A Window To The Future
Windows and doors are the last product in our homes that still offer the opportunity to make major upgrades to its energy efficiency. Traditionally one of the least efficient parts of a home, new advancements in techniques and materials offer the opportunity to make up the difference in performance and then some. William Neilson of Melbourne Home Design + Living talks with Te Iriwhiro (Ted) Jacobs, Projects and Workflow Manager at Valley Windows, to find out how the company is doing its part to push windows and doors into the future
Valley Windows, originally known as Valley Cedar Windows, was founded in 1983. Most window companies only supply products in aluminium or in a specific species of timber, but this company is different, offering a wider selection of materials to suit any style. A variety of locally sourced timbers are used to custom make products to suit the needs of clients. The company is known for manufacturing custom windows in doors in both aluminium and a variety of timbers, but its one-of-a-kind timber windows are its most distinctive and regularly requested product.
THE ROLE OF WINDOWS
Windows are an essential component of any home, allowing for light and fresh air to be let into the building. They can also let in significant heat and cold, which has traditionally led them to being the weakest point of a home in terms of energy efficiency. This status quo is now being challenged by innovators like Valley Windows, who look at the existing products on the market and see it is wide open for those willing to put in the work to develop something better. The company’s range of timber and aluminium energy saving windows are designed to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, reducing the need for heating and cooling, and ultimately saving you money.
DESIGNED FOR EFFICIENCY
Thermal efficiency and environmental sustainability go hand in hand, as Valley Windows demonstrates with both of its product lines. The company’s range of aluminium frames boast unparalleled recyclability, while the timber frames possess carbon absorbing properties, demonstrating the company’s understanding of the deep connection between its products and the impact they have on the environment.
The materials the company uses are locally sourced, a practice designed to promote sustainability in both the local environment and the local economy. These suppliers are always innovating to remain at the forefront of the sustainable timber industry. All the timber used is sourced in accordance with Australian Forestry Standard requirements, supporting a strong local sustainable timber industry and effective local environmental conservation efforts. None of this timber is wasted either, with the company recycling its sawdust into timber briquettes, sold in the local community.
The team has a firm focus on producing high-performance windows that reduce air infiltration to a minimum. The best materials that the company can source are combined with advanced new practices to create thermally efficient windows and doors. The frame alone doesn’t make for a high efficiency product, the glass it is fitted with also needs to utilise the latest in available technologies. These include things like low-e coatings and argon filled double-glazed glass units.
Jacobs explains, “while not a recent innovation, low-e glass is still not widely known. Basically, it is a specialty glass coating that reflects heat back where it came from. So, in winter it stops the hot air from escaping your home and in summer it stops the heat from entering, meaning you have to use less energy to heat and cool your house. It’s a small change that has big results.”
Argon filled units are double glazed glass units where the space between the two panes is filled with argon gas instead of air. This harmless, inert gas offers greater insulating properties than ordinary air and is used in the most advanced double-glazing systems.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
As far as we’ve come in developing energy efficient and environmentally conscious window systems, there’s still plenty of exciting new developments to be made in this space. While we don’t know for certain what the next big advances will be, it’s a safe bet Valley Windows will be there when it happens.
Jacobs teases some of the company’s plans stating, “we can confidently say that due to the popularity of some international product styles and offerings our customers have made us aware of, we have been developing some pretty cool things that I think some people will be amazed by. We have a few secrets we’re excited to unveil over the next year, watch this space to find out!”
Hints aside, there are a few things we know for sure, like the company’s dedication to investing in its team. The team is always being upskilled to meet the latest in industry standards and newly developed best practices. Jacobs has also let slip that while the company does not currently offer any recycled or upcycled materials in its products, this is something it will be working towards in future years.
As we move into the future, Jacobs gives us some final words to keep in mind. “We know that most homeowners out there just let the builder select the windows and doors, or the architect will specify what windows and doors they would prefer. But we encourage homeowners to do their own research and question where the windows are coming from, how they are made and who can they contact when they need to maintain them.”
