Did you know that about 18% of your home’s heating could be being lost through your windows? According to gov.uk approximately 7% of UK homes only have single glazing, where heat loss is roughly twice as fast compared to homes with standard double glazing.
Here at Cheltenham Glass and Glazing we aim to beat energy loss and keep homes warm by supplying and fitting energy saving windows and doors to our customers across Gloucestershire and neighbouring counties.
Energy saving windows are more efficient. Double glazed uPVC and aluminium window units are usually filled with an inert gas such as argon, xenon or krypton. This helps to keep the heat that you use to warm your home inside and also allow solar heat from outside into your home. Clever hey?
Energy efficient windows come in a range of materials and frame styles. Their energy saving performance will depend on how well these materials stop energy loss.
A double-glazed window unit will typically have a gap of approximately 16mm between two panes of glass, whilst triple glazed windows will have two smaller gaps between the three panes of glass. These gaps are filled with an inert gas or air, and the frame is completely sealed.
The energy saving properties of windows can be further enhanced depending on the type of glass used within the frames. Low emissivity(low-E) glass has an incredibly thin coating of metal oxide on one of the internal glass surfaces which reflects heat back in to the home whilst still letting light and warmth in from outside.
Windows and doors are rated by the British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) according to how the products perform from the point of energy efficiency. BFRC rated products are independently tested and guarantee to meet certain ratings calculated by measuring the amount of solar gain, minus heat loss and air leakage.
Ratings range from A++ to E. Windows with a BFRC rating of 0and above (A, A+ and A++) are considered to be energy positive. The BFRC rating scale is similar in style to other product energy rating schemes, making it easy to understand at a glance.
The Energy Saving Trust has calculated that if a single-glazed, gas heated semi-detached property was refitted with A-rated double-glazed windows you could save £165 a year on heating bills and save375kg of carbon dioxide. This is great news for all our prospective Gloucestershire customers.
If the same property had A++ rated double glazed windows installed savings could increase to £180 a year and 410kg of carbon dioxide. That’s great for your pocket and for the environment too.
Further information about the energy performance of windows can be found in our article on U-values.
The three main benefits of installing energy efficient windows in your Gloucestershire home are:
1. A more comfortable home – heat loss through windows will be reduced, which will reduce draughts and cold spots in rooms.
2. Lower heating bills – energy efficient windows help to prevent heat loss meaning you will use less gas or electricity to heat your home. This has the added benefit of reducing carbon emissions.
3. Reduced condensation – energy efficient glazing help to reduce the build up of condensation on the inside of windows, which can cause mould to grow – mould spores can cause breathing problems so this should be avoided at all costs.
Many properties in Cheltenham and the surrounding area are situated in conservation areas or have heritage status which affects the types of home-improvement work that can be undertaken on them.
Restrictions might include the use of aluminium or uPVC frames however Cheltenham Glass and Glazing are also experienced fitters of alternative frames that are suitable for heritage properties.
Some wooden frames can accommodate double glazed windowpanes, whilst others are more suited to the installation of secondary glazing, which creates an air-barrier between the original frame and the secondary frame and therefore gives some heat-loss protection to properties.
Other means of making energy efficiency savings in properties that have restrictions in the use of conventional double glazing is the application of specialist coatings to glass and even the hanging of thicker curtains, which will help to insulate a room.
You will be pleased to know that the short answer to this question is ‘yes’! Energy efficient doors do exist.
The energy efficiency of a door will be determined by a number of factors, in particular:
· The age and fit of the door
· Materials used to construct the door
Let’s look at these factors.
For any door to be energy efficient, it must do two things: keep heat in whilst keeping weather and the cold out. A basic requirement therefore is that a door fits snugly within its frame. If there are gaps around or below a door it will be draughty.
Older doors may become warped and therefore will potentially allow draughts in to a room.
A well-fitting door will go a long way to helping a space improve its energy efficiency. But some doors are better than others because of the materials used in their construction.
Wooden doors are naturally insulating, absorbing heat from rooms.
uPVC doors have some added insulation, which makes them slightly more energy efficient than wooden doors, but they are prone to warp as they age, particularly older styles.
Aluminium doors have a higher thermal rating than wooden and uPVC doors but tend to be much more expensive.
Composite doors combine the many benefits of materials such as PVC, insulating foam, wood and also glass reinforced plastic to create a door with the highest thermal efficiency.
When used together, these materials create a door that will not warp, bend, fade or crack.
Composite doors are therefore more thermally efficient than wooden, uPVC and aluminium doors.
Doors with windows are perfect for all walls except those that are north-facing. Glass will absorb heat from the sun and transfer some of that warmth in to a room, therefore adding to the energy efficiency of a door.
If you have any questions regarding how to help save energy through the installation of energy efficient windows and doors, please contact Cheltenham Glass and Glazing here or by calling 01242 238887.
We’re your local glazing experts and are here to help you create a more energy efficient Gloucestershire home.
Providing fast, friendly advice and fitting, based on over 10 years experience in the glass fitting industry, our staff take pride in delivering the best possible service to all our customers. So, if you are looking for the best aluminium and UPVC windows & doors Cheltenham has to offer, contact Cheltenham Glass and Glazing today.
01242 238 887
1 Tremblant Close, Cheltenham, GL52 5FL