SR306 Window thermal enhancement: The development of a rating process (2014)

Energy efficiency and conservation play an important role in promoting economic growth and helping New Zealand meet its energy challenges, such as enhancing security of supply and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy. There are a range of policies and drivers that exist to improve energy efficiency.

Existing information about the thermal performance of windows in housing in New Zealand is not readily available to the market, is contradictory and is not easily incorporated into energy efficiency metrics. Although a previous attempt to develop a window energy rating system was successful, the system was overly complex and lacked any drivers for both uptake and consequent market acceptance.

BRANZ recognised in 2010 that a robust means to compare the thermal performance of domestic window systems was lacking and commenced a programme to address this issue. This report is a result of that research activity, undertaken with funding from the Building Research Levy and WANZ with contributions from EECA and support from MBIE.