Many Australian homes are not designed for comfort, in our long hot summers, or chilly winter months, without relying on artificial heating or cooling, leading to many households also experiencing a further discomfort in extremely high energy bills. So, when Garry decided he was going to build his dream home, he put two years of research into design, and to also sourcing building products that would ensure an exceptional level of passive thermal comfort. He also considered both current and future climate patterns, and the options for reducing energy use and installing solar to trim down electricity costs where possible.

Drawing on the Passive House approach for inspiration, he focussed on the thermal envelope of the building, sourcing an insulated concrete foam system for the external fabric of the home but did not want to compromise on views by adopting the small windows approach favoured by the Passive House standard.

“I didn’t want to compromise and was determined to feature floor-to-ceiling glazing systems in the living areas, to flood the home with natural light, and to create an impressive visual impact,” Garry explains.

He compared a variety of window and glazing systems, quickly learning they can be either a weakness or design advantage in the home.  Garry’s research led him towards double glazing and uPVC framing systems, due to their thermal performance – but not all manufacturers met the standards and visual appearance he was seeking.  Some uPVC seemed too obviously plastic and not suited to the harsh Australian climate, and he was also seeking the assurance that the double glazed system was compliant and performed well.