Save energy by installing double or secondary glazing
It is generally agreed that about 20% of heat loss from the average home is through single-glazed windows and glass doors. Double or secondary glazing cuts this heat loss by around half, reduces noise and draughts, and allows you to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
You can cut your heating bills by £80 - £100 a year and save almost three-quarters of a tonne of CO2 each year by improving your glazing. The payback in savings on your energy bills for double glazing is longer than for measures like installing loft and cavity wall insulation, or a new, efficient boiler. However, many firms offer an extended (10 year) warranty on their work, and it will make your home more comfortable.
Saving money on double glazing and other windows
If you're on a budget, fitting secondary glazing could be the answer. Essentially it is an additional layer of glass added to the inside of an existing single glazed window frame. Secondary double glazing can be a good idea if your windows don't need replacing yet or where you are faced with planning restrictions on using replacement windows. Whilst not as good as low emissivity glazing (see below) it could save you up to £30 a year on your fuel bills, will reduce noise, reduce heat loss and condensation.
Another good alternative is to only replace the windows in the rooms where you spend most time and use the most heating.
What to do next
You should contact several professional fitters to get quotes and be able to compare prices and what they offer. Most advertise on the Internet: you can see some of their ads on this page. Click here to go to a longer list of advertisers.
We recommend trying to use the most energy efficient windows. To try and make the energy performance of different windows easy to understand an energy rating scheme has been developed for windows by the British Fenestrations Ratings Council. Everest is one of the UK's most award winning suppliers of double glazing. Follow this link for details of on-line double glazing offers.
Glazing Standards for Replacement Windows
Building regulations now dictate that when windows are replaced, the new units which are being fitted need to be properly draft-proofed and also meet the minimum standard for the transmission of heat through the window. The regulations in force have the same minimum standards as a builder would need to use when building a new home so in practice this means that they need to be low emissivity (low E) double glazed.
These rules do not currently apply if the work being carried out is just the replacing of broken glass or repair of old and rotting window frames but as this specification of replacement window has now been around in the UK for some years there is little difference in cost between these units that meet the regulations and units that don't.
Keeping records of works
When you come to sell your property the solicitors acting on behalf of your purchasers will probably ask for evidence that any double glazing has been replaced since April 2002 complies with the buildings regulations.
The best way to make sure you have a record of this is to obtain one of the following: A certificate showing that the work has been done by a FENSA registered installer (or that the installer had membership of a similar body). A certificate from the Local Authority Building Control stating that the installation meets current Building Regulations.
It is ultimately the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure that installation of replacement windows and doors complies with Building Regulations so before you sign a contract to buy any replacement windows check with the installer whether they are able to self-certify and if they are not, you need to apply to your Local Authority Building Control for approval under the Building Regulations. It is also the householders responsibility to make sure that any necessary planning application is made which can be a problem in listed buildings or conservation areas.
