The importance of ThermalHEART®

Better for your home

While reducing the environmental impact of construction is a major focus of the building industry, another big focus is on reducing the amount of energy that’s required to run those buildings when they’re completed.

Less efficient buildings require more energy over their lifetimes and 35-50% of a home’s heat is lost from its windows and doors*. APL’s new industry-leading ThermalHEART^® technology stops that waste, saves homeowners money and reduces emissions.

Made for our conditions

The New Zealand climate is volatile and variable, with warm subtropical temperatures in the north and severe alpine conditions in the mountains.

All of APL’s products are designed and tested in New Zealand to withstand our harsh conditions and climates, but a few years ago, we decided to take thermal performance up a few notches and started developing a range of cutting-edge aluminium windows and doors.

Innovative technology

ThermalHEART^® works by insulating the window system and minimising heat flow through the frame. This helps to keep cool temperatures out in colder months, and decreases solar gain in warmer months. It also reduces the risk of condensation forming and helps create warmer, drier and healthier homes.

By combining ThermalHEART^® frames with The AGP System glass, thermal performance is almost double that of standard aluminium joinery and far exceeds the new minimum insulation requirements for housing set out in clause H1 Energy Efficiency of the New Zealand Building Code, which was updated in late 2022. When installed using the innovative Centrafix™ installation method, thermal efficiency is further increased by more than 20%*.

We offer four ThermalHEART^® ranges, each share the same core design principals allowing for exceptional versatility across the full range of products. This includes a BRANZ appraised and passive house compliant range; Metro Series ThermalHEART^® with Centrafix™.

A high-performance mentality

In addition to APL’s own initiatives to create a more sustainable and circular business, the ThermalHEART^® ranges show that we are also leading the way when it comes to the development of more efficient window and door products.

“These releases mark a comprehensive redesign and repositioning of our product portfolio,” says APL CEO Dave Downey. “The tougher H1 standard validated where we thought the industry was heading. We’re proud of our ability to meet industry requirements, at all levels of product performance.”

*Please refer to thermalheartplus.co.nz/thermalheart for all statistical data and references

More stories

Soft plastic recycling

Continuing our journey to circularity through our partnership with PACT Recycling, the largest recycler of post-industrial plastic in the Southern Hemisphere.

An aligned future with Toitū

Independent assessments and accreditations are crucial and that’s why we’re working closely with Toitū Envirocare, one of the country’s leading carbon certification organisations.

Working towards a circular economy

They say you can’t manage what you don’t measure, and that’s why a partnership was established with environmental consultancy Circularity to explore the impacts of all their waste streams.

The waste process

While APL is working hard to build a more circular business, not every material is able to be repurposed. That’s why we’re working closely with Enviro NZ, a materials management and resource recovery company.

Diversion from landfill

By collecting food scraps, we're helping power local homes and protect the environment.

Environmental Product Declaration

Three of APL’s window and door ranges have been the subject of an independent environmental and life cycle assessment by external consultants.

Biodiversity Initiative a New Zealand First

Profile Group, parent company to APL Window Solutions, has become the first participant in a new biodiversity market, purchasing biodiversity units from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, in the South Waikato.

Going Electricity-Neutral

The parent company to APL Window Solutions, Profile Group, has acquired renewable energy certificates from Kawatiri Energy.

The power of the ocean

At APL, we understand the power of the ocean, and what it means to our fellow New Zealanders. We play in it. We eat from it. We live by it. It connects us all.

Homes of the future

A major sustainability project by Kāinga Ora, the government’s public housing agency, will use a new, thermally efficient product range from APL Window Solutions.

Closing the loop on waste

We’ve introduced a series of day-to-day sustainability initiatives aimed at circulating high value materials, innovating new solutions and designing out waste and emissions across the business.

Hautapu ~ Our Green building

We planned carefully to make our large, new manufacturing facility at Hautapu an example of ‘best practice’ sustainable design and construction.

Upgrading for the environment

In 2016 APL upgraded it's powdercoating lines to achieve an environmentally-friendly standard.

'Declared'

Leading the way

At APL, we are well on the way to reinventing the way we do business.

The importance of ThermalHEART^®