Double Glazing On The Web

September 22nd marks the Equinox and the first day of Autumn. So folks, it’s official, the evenings are drawing in, the mornings are getting darker and pretty soon we’ll be getting up in the dark, going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark and going to bed in the dark…. Depressing? Not really. Personally I can’t wait;  I love the warm cozy evenings in front of the fire, with the rain lashing on the double glazing and hammering out a tattoo on the conservatory roof, while I’m all snug and warm indoors!

We are always reading about how beneficial double glazing, insulation and efficient boilers can be for our properties, our utility bills and the environment, so much so that many of us take it completely for granted. However, for me it’s always the first few days of autumn, when I first detect that fresh damp chill in air and notice that I can see my own breath on the air, that I really appreciate just how wonderful double glazing and all my creature comforts truly are.

It’s that time of year again; the kids are back at school, the evenings are drawing in, in a week or two the supermarkets will start wheeling out the Christmas cards again and it won’t be long before you have to turn the heating back on.

Given the impact of the credit crunch, none of the above are comfortable prospects and all are expensive. For those of us in nice warm double glazed homes this time of year is bad enough, but for those without double glazing, energy bills can be extortionate. Double glazing alone can cut waste energy by 20% and there are lots of techniques beside which could reduce energy bills still further, such as cavity wall and loft insulation.

Because of the green credentials associated with saving energy, according to UK Energy Saving.  there are various grants available for buying and installing insulation. Alternatively using draft excluders around the house can make a difference and believe it or not, it is even suggested that sticking aluminium foil behind radiators to reflect heat away, can prevent walls from soaking up and wasting a lot of your heat!

Fact: Double glazing increases the energy efficiency of your home, therefore reducing climate change and your energy bills.

Problem: The government recognise this fact and in a desperate attempt to reach their target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from home heating by 29 per cent, there are rumours circulating that homes without double glazing could end up falling into higher council tax bands as a green penalty.

This appears to be countermanded by similar rumours concerning a detailed tax on properties, which takes into account views, conservatories and … you guessed it Double Glazing!

Does the term ‘dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t’ spring to mind?

The government are backing a new competition launched this month designed to promote energy efficiency within Britain’s communities.  

British Gas who are currently spear heading the environmental message, will donate £2 million to be distributed amongst community groups best able to make use of measures such as double glazing and insulation.

The scheme is designed to help generate energy-saving ideas for public buildings throughout the UK.

Yet more proof that simple measures like double glazing, really can make a difference in reducing the nations carbon emissions not to mention our heating bills!

Apparently, according to English Heritage, our country is under attack from the ungainly evils of satellite dishes, speed bumps and shock horror, UPVC double glazing.

These every sights across 21st century Britain are being labeled as blemishes which pose a serious risk to our conservation areas.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Perhaps the evils of home improvements are simply being confused with progression; especially when considering the environmental credentials of double glazing. Either way, the ascetics of double glazing have come a long way and many new builds and individuals considering making improvements, are choosing to opt for woodgrain or similar alternatives to the standard white PVC. 

Proof that sound proofing and better insulating your home, doesn’t have to get ugly.

83.5 % of people looking to rent in the UK look for double glazing. In a survey commissioned by the government-funded Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, location was a tenant’s No.1 priority, however five out of the remaining eight top reasons for choosing a property are all energy-related:

98.5% look for central heating

83.5% take whether a property is double glazed into consideration

72.5% look for gas, electricity or oil economy

68.6% for insulation and 68.3% for general warmth.

It appears that energy efficient homes are becoming a priority for homeowners, landlords and tenants alike. This is no doubt driven by the financial impact of running an energy efficient home, but it is also great news for the environment.

A quarter of British homeowners are now planning to build themselves out of trouble, according to financial advice website Unbiased.co.uk. But what changes will add value to your property?
Hugo Tugman, founder of Architect Your Home, suggests that any long-term improvements should focus on creating more space. “If you do need to add space, the next best option is to extend upwards – converting a loft is one of the most cost-effective ways to add space. The next option is to extend outwards with a single or double-storey extension.” Speaking in The Independent, May 24th 2009.
Loft conversions can also add both space and value, but homeowners must check with the planning office before making a start.
Given that many people are looking for homes that are environmentally sound and therefore cheaper to run, replacing existing windows with double glazing or installing double glazing and other energy-efficient forms of insulation when extending your property, is another simple way of keeping and even increasing the value in your home.

In a recent article for The Guardian, Peter Tatchell strongly pushed the policies of the Green Party. Stating unequivocally that; “the Greens are now the most progressive force in British politics, with a visionary agenda for grassroots democracy, social justice, human rights, global equity, environmental protection, peace and internationalism.”

The article continued to offer up the Green Party as a replacement to the current labour government and laid out some clear-cut suggestions as to how they would deal the with current economic crisis facing the country whilst simultaneously fighting climate change. It seems the creation of ‘Green Collar’ jobs it at the heart of tackling unemployment:

“We would put money into energy conservation, which would lead to tens of thousands of jobs in double-glazing, loft insulation and the fitting of energy efficient boilers. This would also help cut fuel poverty and reduce household energy bills.”

It seems that good double glazing not only saves you money and does wonders for your green credentials, but it is also winning votes!

PVC is low in its use of resources. Its production costs are moderate and it has low maintenance requirements. The PVC Aware campaign has been launched, primarily targeting the public sector, to promote the environmental benefits of PVC when used for window frames etc…

Surprising as this might be to some people, PVC does have genuine green credentials, being 100% recyclable. A quote from the  campaign website reads: “PVC, especially when used in such products as window and door frames, may be continuously recycled in a closed loop with the recycled material being used again and again in new window frames and other building products.”

PVC Aware campaign is also being supported by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) who congratulated the organizers on providing customers with the necessary facts to make an informed choice, rather than relying on often media generated ill-formed opinion.

PVC window frames received an A+ rating in the BRE Green Guide www.thegreenguide.org.uk

Landlords now have to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or face a repeatable fine of £200 .

If you have a property you are thinking of upgrading ready to let, make sure all improvements, for example new doors, windows, conservatories etc… are energy efficient and installed by a FENSA registered installer.