Save money by double glazing your windows

Did you know that 20% of your homes heat is lost through the windows and doors? Double glazing can cut heat loss by half, saving you money on fuel bills and reducing your carbon footprint.

Double glazing can save you up to
£135 a year on your fuel bills

A sure-fire way to save money on your fuel bills and reduce your carbon footprint is to double glaze your windows. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates that if everyone who needed it had their windows double glazed, we could collectively save £700 million in fuel bills and the equivalent of around 740,000 households CO2 emissions. Tom Rawcliffe, from Dee Windows in Chester says: “Double glazing is good because it saves you money on your energy bills, provides security and makes your home more attractive to potential buyers.”

What is double glazing?

Window frames contain two panes of glass, with an air filled cavity between them which acts as a natural thermal barrier. Double glazing therefore improves the U-Value of your windows, which measures the rate at which heat is lost through them. The cavity between panes can also be filled with a gas such as argon, which is even more insulating. Sometimes the glass is coated to further prevent heat loss and increase durability.

What are the benefits of double glazing?

Installing double glazing can save you money on fuel bills and could increase the saleability and value of your home. According to the EST, glazing can save you up to £135 a year on your heating bills; it can also cut your home’s carbon emissions by around 720kg a year, significantly helping the environment.

Glazing will improve the comfort in your home keeping it warm, cosy and draught free. Window installer Tom says: “This year I have had a lot of customers getting double glazing because they can’t afford to move and want to increase comfort in their home.”

You might want to consider secondary
or triple glazing for your windows

Double glazing is also a good way to increase your home’s security; an extra pane of glass not only makes it more difficult for an intruder to break in but acts as an instant deterrent, providing you with peace of mind. Glazing also provides sound proofing, noticeably reducing noise pollution, especially if you live near a main road.

Many un-glazed homes suffer from damp caused by condensation. This occurs when warm, wet air meets the cold surface of the window and turns to water. Glazing helps prevent this by keeping the inside pane of glass at a similar temperature to the room.

Secondary glazing

Secondary glazing is an ideal solution for homes where double glazing has been refused planning permission – such as in listed buildings. This involves adding an extra pane of glass to an inside window frame. This is a less costly option but also less effective, saving only around £65 a year on fuel bills and half a tonne of CO².

Triple Glazing

Triple Glazing adds a third panel of glass to the window frame, creating two insulating air barriers between the outside and inside of your home. Triple glazing reduces heat loss by a third more than double glazing does and is ideal for homes in extremely cold places - the practice originated in Scandinavia and Canada. As you might expect, triple glazing is more expensive than double glazing by around 20% - 40%.

Building regulations for windows

As part of the government’s plans to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, building regulations state that all new windows must meet specific thermal standards. The easiest way to make sure you meet these regulations when installing double glazing is to hire a FENSA recognised installer. They will issue you with a certificate confirming that the glazing has been carried out in accordance with regulations and will inform your local authority of this.

Graham Dear, from Addlestone Windows and Conservatories in Surrey explains: “It’s important to be FENSA registered because your work is checked and inspected to make sure you abide by building regulations.” If however, you are carrying out glazing on a new build, conservatory, porch or commercial property, you will need to go through your local building authority process.

How much does double glazing cost?

You can check with your local authority to see if any grants for double glazing are available in your area. Prices for double glazing will vary, depending on how many and what type of windows you need glazed. A rough guide is to allow between £300 - £400 per window, but you should consult at least three double glazing professionals for quotes.

AB