Energy Efficiency

Energy efficient windows

Your windows are responsible for around 10-20% of heat loss in your South East home. Replacing single glazing or old existing double glazing with energy efficient double glazing will stop energy wastage and ensure a comfortable temperature inside your home all year round. A-rated efficiency windows virtually lock the heat inside your home with the highest degree of efficiency possible while blocking the cold out. They will contain and conserve heat within the home in the winter, keeping the wind out, and will also prevent heat transfer, meaning your home will be kept cooler during the warmer months. As frame materials, uPVC and aluminium are also incredibly energy efficient.

Energy efficient doors

Alongside windows, external doors are the biggest source of heat loss in your home. If your doors are old and worn, if they have not been properly insulated, or they have not been properly fitted or sealed, causing air to leak through and draughts, then they are less energy efficient. Modern doors are better insulated and will resist energy loss, retaining the warmth inside, and they are also likely to fit much tighter in the door frame so you will notice that the temperature inside your home is more comfortable all year round as they are designed to be draught-free, so cold spots are eliminated.

Aluminium doors feature a unique polyamide thermal break that prevents the flow of draughts between the outer door frame and inside your home, improving thermal efficiencies by at least 30% and preventing A+ energy ratings and low U-values. Composite doors are made up of densely designed panels to eliminate any draughts from entering a home and a solid core to stop the warmth being lost and can feature both single and double rebates for additional energy efficiency.

Energy saving glazing

The type of glazing you choose will impact how much heat is retained or lost as when the sun shines, windows will absorb heat. EcoMAX Glass™ double glazing provides excellent thermal performance and is the most cost-effective option. High performance Comfort glass may be the best solution for properties that are exposed to harsher weather, as the extra material heightens the thermal performance. Double glazing with Smart low-e coatings provide the same level of insulation as a triple glazed unit and stops 56% more internal heat escaping.

How much will I save with new windows and doors?

By upgrading older windows with modern, energy efficient double glazing, frames and panels your heating bills will reduce over the year. According to the Energy Saving Trust, by installing A-rated double glazing to windows in an entirely single-glazed semi-detached gas heated property, you could save £145 a year and 335kg of carbon dioxide. If you installed A++ rated double glazed windows replacing single glazing, the savings could be up to £175 a year and 410kg of carbon dioxide. Significant energy savings can also be made by replacing old doors.

Energy ratings

Window manufacturers can show the energy efficiency of their products using an energy-rating scale from A++ to E. The entire window, from the frame to the glass, is assessed to allow for heat loss, draughts and solar gain, giving a rating that indicates the overall impact of fitting that window in your home. The most energy efficient windows are those with an A+ rating, which allow more energy into a property than they lose. Look for the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) rating. The BRFC also provide independent energy-efficiency ratings for doors, known as a Door Set Energy Rating (DSER). The ratings take the door itself into consideration, not how it’s been fitted. Ratings are also from A++ to E, with an A++ rated door providing maximum energy efficiency.

U-Values

Windows that have an energy rating will have the ‘U-Value’ of the window displayed on the energy label. A U-Value is a measure of how easily heat passes through a material, but it is not a complete measure of how efficient a window is. The overall label rating will give you a better indication of the window’s energy saving potential.

Energy efficient conservatory roofs

Older, worn glass or polycarbonate roofing on your existing conservatory will be lacking in heat insulation and energy efficiency, making it unbearably hot in the summer and freezing cold during the winter. Thanks to sophisticated designs and advance materials, all an existing conservatory needs to perform to its full potential again is a new roof. A replacement solid tiled or glass conservatory roof will hugely improve energy efficiency and provide a comfortable temperature all year round – making your conservatory a space you can use 365 days of the year.

Tiled conservatory roofs: Made from lightweight composite tiles that won’t rot, fade or wear down, the heat-absorbing materials will retain the warmth of your home when its cold outside and there is no risk of condensation.

Glass conservatory roofs: Custom-made glass roofs with high-performance Smartglass will let in as much natural sunlight as possible and have incredibly low U-values that surpass building regulations for greater thermal performances.

Solid conservatory roofs: Combining high-performance glazing panels with lightweight composite panels to provide great thermal performance.