Living Light in Australian Homes
Anthony Gunther
Commercial Marketing Manager
SOME DATA AND OBSERVATIONS…
People Who Are Building / Renovating Say…
“Tell us what your aspirations or
desires were for your build or
renovation?”
CSR Viridian Consumer Research Oct 2013.
205 responses, people who had built or majorly renovated a home to live in within the past 5 yrs
(excluding first home buyers), East Coast State.
People Who Are Building / Renovating Say…
28 Most frequently occurring terms in responses, CSR Viridian Consumer Research Oct 2013.
205 responses, people who had built or majorly renovated a home to live in within the past 5 yrs
(excluding first home buyers), East Coast State.
People Who Are Building / Renovating Say…
“…Open plan, balcony with view of the river, modern clean lines, lots of
light.”
“We wanted larger spaces with more light and to visually extend and
bring the outdoors in.”
“Resale value was of paramount importance… pretty Victorian facade but
be able to see right through the house to the back courtyard garden …”
“…opened floor plan, better flow and light…”
“…we opened up the floor plan to allow a better flow and more light into
the house.”
“…open up the area and allow maximum light.”
“We wanted to build a home that brought the outside in with a large deck
area and living area.”
Indicative sample of quotes from CSR Viridian Consumer Research Oct 2013.
205 responses, people who had built or majorly renovated a home to live in within the past 5 yrs
(excluding first home buyers), East Coast State.
What Do Great Windows Do For People?
“If you designed the perfect
windows for your house, how
would having this glass and
windows in your home make you
feel?”
CSR Viridian Consumer Research Oct 2013.
205 responses, people who had built or majorly renovated a home to live in within the past 5 yrs
(excluding first home buyers), East Coast State.
What Do Great Windows Do For People?
49 Most frequently occurring terms in responses, CSR Viridian Consumer Research Oct 2013.
205 responses, people who had built or majorly renovated a home to live in within the past 5 yrs
(excluding first home buyers), East Coast State.
Desires & Home Aspirations
They want to open the space make it lighter and
brighter and bring the outside in.
They want to open up the floor plan to allow a
better flow and more light into the house.
They want larger spaces with more light and to
visually extend and bring the outdoors in.
They want to extend and allow more light into
the house.
…… allow in maximum light.
Have more light and sunshine…
What we know…
More Light makes you & your
family ‘feel better’
& your house becomes a home
More Light
requires bigger windows & doors
which in turn,
requires better quality glass
What We Conclude From This…
Bigger Windows
=
More Natural Light
=
Feel Happy
YET…
Window Areas Are Declining…
16%
The Light That People Want Is Being Stolen…
% Change, Glazed Area (Window & Door),
2009 to 2013
15%
9%
10%
4%
5%
0%
-5%
-1%
-3%
-6%
-10%
-15%
-16%
-20%
Aus
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
Detached Dwellings only
Adapted from Windows in New Dwellings 2013 - A private research project by
BIS Shrapnel for the Australian Window Association, Mar 2014
THE CONFLICT…
The Conflict…
Humans love / want / need natural light…
BUT…
…some seem happy to make
6-Star homes that are fit only for vampires!
A Resolution…or a Revolution?
What if…
Windows behaved like “window”
when it comes to light
BUT
Behaved a bit more like “wall”
when it comes to heat
Window Area Limits
Same Star Rating - Bigger Windows
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
WTFA Ratio
20%
15%
10%
5%
BCA min requirement (9%)
0%
2.2 to 4 X larger
QLD
NSW
VIC
Compare the Pair
Viridian LightBridge
U-Value 1.35
SHGC 0.53
VLT
77%
Viridian ThermoTech IGU
U-Value 2.7
SHGC 0.52
VLT
37%
Can We Change the Choice?
•
•
•
•
•
Meagre windows
Ordinary glass
Very low teens WFTA
6 star compliance
Cave-like natural light levels
•
•
•
•
•
The windows you want
Awesome glass
6 star compliance
> 2X glazed area
Massive liveability,
appeal, design flexibility
If you want more access to natural light and spaciousness – you need bigger windows.
BUT large areas of ordinary glass leak too much heat and don’t comply with energy regulations.
You can have ample glazed areas AND a comfortable home.
“LIVING LIGHT – THE NEW APPLIANCE
FOR YOUR HOME”
We CAN win back natural light......
•
Natural light is highly desired and valued by end
consumers
•
Glazing areas are reducing – by multiple factors
•
Legislation/regulation is stuck at a minimum 9%
WTFA which is not consumer appreciable.
•
Higher performing windows now allow energy
efficiency AND greater access to natural light
whilst meeting standards.
•
Increased spend on larger windows can be offset
against the reductions in other building materials
and greater market appeal of the finished home
•
‘Living light’ is the new appliance for homes.
CSR Display Villages Study (Kellyville, Gledswood Hills, Oran Park), Lonergan, June 2014
Q6. How much might you pay extra for the following features in your home: Base: all respondents. n=126.
Same Star Rating - Bigger WindowsLit Area Within Room
Dark
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
WTFA Ratio
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Well-Lit
70%
2.4 to 4 X 60%
larger
50%
2.2 to 4 X larger
% of Room 40%
(Floor Level) 30%
20%
10%
0%
QLD
Daylight Factor
(% of available outside light)
NSW
VIC
Case Study
How Much Is Enough?
Visible Light Transmission (VTw)
What CSR Determined About Light in Homes…
BCA Min Standard
Best Practice
Melbourne
Sydney
Brisbane
Hobart
Whole of House WTFA Ratio
20%
19%
17%
22%
What Are We REALLY Saying?
Lit Area Within Room
Dark
Well-Lit
70%
60%
50%
% of Room 40%
(Floor Level) 30%
20%
10%
0%
Daylight Factor
(% of available outside light)
9% WTFA = 17m2 of window area
What Are We REALLY Saying?
Lit Area Within Room
Dark
Well-Lit
70%
60%
50%
% of Room 40%
(Floor Level) 30%
20%
10%
0%
Daylight Factor
(% of available outside light)
15% WTFA = 30m2 of window area
What Are We REALLY Saying?
Lit Area Within Room
Dark
Well-Lit
70%
60%
50%
% of Room 40%
(Floor Level) 30%
20%
10%
0%
Daylight Factor
(% of available outside light)
20% WTFA = 39m2 of window area
Questionnaire
Q1. What is the BCA minimum WTFA glazing ratio?
A1. Believe it or not! it’s just 9%
Q2. Buy using better window technology how much
more WTFA can be achieved in an equivalent 6
star home in QLD, NSW & VIC?
A2. NSW
VIC
QLD
Q3. What visible light transmission VLT% decrease
would you expect buy using a traditional glass
alternative?
A3. 40% reduction when compared to grey glass.
Q4. In the case study how much more glass could you
A4. Double. 17m2 for 9% WTFA (BCA Min)
to 39m2 for 20% WTFA (Best Practice)
use if you design to CSR house minimum
requirements?
+12% or 2.2 x more
+23% or 4.2 x more
+12% or 2.5 x more
Thank you