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A large timber framed window seen from inside at dawn, a linen curtain drawn back, soft pink light over the garden beyond.
← All guides Better windows and glazing

Windows, glazing and the cold that comes off them

Windows are the most expensive way to fix a cold house and sometimes the only way. These guides explain what each option really does, and how to tell when a cheaper fix would do the same job.

3 guides

Guides for this upgrade

Start with the guide that matches what you're dealing with now. Each one stands on its own, with links to related topics where they overlap.

A hinged secondary glazing panel open inside a white timber sash window
Windows11 min read

Double glazing, secondary glazing, or curtains

Three very different price brackets solving the same problem. What each one genuinely does, and when the cheapest option is the right one.

Updated 6 August 2026Read →
A technician pointing a thermal camera at a ceiling cornice, its screen showing a heat image
Insulation10 min read

Where the heat actually leaves your house

Ceiling, walls, floor, windows and gaps, in the order they matter, and what each one is worth in a typical brick veneer home.

Updated 15 August 2026Read →
An energy assessor going through a report on a tablet with a couple at their kitchen bench
Start here14 min read

The right order to upgrade your home

Insulation before heat pump sizing, sealing before ventilation, and solar later than you would think. The dependencies nobody explains before you are quoted.

Updated 22 August 2026Read →

6 upgrades

What’s involved in improving your windows

These are the main upgrades that can be involved in fixing cold, draughty or noisy windows. You can also use these categories to find businesses that specialise in the work you need.

01 uPVC double glazed windowsThe warmest frame of the common options, and the quietest. A full replacement rather than a retrofit.
02 Double glazed aluminium windowsSlim frames with a thermal break. Common where the look of the original windows has to be kept.
03 Triple glazed windowsThree panes for the coldest rooms and the noisiest roads. Rare in Australia and worth asking who has actually fitted it.
04 Secondary glazingA second pane fitted inside the window you already have. Far cheaper than replacement, and it works on heritage frames.
05 Retrofit double glazingDouble glazed glass fitted into the frames you already have. The frames stay and only the glass changes.
06 Window and door replacementNot every glazing job is double glazing. Rotten frames, jammed sashes and doors that never sealed properly.

When you know which upgrade you need, find businesses that specialise in that work and service your area.

Find glazing specialists

Rebates and incentives

What help is available

The Home Energy Rebate Tracker puts the federal, state and territory programs in one place, with the date we last checked each one and a link to the page it came from.

Amounts, eligibility and closing dates change, and some schemes have shut while their old numbers were still printed on the page. Always check the source before you commit to an upgrade.

About $21 a square metre

Double-glazed windows

OPEN

Paid per ten square metres for double-glazed windows. A lower secondary glazing rate is still listed, but no product is approved for it right now. On a typical house that is a few hundred dollars against a job of many thousands, which is why glazing is a finance decision rather than a rebate one.

Victoria Checked 28 October 2026 energy.vic.gov.au ↗

3% over 10 years

Sustainable Household Scheme

OPEN

Money lent cheaply rather than money given. Between $2,000 and $20,000 at 3% over up to ten years, no fees and no penalty for paying it out early. Ceiling insulation, hot water heat pumps, electric heating, cooktops, batteries and EV charging are all on the list. Glazing is not.

Australian Capital Territory Checked 14 October 2026 climatechoices.act.gov.au ↗

When you’re ready for help

Find the right help for your next step.

Get a whole-home plan

A home energy assessor can look at your whole home, identify the biggest opportunities and help you work out what to tackle first to make it more comfortable, efficient and cheaper to run.

Find an assessor near you

Find the right specialist

Once you know which upgrade you need, find a business that specialises in that type of work and services your area.

Find a specialist near you