The specification of all sealed units installed by Hazlemere Window Company Ltd in High Wycombe includes Planitherm Total+, a high very high quality glass coating that improves the performance of double glazed and triple glazed sealed units. As their website explains “Planitherm is a new generation of energy saving window glass and the most energy efficient available. Its advanced coating technology reflects radiated heat back into the room, rather than allowing it to escape through the windows. At the same time, Planitherm allows free heat and light from the sun to pass through the glass.”

The result of this technology is lighter, brighter, warmer and more energy efficient homes, which according to Planitherm themselves “is 3 times more efficient than single glazed units and at least 25% more efficient than most currently installed double glazing. Planitherm glass uses advanced coating technology to capture free energy from natural daylight called solar gain to help heat UK properties. The advanced coating reflects heat back into the room, meaning less energy is needed to heat any property fitted with thermally efficient glazing such as Planitherm to the desired temperature.”

“Planitherm helps fenestration system achieve their optimum energy ratings as the product combines with virtually any window frame to achieve a Window Energy Rating (WER) of C and its unique properties mean an “A” rating is easier to achieve. Planitherm maximises the amount of natural light into the home, without the haze or tint effects associated with some older double glazed windows. Planitherm helps to virtually eliminate internal condensation and reduce draughts and cold spots in and around windows.”

It is not just the glass that makes a double glazed or triple glazed window or door energy efficient, it is the quality of the energy rated window system, warm edge spacer bar, gaskets and standard of installation. The important thing for UK property owners is to get the best possible combination of system, glazing and fitting, as this is what really helps home owners save energy and therefore reduce heating bills.

The Energy Bill will allow householders to pay for environmentally-friendly improvements to their homes, such as double-glazing and loft insulation, from the savings they make by using less gas and electricity under a new Green Deal.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has described the scheme as “the first of its kind anywhere in the world” and has said it would insure against future energy price rises while at the same time helping the poorest families save money on their bills and escape fuel poverty.

The Bill, which has cross-party support, was passed by the Lords in March and peers accepted without votes a series of amendments introduced in the Commons.”

In a web based article on femalefirst.co.uk published on 9th June 2011 entitled “Green Improvements Will Future Proof Homes” it explains that the energy saving website thinkinsulation.com “hopes that making ‘green’ improvements to households now will not only help home owners avoid increased fuel bills due to the energy price hikes, but also avoid a possible clamp down on inefficient homes in the future, as a result of the increased accountability that will be created as a result of the Government’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions to 50% of 1990 levels.”

The article goes on to state that “The UK’s housing stock is responsible for a quarter of the nation’s total carbon emissions. As one of the biggest sources of carbon pollution our homes will need significant energy efficiency improvements if this ambitious target is to be achieved.”

“Although green home improvements may seem daunting and cost-prohibitive, homeowners need only take small steps to dramatically improve the energy efficiency rating of their property and secure huge savings on their energy bills.These include a range of simple solutions from switching to energy saving light bulbs, installing loft insulation or fitting double glazing.”

To maximise return on your green investment thinkinsulation.com recommends taking the following simple measures.

1. Insulate your loft: About 25% of heat in an un-insulated house escapes through the roof. Loft insulation is cheap to buy and easy to install and the job can be completed yourself in a day. It has financial benefits too because insulating your loft can save you around £145 a year on your energy bills. Opt for loft insulation with strong eco credentials and great thermal performance.

2. Insulate your walls: Cavity wall insulation – If your house was built after the 1920s it is likely to have cavity walls. If these aren’t insulated, you can arrange for a professional to complete the work in a day. Cavity wall insulation pays for itself in around two years, and it will typically save around 15 per cent – or £118 a year – on your home’s fuel bills.

A specialist should always be sought to complete this type of work – ensure that you choose an installer that is Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) qualified. Don’t forget to ask for home assessment to assess suitability of your property before any work begins.

Solid wall insulation – Older houses built before 1920 often have solid walls and are more expensive to insulate, but also cost more to heat. Around seven million solid wall properties in the UK are un-insulated but with potential fuel bill savings solid wall insulation is definitely worth considering.

If your external walls need work anyway, then it could be an ideal time to have external wall insulation fitted. Alternatively, if your home is soon to be undergoing interior refurbishment then internal wall insulation may be more suitable.

3. Fit double glazing: Old single glazed windows can often be a major source of heat loss. Double glazed windows will not only keep the heat in but they will reduce noise, improving your level of comfort. Make sure the windows you choose carry a BFRC label which indicates a good energy efficiency rating.

4. Draught proof gaps: If you have poorly sealed windows and doors you may be losing a significant amount of heat through the gaps. Draught proofing is a simple and inexpensive DIY measure and by keeping warm air indoors you’ll need less energy to heat your home and can save money on your fuel bills.
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The technology used to design modern replacement windows and doors has tackled the key issues that have a major impact on how effective your windows and doors are at keeping your property warm. The main consideration has been to reduce the heat that is lost through poorly insulated windows and doors.

Discerning homeowners appreciate that despite the fact that the new Building Regulations legally require both property owners and installers to fit thermally efficient products, there remains a variance in the quality of windows and doors available in the UK today. Recent technological advances now mean that the latest “A” rated fenestration products far out perform the majority of double glazed windows already installed, good news for reducing carbon emissions, the environment and household running costs.

Each part of a window or door contributes to its overall insulation. From the quality and design of the seals; to the thermal performance of the frames and to the type of double glazed unit used. Windows and doors with the largest expanse of glass will naturally allow more light into a home and therefore these rooms can benefit from ‘solar gain’. Heat gained in this way reduces your reliance on central heating to warm your home.

By choosing the best performing windows and doors you can help make a real difference eco-wise, whilst saving on running costs for years to come. So how does one recognise the best performing double glazing systems? Well, under the guise of the British Fenestration Rating Council, the Government introduced ‘Window Energy Ratings’ (WER’s) to make it easier for homeowners to identify the most energy-efficient windows.

In the same way that fridges, freezers, washing machines and other household appliances carry the widely recognised energy efficiency labels, the windows you buy for your home must now be labelled to prove that they will comply with the new higher energy efficiency set out in the Building Regulations that came into effect on 1st October 2010.

Energy Rated UPVC Replacement Windows

A window energy rating of ‘C’ or a maximum combined U-Value of 1.6 W/m2K is now the new minimum legal standard for replacement windows. U-value is a measure of thermal efficiency, where the lower the figure, the greater the level of efficiency. Some double glazing suppliers may say their product achieves a centre-pane U-Value of 1.2 W/m2K. However, don’t be duped, as it is the overall combined U-Value of the window frame material, internal spacer bars, gaskets and double glazed sealed units that matters.

Frankly most UK made sealed units without any frame can achieve a 1.2 W/m2K centre pane U-Value, so for the most thermally efficient products ensure you ask to see the energy rated certificate for the particular combination of glass, frames and components you are being offered to check they have been independently verified as collectively achieving the thermal efficiency required by law.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, double glazing cuts heat lost through windows by half and installing Energy Saving Recommended double glazing can save around £110 a year on your heating bills. Double glazing can save a household around 720kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year.

Concern over the environment is making homeowners far more aware than ever of the value of energy efficient windows. Consequently independent double glazing manufacturers Hazlemere Windows only fabricates, supplies and installs products with the highest possible energy ratings, plus offers an “A” rated aluminium replacement window recommended and approved by the Energy Saving Trust.

WER’s and low U-Values are the clearest indication of how well a window system performs in terms of insulation. Quite simply, the higher the rating, the more energy efficient the window is so the greater the thermal performance the more energy saved, saving you money on your heating bills too.

Modern double glazing can assist the environment, particularly if the external glass pane is specified as self-cleaning glass. Most contemporary self cleaning products feature a dual action that harnesses the forces of nature to keep the glass free from organic dirt, providing a surface that requires less cleaning, whilst also at the same time delivering clearer, better-looking glass. Designed to last for the life-time of your windows, doors, conservatory or orangery, self-cleaning glass is an excellent long term investment, as over a period it will save time and money, plus from the cleaning standpoint it is far safer than ordinary glass, particularly for hard to reach roof lantern light windows, conservatory or orangery roofs.

It isn’t always easy to understand what we can do to reduce our ‘carbon footprint’, however as members of the Energy Saving Trust Hazlemere Windows want to ‘do our bit’. We are pragmatic enough to realise that we cannot change the world, but we do believe that how we operate our business can make a significant difference over time.

We are focused on recycling as much of the waste that we as a business generate and are always looking for more ways to reduce the impact our business has on the environment. The windows and doors we remove from our customers’ homes are broken down into recyclable and non-recyclable materials, so that we effectively reduce what we send to landfill; wherever possible we print on recycled paper; we collect all of our cardboard waste and return it for recycling; to save paper we ensure that most of our brochures are available to view on-line; we source many of our materials from UK manufacturers to keep transportation to a minimum and, perhaps most importantly, we offer our customers genuinely eco-friendly windows and doors.

As well as offering superb thermal performance, Hazlemere aluminium eco-friendly windows and doors are infinitely recyclable. According to ALFED (Aluminium Federation), up to 98% of the aluminium in a building can be reclaimed for recycling at the end of its life.

Around 60% of the world’s primary aluminium is smelted using power generated from hydro-electric plants, which is in turn a natural and renewable energy source. This power does not produce harmful emissions but nonetheless the industry has further driven the use of aluminium obtained from ‘secondary’ or recycled material which requires just 5% of the original energy used during primary production.

We have found the Energy Saving Trust website to be an invaluable source of information for homeowners wishing to reduce the impact their activities make on the environment. You can visit them online at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

To find out more about environmentally friendly windows and doors from experienced experts freephone 0500 011561 or see them on display at Hazlemere’s 8,000 square feet home improvement showroom in High Wycombe.
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Invest in Energy Efficient Energy Rated Replacement Double Glazed Windows

For the technical minded, as an example of the quality of UPVC windows available nowadays, here’s a list of reasons why the energy rated UPVC windows supplied and fitted by Hazlemere Windows genuinely stand out from the crowd, both energy efficiency, and therefore energy saving wise and security wise too:

* All windows are internally glazed so that glass cannot be removed from the outside

* Impact resistant 70mm UPVC frame with 3mm external wall

* The multi-chamber profile delivers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation

* Fabricated with an integral drainage channel

* All outward opening windows incorporate a secure night vent facility

* Multi-point security hardware and locking handles fitted as standard

* Corners and crucifix joints are mitred and heat welded for a complete weatherseal

* Tough, stainless steel-coated friction stay hinges for durability

By installing Hazlemere Windows latest energy saving ‘A’ rated UPVC windows you will improve the overall energy efficiency performance of your home which will not only reduce your heating bills and carbon emissions but it could improve the value of your property and speed up any future sale, should you ever decide to move house
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On demonstration display is the latest technologically advanced thermally efficient energy saving double glazed windows and doors, along with contemporary and traditional conservatories and orangeries. Hazlemere’s experienced consultants will be on hand to offer free expert help and advice about the energy saving benefits of todays latest energy efficient modern materials and the ranges of double glazing home improvement products on offer.

Latest Energy Saving Energy Rated Windows, Doors, Conservatories & Orangeries

Just as if anyone comes along to the Showroom any time (it is open seven days a week), Hazlemere offer any home owner the opportunity to bring along their own sizes for windows, doors, conservatories, orangeries, porches and secondary glazing. By attending this launch event at Hazlemere’s home improvements showroom, Hazlemere’s expert consultants can provide customers with an “on the spot” no obligation estimate based on their measurements of their property’s exact requirements. To help customers do this Hazlemere offer a Quick Window Estimator to assist customer take decent enough measurements in order that the estimates provided will be as accurate as possible without viewing the property.

This free customer service by Hazlemere’s experienced professionals enables property owners to budget, plan and prioritize their current and future home improvement needs. So to benefit from Hazlemere’s genuine launch special open weekend offers, either go along or request a free home visit to carry out no obligation survey, consultation, and if required ask for a written no obligation quotation to consider in one’s own time.

Hazlemere Windows new 8,000 square foot High Wycombe home improvement showroom is on Wellington Road, High Wycombe HP12 3PR. The extensive display area has on show the latest energy saving aluminium and UPVC windows, doors, conservatories, orangeries, as well as secondary glazing, composite front doors, stable doors, aluminium and UPVC patio sliding doors, French doors and bi-folding and sliding doors.

Alternatively, you can freephone 08000 825825 or email enquiries@hazlemere.co.uk to book a free home improvements consultation with one of Hazlemere’s experienced window, door, conservatory, orangery, porch or home improvement experts in the comfort of your home, or at our showroom at a date and time totally convenient to you. Hazlemere Windows Showroom is open seven days a week, and there is always an expert on hand to advise on what the best products would be for your particular property.
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Taking a Masters Degree in Sustainable Architecture - Ms Hawton-Mead of Brighton

The article stated that Ms Hawton-Mead bought the property in 1999 in a pretty poor state without central heating. Like most of us put in a new kitchen and a new bathroom, and then went back to her usual way of life. Ruth Bloomfield in her article goes on to explain that “over the years that followed Hawton-Mead’s interest in sustainability began to grow. She already had a background in building renovation and design, and decided to take a masters degree in sustainable architecture. She now works as a sustainability consultant offering advice to individuals and businesses, and last year decided it was time to practise what she preached.She had already adjusted her lifestyle and between 2008 and 2009 reduced the house’s annual carbon emissions from 2.5 tons a year to 2 tons a year by simple measures such as keeping the heating down, switching off lights vigilantly, and taking showers not baths.”It was a moral stand, I suppose,” she says. “I am not a wasteful person by nature.”

Then, over four months last year, she stepped things up. Double glazing, internal wall insulation, roof insulation, under-floor insulation and solar PV panels were installed at the house, which was also rigorously draught-proofed.

The project has reduced her carbon emissions to a projected 0.7 tons a year – an impressive 72 per cent reduction on where she started. She is also confident that her solar panels will free her from future electricity bills – and she hopes to turn a modest profit by selling power back into the grid. Gas bills will be significantly reduced thanks to the insulation work. However the cost of this work came to around £38,000 and will take, she calculates, around 50 years to pay for itself.

“I have not done it for that reason,” she says. “I want my home to be comfortable and I want lower carbon emissions because I don’t what to have a big environmental impact on the planet and I want to be an example of what can be done.”

Whilst £38,000 may seem an awful lot of investment to fork out, one has to remember that the property had no central heating, no replacement double glazing and musty old carpets, so would have be susceptible to rising damp and constant deterioration had Ms Hawton-Mead not spent the money. My guess is that even if she sold her home now, she’d more than get her money back as whoever bought it would know they would have very small energy bills going forward.
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Today’s energy rated UPVC windows are specially constructed so that the glass and frames trap as much heat as possible so that homes stay insulated at all times. Modern glass, in say “A” rated UPVC windows, will transfer heat and energy created from the sun into your living space so that you will need to rely less often on your heating system, which in turn helps people save energy. The price of UK property owners energy bills will also decrease as a result of installing such highly efficient energy saving products, especially if done in conjunction with loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

Energy Saving UPVC Replacement Windows Come in a Range of Attractive Finishes

Properties will never be more secure as they are once they have modern double glazed windows, conservatories or French doors installed. Today’s compliant double glazed windows come fitted with an extremely tough locking system designed to prevent anyone from breaking in. Once locked, it is incredibly hard for someone to gain access to one’s home as the UPVC window is also internally glazed so that the glass cannot be removed from the outside.

The sad truth though, if someone wants to get into a property, they can, whatever windows and doors you fit, as they can of course just break both panes of glass, but climbing through two panes of broken glass is not something fancied by any would be burglar! Prevention is better than cure, so the more secure windows and doors your property has, the better home security you will have.

The best thing about today’s replacement windows (assuming your installer does fit legal ones that conform to the current Building Regulations?) is that property owners won’t have to think about doing it again for the foreseeable future as the lifespan of a contemporary window is now quite phenomenal.

Hazlemere Windows have over 25 years experience offering the latest energy saving UPVC Windows, plus also manufacture and install “A” rated aluminium windows in a range of profiles and colour options. The entire range of UPVC and aluminium energy saving products are on display in their new 8,000 square foot showroom in High Wycombe, which is open seven days a week. There is always an experienced home improvement consultant on hand, should home owners want free expert help and advice, or indeed a free estimate based on their own sizes. When popping along, take photos of each elevation of the property, as this will enable Hazlemere’s consultation to provide the best possible advice based on each property’s actual requirements.
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Hazlemere A Rated Aluminium Triple Glazing

To start with, at present double glazing costs less too install than triple glazing as a) it is less expensive to manufacture and b) it contains less materials i.e. particularly glass. Also “A” rated double glazed windows are highly thermally efficient, otherwise they would not have achieved the highest possible energy rating, so are not vastly inferior to triple glazing.

However, despite the fact that triple glazing is more costly to buy, it offers two benefits that double glazing cannot better (dependent on what specification you opt for naturally). Firstly, modern triple glazing can attain a slightly better U value than double glazing, plus obviously provides improved sound proofing. However, whatever any triple glazing salesman might say these “advantages” are not massive, and although triple glazing is more thermally efficient than double glazing (and therefore reduces heating bills by the greatest margin), it is also more costly to replace a triple glazed sealed unit than a double glazed one, and is heavier and therefore puts more wear on each windows hinges.

Nowadays, if you are looking to buy energy-efficient double glazed windows you can quickly and easily compare the ability of different windows to keep in the heat in their homes, by checking each window systems ‘U’ rating. U’ ratings are used in all kinds of building components. They measure how effective say a window is for retaining heat.

UK law stipulates that all replacement windows must meet minimum standards for energy efficiency. The factors that determine this is the efficiency of the glass in the window itself, the sealed units which encase them, and the combination of these with the timber, aluminium, composite or UPVC window frame.

The lower the ‘U’ rating, the more efficient the window, and therefore the lower the consequent heat loss. In some cases, having a double-glazed window containing glass with a low ‘U’ rating installed will be at least as good as opting for a window fitted with triple glazing.

The bottom line is that if you want to do your bit to “save the planet”, the most environmentally friendly super thermally efficient windows, that reduce noise the most (and you don’t mind forking out the extra cost), is triple glazing. You just need to know that your initial outlay will be greater and that maintenance will potentially be greater, although your heating bills will be marginally less over the long term.

If you are happy getting “A” rated UPVC or aluminium double glazed windows that perform pretty jolly well, then there is no need to stump up the extra cash for triple glazing, which obviously have deeper frames to be able to accommodate the three panes of glass, so aesthetically double glazing is also thinner to look at. So in answer to the question: “Should one buy replacement double or triple glazing?” the answer is either, its all about the initial investment and personal choice.
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Good sound proofing is achieved where there is a decent sized gap between the existing windows and secondary glazing. It is a combination of glass type, as well as the size of the gap that will deliver the best results in terms of sound reduction. Likewise with replacement double glazing, the wider the gap between the two panes of glass (i.e. say a 20mm gap), the better the sound proofing, although for optimal thermal performance, opt for a 16mm gap between the two panes of glass, specifying one of them with thicker laminated glass. Consequently it is best to use a different thickness of glass in secondary glazing than in existing windows if noise pollution an issue, plus adding acoustic tiles in the air gap will help you achieve maximum sound insulation.

2) Reduce Heat Loss And Energy Bills
Windows can account for up to 30% of the heat lost from a property. It is now a given we all need to reduce energy consumption in buildings. Single glazed windows are poor insulators and heat loss is exacerbated if the window does not have effective seals. With heating costs rising all the time, the sooner secondary glazing is installed, the sooner one benefits. When it comes to saving energy, windows and lofts are the prime areas in which heat loss can easily and cost effectively be prevented. Energy Performance Certificates determine a building’s Energy Rating and your property’s thermal efficiency is a significant factor in the valuation of your property.

Secondary glazing can reduce heat lost via windows by up to 50%. You can specify ordinary Float or Toughened glass, or for even better thermal performance specify – Pilkington ‘K’ low E glass. By adding the extra pane of glass in addition to your existing windows – heat loss is dramatically reduced. Double glazed secondary glazing units provide the best thermal insulation, but whilst more efficient, obviously cost a lot more to have it fitted, as have thicker frames and twice as much glass.

3) Draft Proofing Windows
Old single glazed windows provide insufficient insulation, poor and sometimes ineffective seals and may not even close properly (due to swelling of old wooden frames). Related problems in old windows and/or badly fitted new windows can lead to cold draughts that are hazardous to your health and damaging to your pocket (high energy bills). Standard draft proofing bought from a DIY shop are not 100% effective. For listed properties, conservation areas or rented accommodation where you cannot afford or are not permitted to replace the old windows, having secondary glazing in stalled is often the most ideal solution possible. Most secondary glazing systems have twin brush seals ensuring a highly effective quality seal. Secondary glazing will help prevent the draft from primary windows entering your property.

4) Listed Buildings
Listed properties or those in conservation areas can sometimes have the original old single glazed windows, which provide very poor sound and heat insulation. Listed Building Consent is usually required to make any changes to the property, or amazingly even if you wish to make improvements to your Listed Building, as normally UK property owners are normally be permitted to replace any existing windows and doors unless like for like. However fitting secondary glazing on the inside of your windows is a popular and cost effective solution for Listed Buildings homeowners, especially since it is recommended by both the Heritage Foundation and the Listed Property Owners Club. This is because having secondary glazing fitted is considered a reversible alteration that is unobtrusive to your windows and will conserve the exterior character of any period property.

Secondary glazing is available in styles to “match” existing windows for aesthetics, ease of opening and closing the external primary windows. UK homeowners can choose between single and double glazing horizontal/vertical secondary glazing, plus single glazed side hung, top hung, fixed lift in and lift out secondary glazing. White is a standard finish, although aluminium secondary glazing frames are available in any RAL colour to match in with existing decoration.
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