Since governments around the world are setting new targets to reduce carbon emissions, there has been a big push to move away from our reliance on fossil fuels. As a result they’ve been investing in more energy efficient products and services and making them both affordable and easier to get so that everyone can be friendlier to the environment.
Each and every one of us can make a positive contribution to this global effort. We could use the car less; share journeys where possible or use public transport. We could walk or cycle to more places. But we can make a huge difference at home too – and we’re not just talking about solar panels, or even loft insulation.
We’re talking about something that every house has. We’re talking about windows.
The value of double glazing
We all know that heat rises, so diagrams often represent heat loss with arrows going through the roof. But you’ll also be amazed at how much heat your house loses through those panes of glass in the walls.
If you replace standard single glazed wooden frame windows with some of the latest eco-friendly double glazed windows in the industry, you can keep more heat in the house so your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard. In fact, you could reduce your CO2 emissions by over 1.5 tonnes in the first year.
And the benefits aren’t just felt by the environment. Like most energy saving ideas, it can help you save lots of money too.
What’s the latest double glazing window on the market?
For years windows were only seen as ways to let in the light and warmth of the sun. Then it was about keeping hold of the heat for as long as possible. And for many, this is where we still are. But at Anglian Home Improvements, based in Norwich, UK, they’ve never allowed window technology to stand still. Their new A-rated EcoGain energy efficient windows actually help to add heat to your home.
How does it work?
In short, the EcoGain windows let in more light and heat – to the point where it can more than compensate for any heat that is lost. Typically, double glazed windows are made up of two sheets of glass with a gap in between, which is usually filled with gas. This is the insulation barrier that keeps the heat in.
But Anglian have used low iron glass in the outside pane, which increases the amount of sunlight that passes through the window to warm your home more than ever before.
Window technology is today based on three key performance factors:
• Thermal transmittance (U-value)
• Solar factor (G-value)
• Air leakage (L-value)
The U-value should be as low as possible, since this measures how good a window is at preventing heat from escaping the building. The G-value should be as high as possible to show how much heat passes through the window, while the L-value represents how air tight the window is. These are worth looking out for because you want to know you’ve got the very best products that will make the biggest impact. You don’t buy windows every day, after all.
We can all do our bit
We’re constantly seeing exciting new developments in green technology, and windows are no exception. If just one house can reduce their CO2 emissions by more than 1.5 tonnes in just one year by getting eco-friendly windows then imagine what a whole street, town, state or country could achieve…
