If your windows are old and inefficient its time to change them. Energy consumption has, for years, been one of the main reasons for improving the home and when it comes to windows you can use up to 10% of that energy especially where your windows were installed many years ago when energy consumption wasn’t such a large part of property ownership. Today, we are all very conscious about energy usage and of course saving on expenses when it comes to energy loss, having the best technology and design is key when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint.

Building efficiency targets have become much stricter and the newest technology in windows can help you to meet these targets and assist in saving you money at the same time.

The UK has a pledge to meet certain targets and the one to consider is that we aim to reduce energy loss by 60% in the next 40 years. So what do we need to do to save on energy loss which leads to increased costs? Here we have a little advice on what you can do to save money and improve your home through simply looking at the windows in your property.

Replacing Windows

Whilst we specialise in construction and building we are experts in all areas of home and property improvement. If you are planning to refurbish and remodel a property, be it a small or large home or a business property, it is more efficient to replace windows with those that have been designed with energy efficiency in mind. Newer technology means that you can effectively reduce energy loss by opting for windows that carry, at best, an A+ energy rating.

Double and triple paned windows now are manufactured using low-e (low emissivity) glass which combines argon gas or xenon gas which sits in-between the window panes which increases energy efficiency.

Triple glazed windows are much more efficient than double glazing because they are much more highly insulated. They also hugely cut down the risk of interior condensation and reduce the chance of mould.

The BFRC (British Fenestration Ratings Council) are the UK’s national system for rating energy and monitor the A+ through G rating system and you can find out everything that you need to know about how the labelling scheme works.

Turning Existing Windows into a More Efficient Part of Your Property

New technology means that low-e (low emissivity) coating on existing windows can be combined with nano-sized vacuum capsules in a polyester film. What this means is that solar radiation is repelled which in turn reduces heat gain by as much as 80% whilst helping you to save as much as 30% on energy bills, provided your home or property is well insulated elsewhere such as in walls and in the loft space.

Breath-taking technology in recent years offers the opportunity for new window film to be activated when needed – using a switchable reflective heat gain product that has been developed through a European research group. It has the ability to control the amount of heat radiation without affecting the amount of light that enters a property. It’s complex, but put simply it’s a transparent film that can be switched off in winter and on in summer as you wish.

As efficiency continues to improve, Milbarn Construction continues to follow recent developments. As we refurbish homes and update properties as well as being involved in new property construction, we consistently recommend measures that you can put into place to help reduce emissions and save on your energy costs.