Climate change research & evidence-based policy | existing building adaption | design think | research trained, PhD & practice: UK reg. architect & MCIAT | interdisciplinary | education of built environment professionals
For the cost of less than one submarine, the funding for on-shore manufacturing of renewable technologies is starting to look like a go-er. For buildings, I’m hoping this scaled-up thinking also supports the window glass manufacturing on-shore. We have 11 million houses with very poor windows (glass & frames) - retrofitting windows to upvc frames, sized for daylight not aesthetics, would save a huge amount of space-conditioning (heating & cooling) for every home. Our window systems conduct so much solar (black metal!!) and trap the heat inside houses via unshaded, oversized area of glass facing north & west afternoon sun. Improving windows also works to keep homes warm in the cold months too. Our window glass & frame industry sector is crying out for higher building regulations. They need demand & for people & residential housing developers to understand how amazing decent windows feel in homes (quieter, more comfortable in summer & winter, no wet condensation pooling every morning). It doesn’t have to be ‘either-or’. Decent windows would help optimise homes for on-site consumption of roof-top solar, especially in the colder climate zones (VIC, TAS, ACT, high altitude homes) We would not need so many solar panels if window technologies in our 11million houses are improved. And we would reduce down the number of solar panels each home needs to buy, maintain, & recycle. https://lnkd.in/gkN9wxpv
Peter Mulherin
6mo
Less than that returning more than that.
Architect with expertise in Design,Construction Drawings and coordinating consultants ie project management
6moI’m very excited about this project. I’m not clear on how you want the building regulations to change? Obviously they are different for each geographical area and also in the context of multiple or single dwellings in different locations. Windows are so important and the way they are designed is not only climatic but for the individual areas and the environment . We look forward to working together about how windows and glass can improve the quality of the experience for our community.