Professor Bell, from the university’s Institute of Sustainable Resources, has conducted research on how different window options that can increase the energy efficiency of Queensland homes and decrease carbon emissions, while saving the homeowner money on heating and cooling costs.

Professor Bell said “What people may not know is there are commercially available advanced glazing alternatives that can help to greatly reduce the need for air-conditioning.”

He added that installing better windows typically increased a home's star rating by between 1.5 and 2.5 stars.

The study looked at four typical styles of houses in Queensland, including the single-storey brick home, the raised single-storey timber Queenslander, the double-storey brick house and the three-storey townhouse.

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These were studied in five different climates across the state with 16 different glazing options, ranging from standard aluminium-framed single glazing with clear glass to double-glazed windows in wood frames with specially treated glass.

"The greatest savings of energy and money were between 25 and 45 per cent in all houses, which were achieved with a double glazed window made up of a layer of tinted glass, a gap of air and a layer of glass which has a special clear insulating coating, called low-e glass," he said.

Professor Bell said that significant energy reductions ranging from 11 to 32 per cent can also be achieved with 4 mm low-e single glazed options in either aluminium or timber framed windows, which are cheaper and could be of significant value for the retrofit market for existing houses.

The research, titled The Role of Advanced Glazing in Queensland Homes: Reducing Electricity Load and Greenhouse Gas Emissions was commissioned by the Australian Glass and Glazing Association.