Compare Glazing
Compare the differences and similarities of glazing
So you know you want to improve the insulation and energy efficiency of your windows and home, but maybe you’re still undecided between ecoGlaze and double glazing – or some other insulation product, like window shading?
Here’s how ecoGlaze stacks up against double and single glazing across nine different attributes and qualities:
- Affordability – cost $$$$
- Operation – how it works
- Effectiveness
- Aesthetics – how it looks
- Functionality
- Installation
- Removability / Condensation
- Environmentally friendly
- Durability and safety
The tick comparison
Detailed Comparison
Attribute
ecoGlaze
Double Glazing
Single Glazing
Cost Affordability
ecoGlaze is amazingly affordable, costing about
one-third of the cost of replacement double glazing. The ecoGlaze system is priced at around $400-$450 per square metre for professional installation, depending on the location, type and size of your windows.
Approximately three times the cost of ecoGlaze, at around $800-$1500 per square metre for a timber window, excluding installation.
Single glazed windows are by far the most popular windows in Australian homes – because they are the cheapest.
Operation – how does it work?
ecoGlaze works by trapping a layer of still air between your existing window and the ecoGlaze acrylic panel. The panel is secured in place by beautifully made mouldings held firmly to the window frame with hidden magnets.
A double glazed window has two panes of glass, with a layer of still air between them. This still air space may be filled with an inert gas like argon.
It is just as it says a single glazed pane fitted into a frame. It opens and closes just like ecoGlaze double glazing.
It is light weight.
Some different types of single glazing are available but have little insulative value.
Effectiveness
ecoGlaze is extremely energy efficient, reducing winter heat loss by up to 50%. ecoGlaze also reduces conducted summer heat making your home easier to cool and using less energy to do so.
This means that your home will maintain a comfortable temperature all year round and your energy bills will be significantly lower because you’ll need to use your heating and cooling less.
ecoGlaze has been tested by the WERS Testing Laboratory (Windows Energy Rating Scheme). Adding ecoGlaze to a typical single glazed timber window has been proved to reduce the U-value from 5.9 down to 2.7. An improvement of almost 50%.
ecoGlaze provides some acoustic benefits but it has not been tested specifically for that.
These most often have a U-value of from 2.7 to 1.6
The actual U-value depends on many things and can be improved by increasing the space between the two panes of glass, adding a Low-e coating to one of the panes and replacing air with an inert gas such as argon.
Acoustic benefit can be improved by having using a different thickness of glass for the inside and outside pane.
Most single glazing has a U-value of 5.9 to 5.8 *.
To save on your energy costs and be more comfortable you definitely need to have some window insulation.
Some single glazing can be made to improve acoustics in your home.
Thicker glass improves the acoustic performance but has almost no bearing on the thermal performance. Even 12mm thick glass has a U-value of 5.7.
Aesthetics – How does it look?
ecoGlaze is designed to fit seamlessly with and complement your existing windows. ecoGlaze mouldings can be painted or stained and varnished to match your existing frames.
ecoGlaze visually integrates with your window and does not look like an add-on.
Double glazing means exactly that: a window with two panes of glass, so your double glazed window will look like the new window that it is.
Single glazing looks just like nearly all the windows we are used to seeing.
It is mostly how we dress our single glazed windows that leads to their attractiveness or not.
Functionality
Your windows will function as normal with ecoGlaze. ecoGlaze acrylic panels are transparent like glass but much lighter, so they won’t weigh down your windows or make them difficult to open.
New double glazed windows are designed to take the weight of two panes of glass.
If you choose to retrofit double glazing onto an existing window frame the added weight may make it more difficult to open the window and keep it open.
If you live in an old weatherboard type house on stumps, the weight of double glazed windows or doors may damage the structure of your house if the stumps are not strong enough to hold the weight.
All lites in well built and maintained window frames will function as they were intended.
Single glazing are the lightest weight lites available. Sometimes there are some variation in the type of glazing which may make a difference to the weight or your windows.
Installation
ecoGlaze can be installed professionally as well as being specifically designed for do-it-yourself installation. This means that you can do the installation work in your own timeframe and, of course, you save on cost.
ecoGlaze fits easily on your existing windows and remains in place. There’s none of the mess and disruption that comes with replacing windows, and no additional tasks like replastering or repainting required.
It is much easier to retrofit a window with ecoGlaze than replace your window with double glazing.
Double glazing is generally installed by a professional.
As well as scheduling the work, the disruption of having windows removed and replaced – replastering, repainting, and disposing of the old windows – needs to be factored in.
Single glazed windows are usually installed when the house is built.
If the windows are damaged or have deteriorated with age, or if you are renovating, consider double glazing as a priority.
That can be achieved either by replacement double glazing or ecoGlaze.
Removability – Can you remove them?
ecoGlaze is removable. Each ecoGlaze acrylic panel is locked firmly in place by a moulding fitted with hidden magnets. Dust cannot enter the space between the acrylic and the window pane, so there’s no need for cleaning inside, but the panel is easy to remove if, for example, you want to repaint your window frames in the future.
Double glazed windows are fixed in place and are not removable.
Is it possible to get condensation on the inside surface?
Yes. During cold weather, if the room is not heated then the inside surface may be cold enough to cause condensation to form.
Fitting highly energy efficient window coverings can have the same effect by preventing room heat from warming the inside surface of the glazing.
Yes. During cold weather, if the room is not heated then the inside surface may be cold enough to cause condensation to form.
Fitting highly energy efficient window coverings can have the same effect by preventing room heat from warming the inside surface of the glazing.
Yes. Almost always.
Is it possible to get condensation between the two surfaces?
On rare occasions there can be a slight misting between the ecoGlaze panel and the glass.
If this is experienced, the panel is easily removed, cleaned and reinstated.
Occasionally, the double glazed unit can fail and this is characterised by condensation appearing between the two layers of glass. Replacement of the failed unit is the only course of action.
Not relevant for single glazing.
Environmentally friendly?
Your energy use is lower with ecoGlaze, because you don’t need to use your heating and cooling as often. As you are not replacing your windows, there’s no landfill.
ecoGlaze is a great environmentally sustainable choice.
Like ecoGlaze, your energy use is lower with double glazing because you use your heating and cooling less often.
However, replacing your windows means disposing of the old ones, which contributes to landfill.
Single glazing is not environmentally friendly. You need to use a lot more heating and cooling to try and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
Single glazing is also much easier to break. Broken glass is dangerous and is unsuitable for recycling.
Durability and Safety
ecoGlaze acrylic panels are flexible and almost impossible to break. Professionally installed acrylic panels come with a 30 year warranty.
The ecoGlaze system and its installation have a 7 year warranty when professionally installed.
ecoGlaze’s high quality, virtually unbreakable acrylic panels make your windows safer than glass.
Most double glazed windows come with a 7 to 10 year warranty.
Even good quality glass is breakable, and broken glass is a safety hazard, particularly around children and pets.
Most single glazed windows come with at least a 7 year warranty.
Even good quality glass is breakable, and broken glass is a safety hazard, particularly around children and pets.
*About U-value
The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) measures heat conduction with a number called U-value. The lower the U-value, the better the performance of the glazing. The u-Value is just one of the measures that tells us how well glass performs. The performance properties can vary depending on the manufacturing process used by the many different suppliers.
Single glazing with 3mm, 4mm or 5mm has a U value of 5.9 according to Viridian Performance Tables.
The U-value can be applied to the glass (lite) unit and / or it can apply to the entire window unit including the framing. The type and condition of your window or door frame also needs to be taken into consideration. To get the best performance from some windows you may need to seal any gaps or cracks around the window frame to prevent draughts (air flow) before ecoGlazing.