Energy Saving
Double-Glazed Windows and Secondary Glazing – Energy Efficient
Replacement Windows, Doors, sash windows, porches and conservatories
Energy Saving Trust - Energy Saving Recommended Scheme
 Manufacturers voluntarily submit their windows
for energy-efficiency accreditation. This is now very important to the organisations,
as consumers
are currently
more aware of energy saving products and environmental issues. This is continuously
increasing with many people so much more conscious of the financial benefits
and savings that can be made.The Energy Saving Trust supports the British Fenestration
Rating Council’s (BFRC) domestic window energy rating scheme (WER) by
accrediting any window rated ‘band-C’ or above, helping consumers
to readily compare the energy efficiency of competing products using a recognisable
mark/grade for everyone to understand.
Look for the energy saving recommended logo
when choosing your new double-glazing windows. You can then be sure they
are the most energy
efficient windows available.
Manufacturer’s window products can now be assessed on a rating of A-G,
the assessment is based on the whole window including the glass and seals etc.
These grades are issues from the British Fenestration Ratings Council.
Energy Efficient Double-Glazed Windows and Secondary Glazing
It has been discovered that up to 20% of heat
in your home is lost through poorly insulated window frames and single glazed
windows.
By considering to
install double-glazing or secondary glazing windows in your home it will certainly
save you money. Now that’s definitely worth thinking about!
This type of home improvement doesn’t have to be expensive, you don’t
necessarily have to replace all your windows at the same time, although a saving
could be made if you were in the position to do so, but there are other options.
If you decided to replace your windows with
double-glazing then don’t
be concerned about how this will affect the look of your home. There is a wide
range of window styles and colours to choose from to help enhance the look
of your house. The only consideration is to ensure there are no restrictions
with the work you can carry out on your home, for example the age or location
of your property, if your house was a listed building or in a conservation
area.
 If you can’t afford to replace all your windows with new double glazing
then why not choose to replace the windows in the rooms that cost you the most
to heat, for example the rooms you spend most of your time in, like your living
room. Considering this as option, you could still reduce the amount of heat
lost through windows by half. Double glazing windows work by trapping air between
two panes of glass, special inert gas is also an option, this creates an insulating
barrier that reduces heat loss, noise and condensation, plus the great benefit
of cutting your heating bill by £80 - £100 a year.
If double glazing is not for you, then there is always secondary double-glazing,
although not as good as double glazing it will still save you money by cutting
down heat loss and draughts.
The BFRC’s WER scheme is based on the whole window. The higher the BFRC
rating indicates a more thermally efficient window. The window is given a rating
of A-G BFRC bands of the window energy label. It is this band that provides
the basis for energy saving recommended certification. So it’s very important
for organisations to ensure their products are assessed and manufactured to
the highest grade.
It is likely that the BFRC’s A-G
bands will be incorporated into the revised Part L of the building regulations
some time
in 2006.
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