Imagine moving into a brand-new apartment, excited about its energy efficiency and stunning views, only to find yourself sweltering in unbearable heat. This is the reality for many Australians, and it all boils down to a surprising design flaw: large glazed windows. Llewellyn McGarry's experience perfectly illustrates this issue. She and her mother Marie, seeking an accessible, energy-efficient home, were initially pleased with their Canberra apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows, especially during winter. But as summer arrived, their joy turned to discomfort, with indoor temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius.
"It was unbelievable for me to think that it was 42 degrees here... at 5:50pm," Marie recalls. Despite the building's concrete construction and double glazing, the apartment became an oven. "We didn't consider how hot it was going to get."
The Heat is On: A Design Challenge in a Warming World
As climate change intensifies, experts are emphasizing the urgent need to address the living conditions of apartment dwellers. A comprehensive study, the largest of its kind in Australia, is tracking indoor temperatures, air quality, and energy usage in 450 apartments across Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland. The goal? To understand how residents cope with heat and maintain comfort. Researchers, led by Dr. Pippa Soccio, surveyed participants during a recent heatwave. The results? A staggering 25% reported feeling warm or too hot, with a lack of air movement being the primary issue. "Very few of [the participants] have ceiling fans," Dr. Soccio noted. "It's great to put air conditioning on to cool our homes down, but if we get a heatwave and a power outage and you can't use your air con, then can you open your home? Can you get air moving through, particularly when the cool change comes?"
Window Woes: A Double-Edged Sword
Ms. McGarry's experience is far from unique. Across Australia, apartment residents are enduring months of sweltering heat, despite their buildings meeting current standards. The irony is that she believed her double-glazed windows, with a dark tint, would provide a shield against the sun. "I thought double glazing was about heating, cooling and noise, but as soon as the sun hits the surface, it's actually feels hotter on the inside than it does on the outside," she explained. "You put your hand on it, it's so hot. It feels like it could burn."
Building scientist Peter Lyons explains that glazing can be a trade-off. While it may offer free heating in winter, it can become a liability in summer. "If you've got huge, glazed areas, particularly if they face west and are sheer facades with no shading, then those windows cop a huge amount of solar heat," he said. This design flaw is prevalent in Australian apartments, a key finding of the CSIRO's Apartment Energy Behaviour Study. The belief that more glass equates to more daylight, and thus a better living experience, is a common misconception. "Depending on your orientation, more glazing and daylight means more sunlight, which in turn means more radiant heat, which then obviously heats up the apartment," Dr. Lyons added.
Limited Solutions and Rising Costs
Ms. McGarry has implemented some solutions, such as internal blinds and reflective backing, but the heat persists. Even with the air conditioner set to 19 degrees Celsius, the temperature rarely drops below 24 degrees. Her energy bills have surged to $300 per month, a significant expense, especially considering her medical needs. "As someone who can't regulate my temperature, anything above 24 [degrees Celsius] is actually incredibly uncomfortable, and I get quite ill," she shared. Looking at new developments with floor-to-ceiling glass, Marie McGarry laments the future for those residents, "These poor souls, they get the morning sun from this side of the building and then they'll get the afternoon sun as well, so they'll get it all day and be cooked."
But here's where it gets controversial...
Is the pursuit of natural light and aesthetic appeal outweighing the practical needs of comfortable living?
And this is the part most people miss...
What do you think? Do you live in an apartment with similar issues? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Do you think the benefits of large windows outweigh the potential drawbacks in a warming climate? Let's discuss!
