AU2005222540B2

AU2005222540B2 - Method for Selecting a Window or Door System Based on Thermal Efficiency

Info

Publication number: AU2005222540B2
Application number: AU2005222540A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Garry Attwood; Wendy Palmer
Original assignee: Bradnams Window and Doors Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Bradnam's Windows & Doors Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-01
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2010-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-13
Also published as: AU2005222540A1

Description

1 METHOD FOR SELECTING A WINDOW OR DOOR SYSTEM BASED ON THERMAL EFFICIENCY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods for calculating the thermal 5 efficiency of a window or door system and in particular to a computer implemented method. BACKGROUND ART In 1996, the Australian Government attended the Kyoto conference on global warming. Australia was set a target for the year 2010 of 108% of its 1990 10 Greenhouse gas emissions. (Australia has not endorsed this Protocol yet, but attempts to achieve these targets through the National Greenhouse Strategy). Approximately 12 % of these emissions result from activities in the residential sector. In order to minimise these Greenhouse Gas emissions from this sector, house energy rating systems (HERS) have been developed to rate the energy efficiency of new and 15 existing housing to allow the comparison of the heating and cooling needs of different houses. The energy required to heat and cool a house can therefore now be measured by computer simulation. There are several rating systems available. These are the NatHERS 20 (Nationwide House Energy Rating System), Firstrate and checklists. The main computer based house energy rating system in Australia is called NatHERS (the Nationwide House Energy Rating scheme) that is a tool that can be used to give houses an energy efficiency rating from 0 to 5 stars. The characteristics of the house envelope are assessed, including the 25 levels of wall and ceiling insulation, the orientation of the house, window size and shading, and the thermal mass of the structure. A 0-Star rating indicates that the house is inefficient and will be uncomfortable without a lot of heating in winter and a lot of cooling in summer. A 5-Star rating indicates that the house has achieved a high level of 30 energy efficiency, and will require minimum levels of heating and cooling to be comfortable in winter and summer. Houses which achieve a 5 star rating will be more comfortable to live in, have lower energy bills, and costs to install heating and cooling equipment should also be lower. Although the minimum required level under 2 proposed legislation is for a 4 star rating, with a little bit of extra effort and some extra expenditure, a 5 star rating can be achieved. This will provide greater comfort in the house in both winter and summer, with reduced energy costs. Details of the house design and construction, and its orientation are 5 entered into the program, along with a postcode, which links the program to a database of climatic information for the house location. A thermal simulation for the house is run using half hourly weather data, and the program calculates the energy required for heating and cooling the house (in MJ/m2 per year) to achieve target levels of thermal comfort. The heating and 10 cooling energy requirements are then used to calculate a Star Rating for the house. Once the data has been entered into the program, it is easy to try out design modifications to see what effect these have on the star rating. An experienced user will be able to optimise the energy efficiency of the house. Another form of rating is the Firstrate program. Both programs give 15 similar results. As a part of the construction of new houses in particular, a user may want to choose their own style of windows and door system but still satisfy the requirements of the NatHERS system in order to obtain a 4 star rating. Comparing the various windows and door systems available for sale will be time consuming and 20 difficult given the variety of styles available and their respective thermal characteristics which may or may not be available to the general public. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method for calculating the thermal efficiency of a window or door system, which may at least partially overcome 25 the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. In one form, the invention resides in a method for calculating the thermal efficiency of a window or door system, the method including the steps of providing a computer with at least one input interface; 30 prompting a user to enter information using the at least one input interface relating to thermal efficiency of a proposed window or door system in order to select a window or door product; and selecting a window or door product based on the information entered 3 by the user to satisfy the user's required thermal efficiency. The method for calculating the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to the invention is preferably a computer implemented method to assist building designers, construction teams or window or door system installers to 5 select product options from a range of window and door products that meet the thermal requirements of the climate zone either using thermal efficiency technical values, thermal efficiency "star rating" or style preferences. The method includes the step of providing a computer with at least one input interface. There may be more than one input interface. The input interfaces will 10 generally be provided in association with a computer or a network of computers. Typically, the input interface will be provided on a network of computers and be accessible over a global computer network or similar. The input interfaces may be provided as separate pages on an internet site. The input interface may require generally access or login details in 15 order to access the computer network upon which the program embodying the method of the present invention is operating. The access details may be provided by a system administrator who may screen the prospective user according to information provided by the prospective user. Once the system administrator has accepted a prospective user for access to the system, the user may be added to a database of users. The 20 system administrator generally has powers which travel beyond the powers that a user of the system has, that is the administrator generally has "superuser" rights, including the ability to add and/or edit information to the system, whereas the users generally only have the power to select from available information. Once a user has used a set of login details on a particular computer 25 machine having an IP address, the system may be adapted to "remember" the users details when the next login occurs from the same computer. The input interface is preferably adapted to provide the user with at least one and generally a series of selections in order to gain information relating to the system user's requirements for the thermal efficiency of a window or door system. 30 Alternatively or in addition to the selections, the input interface may prompt the user for the direct entry of information but this option is generally less preferred given the variety of information which may be entered which the system may not be adapted to understand or use.

4 The selections may occur from a series of drop-down menus provided on the input interface. Each selection or drop-down menu will generally be an information category. There will typically be various options available for selection by a user depending upon their thermal efficiency requirements. In situations where a 5 more than one requirement may be specified by a user, the system may be adapted to accept information in any one or more of the drop-down menus. Where more than one selection is made by the user, the system may be adapted to cross check the information from different selections and specify a product option or more than one product option to satisfy the user's requirements. Of course, a direct match for all of 10 the user's requirements may not be possible, and where this occurs, the system may provide a set of product options which are closest to satisfying the user's requirements in any one or more of the selection categories. The method also includes the step of prompting a user to enter information relating to thermal efficiency of a window or door system using the 15 interface in order to select a window or door product. In order to provide a basis for selections, the information preferably includes information relating to the climate zone in which the window or door system is to be used. There will preferably be a choice of at least three climate zones, namely a zone in which cooling is required (a hot or warm climate), a zone in which heating is 20 required (a cool or cold climate) and a zone in which both cooling or heating may be required depending upon season and climate characteristics (a mixed zone). The window or door system product options available may depend on the climate zone. A zone in which cooling is required are generally the warmer regions of Australia that may require windows and doors that assist with the 25 prevention of heat from entering a building. There are specific product options to suit a climate in which cooling is required. A zone in which heating is required are generally the cooler regions of Australia that may require windows and doors that assist with the retention of heat and the prevention or minimization of heat the can escape the building. There are specific product options to suit a climate in which the 30 retention of heat is required. A zone in which both cooling or heating may be required depending upon season and climate characteristics are generally the temperate regions of Australia that may require windows and doors that assist to maintain heat inside a building in the cooler seasons and prevent heat entering the building in the warmer 5 seasons. There are specific product options to suit a mixed climate. The information which the user may be prompted to input may further include information regarding thermal efficiency technical details, information regarding thermal efficiency "star rating" and/or product style preferences. 5 The information option regarding thermal efficiency technical details may prompt the entry or selection of a particular heat transfer parameter. Typical heat transfer parameters which may be provided according to the present method may include a solar heat gain co-efficient or a specific "U-value". The solar heat gain co-efficient may typically be calculated as a 10 function of heat absorptance or reflectance of the materials used in the window or door system. For example, it is known that "ordinary" glass transmits radiation readily at wavelengths below 2 pm and thus it transmits the large portion of solar radiation incident upon it. This glass, however, is essentially opaque to long wavelength radiation above 3 or 4 pm. Typically, most of the low-temperature 15 radiation emitted by objects inside the window or door incorporating this glass is of such a long-wavelength character that it remains trapped inside. Thus the glass allows much more radiation to enter than can escape, thereby producing a heating effect. This is the familiar property upon which greenhouses are based. Different types of glass can have the opposite effect. 20 Generally, the "U value" is an overall heat transfer co-efficient which is applicable to the window or door system. This co-efficient is calculated as the ratio of the overall temperature difference between the two sides of the window or door to the sum of the thermal resistances associated with the window or door. Typically, the possible technical value selections are provided in the 25 input interface as a series of ranges of the respective technical values. For example, the solar heat gain co-efficient may be provided as a series of steps beginning at 0.250 and increasing to 0.599, each step having a range of 0.049. The U value may be provided as a series of steps beginning at 2.000 and increasing to 5.499, each step having a range of 0.499. These values are indicative only and may relate particularly 30 to the respective climate of a country or region of a country, in this case Australia. The ranges, upper limit and/or lower limit of the technical values may be adjusted accordingly. The possible star rating selections are provided in the input interface as 6 a series of values with a lower limit of 0.5 and an upper limit of 5.0, the series increasing in steps of 0.5. The possible product style preferences may reflect a product range of a particular manufacturer or more typically, will include a variety of different window 5 and door styles and types. For example, the style preferences may include window types such as awning windows, casement windows, double-hung windows, sliding windows and/or louvre windows, bi-fold doors, French doors, sliding doors and/or stacker doors. Each of the style preferences may include single and/or double glazed glass options. 10 It is to be emphasized that the above options in relation to the types and qualities of information to be input by the user are preferred options only, The types and quality of information may be or include the above-described options, or other options as to both the type and/or quality of information. The method also includes the step of selecting a window or door 15 system based on the information entered by the user to satisfy the user's required thermal efficiency. Generally this step may be accomplished by the computer or network of computers. The computer, using its processing power typically searches the available product options for matches to the user input preferences. Once the computer has compiled the list of product options which 20 match the user's preferences, the product options may be displayed for the user. The user may then have the option of selecting and saving the product option(s) that the user prefers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference 25 to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an extract of a user login page according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an input interface to allow a prospective user to provided details to the system administrator in order to access the system. 30 Figure 3 is an extract of a first input interface according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is an extract of a second input interface according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

7 Figure 5 is an extract of a product options result page according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In particularly preferred form the present invention provides a 5 computer implemented method for calculating the thermal efficiency of a window or door system. The method of the preferred embodiment is a computer implemented method to assist building designers, construction teams or window or door system installers to select product options from a range of window and door products that meet the thermal requirements of the climate zone either using thermal efficiency 10 technical values, thermal efficiency "star rating" or style preferences. The particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is provide as an internet website. The method includes the step of providing an internet website with an input interface which has separate pages on an internet site. 15 The input interface includes -a first page illustrated in Figure 1 prompting a user to enter access or login details in order to access the computer network upon which the program embodying the method of the present invention is operating. The login details may be provided by a system administrator who may 20 screen the prospective user according to information provided by the prospective user. The information may generally be provided to the user on a fillable form page, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in Figure 2. Once the system administrator has accepted a prospective user for access to the system, the user is added to a database of users. The system administrator generally has powers which 25 travel beyond the powers that a user of the system has, that is the administrator generally has "superuser" rights, including the ability to add and/or edit information to the system, whereas the users generally only have the power to make selections from available information. Once a user has used their particular login details on a particular 30 computer machine having an Internet Protocol address, the system may be adapted to "remember" the users details when the next login occurs from the same computer. The method also includes the step of prompting a user to enter information relating to thermal efficiency of a window or door system using the 8 interface in order to select a window or door product. The input interface, once access is allowed, is adapted to provide the user with at least one and generally a series of selections in order to gain information relating to the system user's requirements for the thermal efficiency of a window or 5 door system. The selections occur from a series of drop-down menus provided on the input interface. Each selection or drop-down menu will generally be an information category. In order to provide a basis for selections, the first information input page, a preferred form of which is illustrated in Figure 3, includes a selection relating 10 to the climate zone in which the window or door system is to be used. There is a choice of at least three climate zones, namely a zone in which cooling is required (a hot or warm climate), a zone in which heating is required (a cool or cold climate) and a zone in which both cooling or heating may be required depending upon season and climate characteristics (a mixed zone). 15 The window or door system product options available will generally depend on the climate zone. A zone in which cooling is required are generally the warmer regions of Australia that may require windows and doors that assist with the prevention of heat from entering a building. There are specific product options to suit a climate in which cooling is required. A zone in which heating is required are 20 generally the cooler regions of Australia that may require windows and doors that assist with the retention of heat and the prevention or minimization of heat the can escape the building. There are specific product options to suit a climate in which the retention of heat is required. A zone in which both cooling or heating may be required depending upon season and climate characteristics are generally the temperate regions 25 of Australia that may require windows and doors that assist to maintain heat inside a building in the cooler seasons and prevent heat entering the building in the warmer seasons. There are specific product options to suit a mixed climate. Once the climate zone information is entered, the input interface will refresh to a second information input page, a preferred embodiment of which is 30 illustrated in Figure 4. The information which the user may be prompted to input on this page includes information regarding thermal efficiency technical details A, information regarding thermal efficiency "star rating" B and/or product style preferences C.

9 According to the preferred embodiment, the information option regarding thermal efficiency technical details A, prompts the entry or selection of a particular heat transfer parameter and value of that parameter, namely a solar heat gain co-efficient and/or a specific "U-value". 5 The possible technical value selections are provided in the input interface as a series of ranges of the respective technical values. For example, the solar heat gain co-efficient is provided as a series of steps beginning at 0.250 and increasing to 0.599, each step having a range of 0.049. The U value is provided as a series of steps beginning at 2.000 and increasing to 5.499, each step having a range of 10 0.499. These values are indicative only and may relate particularly to the respective climate of a country or region of a country, in this case Australia. The ranges, upper limit and/or lower limit of the technical values may be adjusted accordingly. The possible star rating selections B, are provided in the second input interface as a series of values with a lower limit of 0.5 and an upper limit of 5.0, the 15 series increasing in steps of 0.5. Star rating values and their calculation are described in the Background Art portion of this specification. The possible product style preferences C reflect a product range of a particular manufacturer and include a variety of different window and door styles and types. For example, the style preferences of the preferred embodiment include 20 window types such as awning windows, casement windows, double-hung windows, sliding windows and/or louvre windows, bi-fold doors, French doors, sliding doors and/or stacker doors. Each of the style preferences may include single and/or double glazed glass options. In situations where a more than one requirement is specified by a user, 25 the system is adapted to accept information in any one or more of the drop-down menus. Where more than one selection is made by the user, the system is adapted to cross check the information from different selections and specify a product option or more than one product option to satisfy the user's requirements. Of course, a direct match for all of the user's requirements may not be possible, and where this occurs, 30 the system provides a set of product options which are closest to satisfying the user's requirements in any one or more of the selection categories. The method also includes the step of selecting a window or door system based on the information entered by the user to satisfy the user's required 10 thermal efficiency. This step is accomplished by the computer or network of computers. The computer, using its processing power searches the available product options for matches to the user input preferences. Once the computer has compiled the list of product options which 5 match the user's preferences, the product options are displayed for the user on a results page, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in Figure 5. The user then has the option of selecting and saving the product option(s) that the user prefers to a saved list to allow the user to contact the appropriate supplier or manufacturer to source the preferred product. 10 In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in 15 connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. 20 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications 25 within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a window or door system based on thermal efficiency of the window or door system, the method including the steps of providing a computer with at least one input interface, maintaining a database of a plurality of window and 5 door systems with a corresponding thermal efficiency or rating in association with the computer, prompting a user to enter information using the at least one input interface into the computer relating to thermal efficiency of a proposed window or door system in order to select a window or door product, the information including at least an indication of whether cooling, or heating or both is required and an indication of at 10 least one technical value in relation to thermal efficiency, star rating or specific product, the computer comparing the information entered for a proposed window or door system with the database and the computer returning at least one result of one or more results of matches which are identified and selecting a window or door product based on the information entered by the user to satisfy the user's required thermal 15 efficiency.

2. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one input interface is provided as a part of a program in association with a computer and is accessible over a global computer network or similar. 20

3. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 2 wherein the input interface requires access or login details in order to access the computer network upon which the program embodying the method of the present invention is operating.

4. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal 25 efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 3 wherein the access details are provided by a system administrator who screens prospective users according to information provided by the prospective user.

5. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of the preceding claims 30 wherein the at least one input interface is adapted to allow the user to select at least one option in order to gain information relating to the system user's requirements for the thermal efficiency of a window or door system.

6. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal 12 efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one input interface is adapted to prompt the user for direct entry of information relating to the system user's requirements for the thermal efficiency of a window or door system. 5

7. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 5 wherein the options are provided as a series of drop-down menus provided on the input interface.

8. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to either claim 7 wherein each drop 10 down menu represents an information category, containing various options available for selection by a user depending upon their thermal efficiency requirements.

9. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to either claim 7 or 8 wherein the system is adapted to accept information in more than one of the drop-down menus and 15 is adapted to cross check the information from different selections and specify at least one product option to satisfy the user's requirements.

10. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the information prompted from the user in the step of prompting a user to 20 enter information relating to thermal efficiency of a window or door system using the interface in order to select a window or door product preferably includes information relating to the climate zone in which the window or door system is to be used.

11. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 10 wherein a choice of at 25 least three climate zones is provided, namely a zone in which cooling is required (a hot or warm climate), a zone in which heating is required (a cool or cold climate) and a zone in which both cooling or heating may be required depending upon season and climate characteristics (a mixed zone).

12. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal 30 efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the information prompted from the user in the step of prompting a user to enter information relating to thermal efficiency of a window or door system using the interface in order to select a window or door product preferably further includes 13 information regarding thermal efficiency technical details, information regarding thermal efficiency "star rating" and product style preferences.

13. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 12 wherein the information 5 option regarding thermal efficiency technical details prompts the entry or selection of a particular heat transfer parameter.

14. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the possible technical value selections are provided in the input interface as a series of 10 ranges of the respective technical values.

15. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the possible product style preferences reflect a variety of different window and door styles and types. 15

16. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the possible star rating selections are provided in the input interface as a series of values with a lower limit of 0.5 and an upper limit of 5.0, the series increasing in steps of 0.5. 20

17. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the step of selecting a window or door system based on the information entered by the user to satisfy the user's required thermal efficiency is accomplished by at least one computer searching available product options for matches to the user input 25 preferences.

18. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 17 wherein once the computer has compiled the list of product options which match the user's preferences, the product options are displayed for the user. 30

19. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to claim 18 wherein the user is provided with an option of selecting and saving the product option that the user prefers. 14

20. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal efficiency of a window or door system according to either claim 18 or 19 wherein the user can use the interface to place an order for their preferred product option.

21. A method for selecting a window or door system based on the thermal 5 efficiency of a window or door system for calculating the thermal efficiency of a window or door system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.