Roy Wakeman, CEO of the Performance Window Group, which includes the leading timber window brands of Mumford & Wood and www.timberwindows.com, identifies the true viability of upgrading property with modern, high-performance timber windows.
At a recent forum on 'Adding Value to Your Property' held at the National Self-Build Renovation Centre in Swindon, Wakeman followed the progression of the timber window from the post-war period to present day; the development of timber window production to todays high-performance standards; essential eco credentials and real-life cost savings in energy, carbon and CO2 emissions.
If proof were needed we have it here, says Wakeman. Weve based our calculations on constants such as a typical detached house with standard window openings, electrically heated at 8.3p/Kw allowing 1% inflation over a period of 10 years and we can plot savings, both financial and environmental, that a householder can achieve if he replaced a single-glazed timber, steel or aluminium window with a B energy rated double-glazed timber window. It makes good reading.
Using the GGF Calculator, it can be identified that a saving of £305 per annum can be made on household fuel bills, when replacing a single-glazed timber window with a B energy rated double-glazed timber window. This results in a total of £3,200 over 10 years and 22 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the same period.
Now this is impressive but replacing a single-glazed aluminium window has even more impact, claims Roy Wakeman. This equates to a massive annual saving of £677.00, increasing to £7,087 over 10 years; CO2 savings of almost 46 tonnes, and 12.5 tonnes of carbon.
While beautiful, natural timber, double-glazed windows have aesthetic value in the built environment, they will essentially contribute to saving the planet while keeping the pound in your pocket, states Wakeman. Investing in bricks and mortar is one of the biggest purchases most people will make in a lifetime we all want to provide a secure, comfortable and welcoming home for our families. Public landlords responsible for enhancing and upgrading the nations housing stock and commercial property owners who must provide comfortable and stylish accommodation at affordable market prices will all benefit by replacing old single-glazed windows with todays high-performance and technical window systems.
The National Self-Build and Renovation Centre is a permanent exhibition of building materials, systems and services with seminars and guest speakers. Entry is free; pre-book on www.buildstore.co.uk and visit PWG, stand 139.