With new manufacturing techniques and cutting-edge innovations in design, double and triple glazing are now more energy efficient than ever before.
But why should you consider energy efficiency when it comes to buying windows? And what should you be looking for when buying new windows?
This guide should help to give you some insight into the importance and value of energy efficient windows.
What are the benefits of energy efficient windows?
Aside from giving your home a great new look that you can be proud of, energy efficient windows offer a range of key benefits. By providing your home with better insulation, energy efficient windows can help to reduce your heating bills, while also keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
How do energy efficient windows work?
Energy efficient windows work by maximising the heat entering your home through sunlight, while reducing heat loss.
To maximise the solar warmth in your home, some windows are manufactured using a microscopic film on the inside pane of glass which reflects the heat from the sun back into your home, thereby maximising the amount of heat retained from sunlight.
Air loss is minimised through the airtight seals around the glass, while well-designed and manufactured windows sit flush against the frame, thereby eliminating the potential for draughts.
Conduction is the process whereby the warm air inside your home heats the cooler air outside. The warm air inside your home cools down as it does so. While this process cannot be eliminated completely, energy efficient windows dramatically slow the process. With double-glazing, the heat has an additional layer of material to pass through before it reaches the air outside. The air or gas between the panes is also warmed up before the air outside, trapping the heat inside your home.
Energy efficiency ratings
The British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) have introduced a rating system to allow you to see at-a-glance which windows are the most energy efficient. All windows are scored against how effective they are at:
- Maximising solar heat gain
- Reducing air loss
- Reducing thermal loss
They are then rated A-E, with A++ being the most energy efficient windows available on the market.
Benefits of energy efficient windows.
Energy efficient windows offer a wide range of benefits to you and your home. This includes:
- Lower heating bills
- A more comfortable home that is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Better soundproofing
Looking to replace your windows with more energy efficient windows? Use our online window quote tool to see how much new windows could cost, and then our team at QBD are able to supply and install new windows across Cheltenham and Gloucester.
