Setting a new standard for New Zealand
We believe that it is about time to shake up the building industry, change expectations, and set a whole new standard for housing in New Zealand. To make a positive change in the building sector, it is essential to utilise only building solutions that deliver outstanding performances.
High-quality and carefully manufactured European windows and doors achieve the best energetic results for your home. These products are made with decades of experience in energy-efficient building in Europe where for a long time, high-quality windows are most commonly used.
Germany’s and New Zealand’s building regulations – a comparison
As a world leader in manufacturing high-performance windows, Germany has a long history of stringent and rigorous government regulations, the so-called EnEV law. This law outlines the requirements for newly built and existing homes' energy efficiency. The principles focus on the high quality of insulation and low heat loss rates to ensure houses are kept warm and cosy, without generating sky-high power bills.
On the other side, the New Zealand Building Code sets the performance standards that all building work must meet.
[1] The Code describes performance criteria and sets the standards for moisture control, energy efficiency features, and others for all sorts of buildings, from residential to commercial and industrial constructions
[2]. However, the Building Code is mainly performance-oriented. It defines how a building must perform in its general use rather than describing how it must be designed and constructed.
[3]
At first glance, the German approach seems to be very similar to the one in New Zealand. But, looking at the numbers, it becomes evident that the German law requirements are much stricter than those of the New Zealand building standard.
Looking at the numbers
The effectiveness of windows is usually calculated internationally as U-value. However, in New Zealand, the R-value is still widely used. In contrast to the desired high R-value, a lower U-value indicates better performance and insulation. The R-value is the reciprocal of the U value and vice versa (R = 1/U and U = 1/R).
The German EnEV law regulates the required U-value rates for each area of a house, including the windows, which play a crucial role in energy-efficient building. Hence, it is only allowed to install double-glazed windows with a low U-value of 1.30 in German houses. This rate is a minimum requirement. Triple-glazing can enhance performance even further.
In comparison to that, the BRANZ House Insulation Guide specifies the R-value for a high-performance window in wood or PVC with R 0.48.
[4] To compare this value with the German requirements, we have to convert the R-value of 0.48 into the U-value, using the appropriate formula U = 1/0.48. The result is a U-value of 2.08.
This means that the minimum requirement for a German window (U 1.30) exceeds the value for a high-performance window in New Zealand (U 2.08) by far. Remember: a low U-value indicates better performance and is therefore desired.
Building houses with comparably low requirements means that a lot of the house's heat is still lost through the windows despite the reasonable efforts and building regulations.
Building better
We believe that it is vital to utilise windows that match the German market's high standards and strict requirements. This approach allows us to build dry, warm and healthy homes for everyone here in New Zealand. However, double- and triple-glazing of windows is only one part of a comprehensive heat-management system. Other measures include the installation of modern ventilation and shading systems.
No matter your requirements, ECOWINDOWS offers wholly customised solutions for new builds and renovations alike. If you want to find out more about our work and product range, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!
Why ECOWINDOWS is advocating a better building standard in New Zealand
Setting a new standard for New Zealand
