% of the heat lost during winter and as much as 87% of the heat gained during summer can come from the windows. Imagine the expense and carbon emissions that can be saved by reducing the energy that you use to heat and cool your house.