Double Glazing On The Web

Windows are one of those things we take for granted – will I do at least, but then I took central heating for granted until my boiler packed up! If your windows are in a poor state of repair, especially at this time of the year, whether they are double glazed or wooden frames, they will be leaking considerable heat from your property. This in turn directly impacts on the bottom-line of your heating bills. Not only that, but they can also be a security risk and an easy target for burglars.

If you are unlucky enough during the credit crunch to be in the market for replacement doors or windows, then at least you can be consoled that after the initial outlay, in the longer term your new windows and doors will be saving you money, saving the environment and securing your property.

Being ‘green’ is a new trend!  Even the celebs are getting onboard, shamelessly plugging their new products and services.  Are you following the herd?  How green is your home?  (Tut tut if your television is on standby!)  The best home improvement that you can make is to ensure your home is running efficiently.  Who would have thought that the words ‘home improvement’ and ‘save money’ could be used in the same sentence!   

Being green is not just about recycling the bottles of Shiraz you bitterly regret on Sunday morning; you can actually save some real cash here folks!  It’s so simple and the best place to start with your energy usage.  Do you have a timer set for your heating?   How well are you keeping that heat in?  There are many low cost measures like a new set of heavy curtains to block out draft and keep heat in.  Draft blockers along the bottoms of your doors can also make a huge difference and speaking of doors, double glazed front and back doors are not only more secure and easier to clean than traditional wooden frames, but can seriously improve your home insulation.

Recycling has become much easier as well with most Councils providing a separate bin for recyclable items.  You can recycle indoors as well, instead of throwing away your Saturday night take-away boxes, give them a wash and use them for storage! 

Just changing your habits and attitudes toward being ‘green’ is a start.  Everyone can help and everyone will benefit from doing so.

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

 Joergen Jensen, regular columnist for Director of Finance Online, has spoken out about the government’s latest vehicle scrappage scheme by saying:

 “The money should rather be used to encourage people to insulate their houses better and replace single glazing windows with double glazing windows. That doesn’t destroy value, but creates lasting value and at the same time reduces the CO2 emission and cuts future heating bills.”

Personally I don’t think the industry could have a better endorsement. Proof that as a product, double glazing is environmentally friendly and an economically viable investment.