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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationRaise the bar but not your costs
Raise the bar but not your costs
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Anne-Maree Brown
General Manager of Content
One of the residential building industry’s biggest considerations today is the rising costs of building materials. This, coupled with the transition to 7-star energy ratings, is bound to make keeping within budgeting expectations a greater challenge.
To meet the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 standards, each home must satisfy a minimum level requirement. One compliance pathway on a home’s performance is by using the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), which rates a home's energy efficiency on a scale of 1 to 10 stars. A 7-star home is one focused on an elevated level of energy efficiency, requiring less reliance on heating and cooling systems to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Design considerations and material choices are essential to achieve this goal. However, the risk is that this can add to the overall cost, resulting in the need to specify smaller windows and doors than desired based on cost constraints.
According to HIA’s Executive Director of Building Policy, Shane Keating, ‘Energy assessors and designers have uncovered the ideal recipe for achieving 6-stars. However, attaining 7-stars is more complex and may necessitate different strategies to balance cost-effectiveness.’
With that in mind, Stegbar has developed a solution - eX Hybrid windows and doors, which provide all the benefits of a thermally broken product but with an economical price tag. After considerable research and development, the range of sliding/stacking doors and awning windows has been designed and made in Australia. According to Scott Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of VENTORA GROUP, parent company to Stegbar, ‘We want to help Australian builders and homeowners demystify what can be a complex subject, and find workable, affordable solutions. Not only have we solved the technical challenge, we’ve done it in a way that won’t cost the builder an extra cent when they select double glazed products from the Hybrid range’.
One benefit of the range is that the thermal performance allows maximum window and door sizes while minimising costs. This provides desirable design considerations, making the most of the outlook and available natural light. The range is available in multiple configurations, custom-made and installed to your specifications.
Functionality aside, the products are aesthetically curated to complement all Stegbar’s residential range, as well as matching their sizing and product limitations. The result is that there are no changes required to the way you plan to build.
The team at Stegbar is proud of its patent-pending design, which leverages the best energy-efficient materials available in the market. ‘Our design team has done a great job across the board delivering the eX Hybrid thermally broken product, ’ Scott says. ‘We believe the eX Hybrid is ideal for when you need to meet 7-star building requirements and still keep your costs down.’
The eX Hybrid is a high-performing aluminium window and door range that delivers on all the metrics. The awning windows have U-values (also known as thermal transmittance) as low as 2.6 and SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) at 0.40. For the sliding doors, U-values are as low as 2.3 and a SHGC of 0.43. *
For an additional budget-friendly incentive, when you purchase a double-glazed awning window or sliding/stacking door from Stegbar’s residential range, you will receive a bonus upgrade to an eX Hybrid product. ‘This will deliver greater window performance - for no additional cost - and make each home you build with eX Hybrid more comfortable across all four seasons,’ says Scott.
From windows and doors to glass and building and renovating tips, Stegbar can help you make informed decisions about building compliant, energy-efficient homes.
To learn more, go to stegbar.com.au
Performance and a chance to win
Stegbar is giving you the chance to win 1 of 5 AEG Power Tool vouchers worth $5,000 each. Simply request a quote for your next build using Stegbar’s eX Hybrid range or Energy Efficient Glass, and you’ll automatically go into the draw Stegbar ex Hybrid promotion.
This article was compiled with contributions from Stegbar.
First published on 29 July 2025.