Energy Efficiency

The emission of Carbon into the atmosphere is creating global warming and the UK government has signed International accords to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by the UK. The main causes of CO2 emission are transport and buildings, both of which create huge amounts of CO2.

Buildings and our use of energy in them are becoming more critical and attention is being focused on how energy efficient our buildings really are.

One of the major sources of lost energy (and therefore wasted energy) is through windows and doors. These represent large heat losses and in addition to wasting energy, make our homes uncomfortable and more expensive to live in.

If you have inefficient doors and windows you will inevitably have high fuel bills and will be paying for energy that you have used to heat the planet rather than your house. Energy efficient windows and doors will not only save you money but also make your home more comfortable.

It sounds fantastic, but it’s been proven that some sash windows which are C rated, save virtually all of the heat lost through a conventional single glazed, timber sash window!

Okay so how do you know if you’re are buying the right products with your money?

This is where the Window Energy Rating System (WERS) comes in, and the Energy Savings Recommended (ESR), like the labels you see on fridge freezers. It helps you to select energy efficient windows for your home by comparing the ratings, telling you which is the most energy efficient brand of window.

Of course you don’t have to buy ESR windows.

You can leave your old windows in place or you can buy products that aren’t efficient and spend your cold evenings watching your money go down the drain, (or through the window!). Energy efficient products may cost slightly more than other products but the payback will almost certainly cover the extra cost.

The aim of the British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) is to give YOU the information YOU need to make the best choice.

They do not recommend one material or system. They simply provide the information on which systems are the most energy efficient.

To create a band that measure all types of windows, it had to go as low as G. Most windows are rated around D E or F, only those companies whose products meet A, B or C rating are able to claim their product is Energy Efficient, and ESR recommended.

The BFRC Rating is calculated from the individual values of the major energy transfer mechanisms. A higher Rating value (A B or C) indicates a more energy efficient window. Check out www.energyratedwindows.co.uk

BFRC Certified windows carry a label with the A-G grade and values for the following factors clearly indicated:

• Thermal transmittance (U-value): which measures how well a product prevents heat escaping.
• U-values should be less than 3.3 W/m²K to conform to the requirements of the current Building Regulations (Part L) but future U-value requirements will be much lower.
• The lower the number the better the U-value.
• · Solar Heat gain Coefficient or Solar factor (g-value): which measures how well a product absorbs heat from sunlight. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. A lower SHGC means less heat gain.
• Air Leakage (L50): which measures how much air leaks into or out of a window when it is closed.

Remember, the BFRC Rating is provided for a standard size of windows. A BFRC Rating is not an indication of any absolute window performance: this will vary with exact size, the location, the direction the window is facing and other factors. The BFRC Rating is designed to allow accurate comparison of the performance of windows under identical conditions.

The BFRC Rating is calculated from the individual values of the major energy transfer mechanisms. A higher Rating value indicates a more energy efficient window, so you should look for an installer that can supply you with a highly rated window system.

This is what an Energy Label looks like -->

By choosing the right products you will not only be doing yourself a favour, but by using less energy you will be conserving coal, oil, or gas and “saving your 20%”.

Check out:
www.energyratedwindows.co.uk
www.saveyour20.co.uk
www.est.org.uk
www.bfrc.org

So to make sure you can save energy, help reduce global warming and make the world a better place, OR if you just want to stop burning money to keep yourself warm, then the BFRC Window Energy Rating will help you make the right decisions!