Make Your Home More Energy Efficient with Secondary Glazing
With winter just around the corner and catastrophic energy bills continually making headlines in the UK, now is the time to ensure your home is energy efficient. A good place to start is your windows since 18% of heat loss occurs through them. Read on to learn how secondary glazing keeps your home warmer and also lowers heating bills.
Secondary Glazing Explained
Secondary glazing is a cost-effective alternative to replacement windows. It involves fitting a slim layer of glass or plastic on the inside of your windows to supplement their performance. It provides a seal against your existing windows, trapping an insulating layer of air between the secondary glazing and your primary glass.
One benefit of secondary glazing is that it reduces heat loss and improves energy efficiency. It also controls condensation, minimises outside noise, and makes windows more secure. Secondary glazing is often used to enhance single-paned windows and is a smart choice for listed buildings where double-glazing isn’t permitted.
How do Windows Lose Heat?
Heat escapes from windows in several ways. Some heat is lost by radiation through the glass itself, while poor sealing and ill-fitting frames cause air leakage and draughts. Heat is lost twice as fast through single glazing compared to double glazing.
How Secondary Glazing Boosts Energy Efficiency
Secondary glazing helps to improve the thermal efficiency of your home by retaining heat and providing a comfortable environment – putting a stop to cold draughts breezing through your rooms. It provides an extra barrier for your existing windows.
Heat Loss Reduction with Secondary Glazing
Heat loss is measured in U-values. In a single-glazed primary window, the U-value would be something like 5.7W/m2K. With secondary glazing installed (with toughened glass and a low E coating that reflects heat), the U-value would be more like 1.87W/m2K. This represents a massive 69% decrease in heat loss through the window.
The Impact on Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is all about using less energy to produce the same result. If you can reduce heat loss through your windows, you should be able to cut back on your heating to maintain a comfortable environment – you won’t need to keep your heating on for as long (or turned up as high) to regulate temperature. Over half of the average household’s fuel bills are spent on heating and hot water, so reducing heat loss can lead to significant savings.
All the energy you use in your home causes additional carbon dioxide emissions that are detrimental to the planet. So, by making your home more energy efficient, you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint. Another nice-to-know is that because secondary glazing doesn’t actually replace your windows, there’s no waste going to landfill.
Finally, because secondary glazing boosts energy efficiency, it should also improve your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, which is important if you’re trying to sell or rent out your home.
Improve Energy Efficiency with Secondary Glazing
Windows are a key source of heat loss in the home. Secondary glazing will fix draughty windows, keeping your home warmer and helping reduce your energy bills as a result. For more information on secondary glazing, talk to us today.