ecoGlaze – Because Wasting Single Glazed Timber Windows is Madness
From R&D Obsession to Retrofit Game-Changer
Most people think ecoGlaze® was invented in a flash of inspiration.
It wasn’t.
This journey actually started in 2005, when Maurice Beinat, ecoMaster’s Co-Founder and Technical Director, (and the guy in the videos) set out to solve a massive problem:
How do you get all the benefits of double glazing, without replacing perfectly good windows?
Over the next five years, Maurice tested every retrofit glazing system you can imagine. In fact, every window in the ecoMaster test home was fitted a different way—so he could measure exactly how each method performed in real-world conditions.
The result? A system that works, looks beautiful, and actually makes sense in Aussie homes.
In 2010, ecoGlaze® was officially born.
Why was ecoGlaze® needed?
Because ripping out timber windows just to stay warm is… madness.
It’s expensive. Wasteful. And totally unnecessary.
ecoGlaze® delivers the same thermal performance as traditional double glazing—without touching your existing windows. It creates a discreet air gap using acrylic glazing and custom-moulded frames that blend seamlessly into your home.
It keeps the warmth in during winter.
Keeps the heat out in summer.
Lowers your energy bills.
And once it’s installed, most people don’t even notice it’s there.
ecoGlaze Was a Premium In-Home Service. Until That Wasn’t an Option.
For the first decade, ecoGlaze® was a fully custom service.
Highly trained installers would visit your home, measure every window, cut to fit, paint or stain mouldings, and install everything by hand.
Then the pandemic hit.
With in-home services off the table, we had to completely rethink how we delivered comfort and energy savings to Aussie homes.
The DIY Version
We redesigned the fitting process from the ground up to make it DIY-friendly, without compromising performance or aesthetics.
The panels and thermal design stayed exactly the same.
The way they’re installed? Much easier.
And to make things EVEN easier, we launched ecoGlaze® DIY Kits for the most common window and door types:
✔️ Fixed windows – aka picture windows
✔️ French doors
✔️ Hinged windows
✔️ Awning windows
These kits are based on standard sizes we’ve installed thousands of times—so they’re easy to match, easy to install, and easy to love.
Not All DIY Is Equal: Why ecoGlaze® Isn’t Just “Acrylic on Glass”
We know some DIYers are gluing acrylic sheets directly onto their windows—and honestly, we get it. It’s a low-cost attempt to get better thermal performance.
But here’s the problem:
❌ Condensation will eventually become a real issue
❌ Acrylic expands and contracts significantly with heat and cold
❌ Gluing or screwing panels in place doesn’t allow for that movement
The result? Panels can warp, crack or fail altogether.
ecoGlaze® was specifically designed to allow for thermal expansion.
The acrylic sits in such a way that lets it move subtly—but securely—without compromising the effectiveness or aesthetics.
That’s what makes ecoGlaze® a professional solution, not a workaround.
Not Just Homes: ecoGlaze® in Commercial Buildings
ecoGlaze® has now been installed in thousands of Aussie homes—and an impressive list of commercial spaces, including:
- The Merri-bek Council Chambers on Bell Street in Melbourne
- Hotel rooms across Australia
Hotels love it because it installs from the inside (no scaffolding or permits) and their in-house maintenance teams can handle it easily.
A Quick Note About Aluminium Sliding Windows
One of the most common questions we get is:
“Can I use ecoGlaze® on my aluminium sliding windows?”
Right now, the answer is not yet.
The current ecoGlaze® system doesn’t suit most residential aluminium sliders—but we’re actively working on it. If that’s your window type, hang tight—we’re getting closer to a solution.
What’s Next?
We’re also developing a DIY-friendly version of our insert system for double-hung (sash) windows. It’s a more technical beast, thanks to the moving panes, but it’s coming.
When that lands, almost every window in a typical Aussie home will be covered.
So, Why ecoGlaze®?
- 5+ years of in-house R&D
- Invented by a building scientist obsessed with energy efficiency
- Seamlessly retrofits into heritage and modern windows
- Designed to move, flex and breathe with the seasons
- Saves energy, money and perfectly good windows
- Now available as a premium DIY kit
ecoGlaze® is not just double glazing. It’s double glazing done right.
[Learn more about ecoGlaze® kits and installation here]
Can’t watch the video right now? Here’s a transcript:
ecoGlaze® Retrofit Double Glazing: Meet the Inventor, Maurice Beinat
“I’m Maurice Beinat, I’m the Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of ecoMaster, and I’ve invented a retrofit double glazing solution called ecoGlaze® in 2010.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH SINGLE GLAZING?
MB: So, the issue with single glazing is that glass is a highly conductive material. In fact, a while back, glass saucepans were the go, they’ve fallen out of favour now but it’s just a way to show that glass is highly conductive of heat. So, with single glazing in the wintertime, your heating is going to be continuously conducted out by the single glazing. And, in the summertime, the heat will be conducted in.
HOW CAN WE IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM?
MB: One of the main issues with single glazing is that, particularly in the wintertime, if you’re sitting near a window, you’ll actually feel your body heat radiating out through that surface. And you’ll notice, maybe you’ve even noticed at home or in a restaurant, you’ll notice how amazingly cold it is when you’re sitting by a window in the wintertime.
HOW DOES DOUBLE GLAZING WORK?
MB: Double glazing works by providing a still air space between two pieces of glass, or in our case with secondary glazing, between the glass and the ecoGlaze® panel. The important aspect is to have the still air space because the glass itself is highly conductive but air is not. Therefore, keeping a layer of air still between the two layers is how we improve the thermal performance of glass.
MB: Retrofit is a great way to deal with existing windows and doors that are still in really good condition. It makes little sense to just trash them to replace them. We can maintain the joinery in its current form and just add components that actually make it look better, in many cases, than it did before and we save the earth’s resources in doing that and we save money as well, and it provides all the benefits of traditional double glazing.
HOW DID YOU DEVELOP THE ecoGlaze® SYSTEM?
MB: ecoGlaze® has been a long journey in the development. What I wanted to do was to provide a system that not only worked well, but looked great as well. In my own home I have got good quality timber joinery with single glazing, so it was a perfect test bed to try things out.
Initially, my thought was to use real glass, and real spacer, like what is used in double glazing units in a factory, and we worked on that premise for a number of years. There were a number of issues associated with that. One is that there is an inherent danger working with pieces of glass in your home, it’s different in a factory, but in the home environment there’s actually quite a bit of danger involved when glass is not held in a frame. The other thing is that it was pretty messy with sealants, spacers and adhesives, and so on and in the end it was a very difficult retrofit process that we just weren’t able to simplify.
But what we wanted to do was to create something that worked well and looked really good, that looked really good but just wasn’t practical in the end. So we moved towards working with acrylic panel instead of glass and that really was a breakthrough.
WHAT DO PEOPLE LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?
MB: Most folks are surprised to see how good it looks on their windows. When I show them the samples they can see that it’s going to look quite good, but when the installation actually takes place they’re amazed by how good it looks. And, of course, especially if it’s custom coloured, if it’s painted to match the existing joinery or stained and varnished to match, it just goes in seamlessly.
We had a client the other day who called their neighbour in to show them and the neighbour just said “well, what am I looking at?”
HOW DOES ecoGlaze® REDUCE YOUR ENERGY USE?
MB: When you insulate your windows with ecoGlaze® your home won’t need as much heating and cooling, you’re going to be more comfortable inside. And … less heating and cooling means it’s going to be better for the environment too.
Learn more about the benefits of ecoGlaze® Retrofit Double Glazing
If you’re looking for retrofit double glazing for windows, contact ecoMaster. For queries, get In touch via our Contact Form.
Recent Comments