SUSTAINABILITY | WINDOWS
WHERE TO NEXT FOR WERS?
IMAGE Tom Ferguson
In 2017, the Window Energy Rating Scheme( WERS) celebrated 21 years of operation. From humble beginnings, with only 22 generic window systems rated, to currently over 30,000 rated unique window systems that translate into 400,000 individual window systems offered by WERS members.
The use of WERS has become important to the certification of products in National Construction Code( NCC) compliant buildings with custom rated windows available for direct selection in the NatHERS software systems.
During the growth of WERS, there has been an increased use of high performance glass available in the market. Along with this, there have been significant changes to the software systems used for energy rating of glazing products- with a move from the simple early incarnations through to more advanced systems that allow the simulation of louvres, skylights, blinds, screens, fritted glass and other complex products.
Internationally, there have also been software advances with the potential to increase the efficiency, both in time and monetary cost, of which WERS products are energy rated. However, they have not been implemented in Australia as they are currently owned by the National Fenestration Rating Council( NFRC) and link directly to NFRC servers for certification.
With the growth in the number of records listed in the WERS database, the aging of results and advances in the available software, there is a significant opportunity to greatly increase the efficiency in the production of
WERS ratings, resulting in potentially lower operating costs, lower member simulation costs, increased speed of simulation results and an easier system to maintain.
There are a number of options that could be applied within Australia that would enable the simplification of the rating processes, including:
1. Purchasing or leasing an overseas software system.
2. Utilising the programs that currently exist in the Australian market which have energy rating components being used internationally.
3. Developing a new Australian specific system.
Work has already begun on taking WERS into its next twenty years. In April 2017, AWA representatives headed overseas to examine and assess both the well known and emerging software systems to develop a proposal to present to the AWA board at its September meeting. Recognising its importance, the board asked for a fully costed and time-lined proposal to be presented for approval at the December meeting.
Now approved and highlighted as a significant project to benefit members and the industry, implementation of a new system is being staged over three phases, with a predicted final program and tool launch date of August 2018.
Follow the project journey, along with information on what the new scheme will offer, in Windows magazine throughout 2018.
Visit www. wers. net for more information.
WINDOWS MAGAZINE 39