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Sounds like a horrible product once reaches the environment. At least glass isn't much of an issue and wood would just decompose.
by hanniabu 6y ago
Sounds like a horrible product once reaches the environment. At least glass isn't much of an issue and wood would just decompose.
- ashtonkem 6y agoGlass doesn't decompose, it gets eventually pulverized back into sand (naturally or manually). The issue with glass though isn't how it's handled once we're done with it. The issue with glass is energy loss. We lose a huge amount of energy to the windows in our home, and it might be worth it to make wooden window panels if it means that we end up consuming less energy HVACing our homes. Especially since house windows can be expected to last for decades, which amortizes their disposal cost nicely.
- visarga 6y agoNo need to ditch glass for that reason. Use triple pane windows, they also block noise and have perfect seals.
- morsch 6y agoIn fact, triple pane windows are mandatory for all new construction in the EU as of this year[1]. I think double pane windows have been mandatory for years. Modern triple pane windows have less heat loss than the walls of most buildings built a couple of decades ago. [1] https://www.buildup.eu/en/practices/publications/directive-201031eu-energy-performance-buildings-recast-19-may-2010 https://www.buildup.eu/en/practices/publications/directive-2...
- andrew_ 6y agoThe R value of wood is not great [1] and would depend on the type of wood used and thickness. Double pane windows tend to have an R value of 1-2, which increases if filled with a gas [2]. Your hypothesis that we'd curb more energy loss is a bit misplaced without more nuance. [1] https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/types-homes/energy-efficiency-log-homes#:~:text=The%20R%2DValue%20of%20Wood&text=The%20R%2Dvalue%20for%20wood,and%200.71%20for%20most%20hardwoods https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/types-homes/energy-effici.... [2] http://www.engext.ksu.edu/buildingenvelope/windowsanddoors http://www.engext.ksu.edu/buildingenvelope/windowsanddoors
- Qwertious 6y agoDouble glazed windows might be more efficient, but that's irrelevant if you simply don't use double-glazed windows. I know single-glazed is quite common in Australia, apparently because there's no local factory for mass producing double-glazed and there's no market base right now because it's so expensive because it's imported, so nobody wants to take the risk.
- kube-system 6y agoProbably less risky to open up a double-glazed window factory than it is to open up a transparent wood window factory.
- spockz 6y agoDouble glazed has been standard for at least 20 years if not 30 here in the Netherlands. It is primarily intended to keep warmth inside during colder periods. Newer projects tend to have triple or quadruple glazed glass with all kind of coatings. To keep the heat out in summer an infrared blocking coating is applied. In office buildings here it is more efficiënt to heat a bit more in winter due to loss of IR than to cool extra in summer.
- nightcracker 6y agoHere in the Netherlands most everything newly built is built with double glass.
- cfn 6y agoThat is surprising given the amount of AC you use. I lived for a few years in a similar climate to Melbourne and double glazing made a huge difference in the Summer.
- hutzlibu 6y ago"so nobody wants to take the risk" And everyone just uses more AC. Which surely is not more expensive. Oh and right, thats the reason Australia absolutely needs coal to burn.
- doctor_eval 6y ago
- WalterBright 6y agoDrawing the blinds at night and for unused rooms will greatly reduce the heat transfer.