How Changing Your Windows Can Help the Environment

Since 1970, energy used to heat Britain’s homes has increased by 20%. While the switch to central heating has brought great improvements in the carbon efficiency, and new buildings regulations has meant more homes now have full insulation and more energy efficient fixtures, this has not accounted for the new dependence on electrical appliances that govern modern life. One of the easiest ways you can improve the efficiency of your home is to invest in energy efficient windows.

Who Should Make the Switch

If you own an older home, you’ll likely reap the benefits more than someone whose property was built or has been redeveloped since 2004, which is when we’ve seen residents adopting more efficient fixtures Typically, around 25% of the heat generated in the home is lost through windows. In the past, there was no clear guideline for consumers to look for to understand the efficiency ratings of their windows. Since the introduction of The British Fenestration Rating Council Limited (BFRC), though, it’s now much easier to compare the energy efficiency of different fixtures. Windows are rated using a familiar A to G scale on the basis of their total energy efficiency, with an A-rating indicating the most efficient and a G-rating indicating the least. Consumers can quickly and easily choose the most suitable window for their needs and then they can look into a window replacement in Centennial, CO service, or a similar one in their location, to help them pick out the best ones for their home. The BFRC is an independent body and the UK’s national system for rating energy efficient windows.

How Much Could It Save

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Though energy-efficient windows may have a higher initial cost, they will improve the comfort levels of your home, especially during the colder months, and can actually save energy and money for the rest of your life. Over the time span, the cost of heat lost could be greater than the purchase cost of the window. Double-glazing windows, which you can easily get by contacting reputed secondary glazing manufacturers made great improvements over regular sealed windows, and now these more modern, energy-efficient fixtures can improve your home even further. As technology is advancing, there is certainly an improvement seen in almost all the equipment and products we use in our everyday life and beyond.

Recent studies show that by installing energy efficient windows in your home, you can reduce your household bills by up to 461 per year. That means that over a typical twenty-year period, A-rated double glazing could save you 8,211 and 22 tonnes of CO2 in a typical detached house, or 5,855 and 16 tonnes of CO2 in a typical semi-detached house.

However, what’s more important than the potential savings is the effort in reducing the effects of global warming. There are many ways we can reduce our carbon footprint, such as changing our driving habits or recycling waste and unwanted products. Some of these actions will become much easier over time as technology improves. Right now, though, switching to more efficient fixtures is one of the easiest and effective ways you can make an impact.