Your windows, when not efficient, are a major heat loss surface in your home, with up to 30% of the overall heat loss occurring because of it. This is why it is crucial for homeowners to find ways to insulate their windows to raise their home’s energy efficiency and allow their homes to be warmer while reducing their bills and carbon footprint. This blog will explore the different ways in which you can help make your windows more energy efficient to help guide you to the best solution that is suitable for you and your home.
The installation of the new upgrades must be carried out by professionals, so it is not advised that you try to install any glazing by yourself if you are replacing the whole window. The Home Energy Guide team has helped thousands of homeowners upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes, and you can be next. We have worked with different contractors and ECO4 energy grant companies to help bring change to people’s lives, making it warmer and more comfortable. Contact us here to learn more.
More Energy Efficient Window: Upgrading the Frame
Window frames can be made from materials that are inefficient at stopping heat loss. Having composite frames or uPVC frames can be a better option than the traditional wood. Alternatively, you can buy cheap sealants like foam or felt stripping that would allow you to seal any areas with potential leaks. Upgrading the window frames is a better option as it requires less maintenance and is usually more environmentally friendly, being made from recyclable material. It is useful to have regular checkups from professionals to assess if there is heat loss from the window frame. You can also buy a thermal leak detector for the job yourself, a device that allows you to know if there are any cold spots and therefore leaks from your window.
A More Energy Efficient Window Through Low Emissivity (low-e) Coating
Low-e coating is designed to help protect your home while minimizing heat loss. It is a very thin layer that is used to coat glass windows, increasing their insulation and reducing harmful rays that are emitted from the sun, which is another positive impact this coating has. When installing a low-e coating, the UK is popular for the passive low-e because it is designed to increase the amount of heat taken from the sun, allowing you to reduce your dependency on your home’s heating system. The coating gives protection from ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light can make your paintings and other vulnerable furniture and fabric fade.
Double and Triple Glazed Windows
Double glazing is widely used across the UK to keep homes warm, having increased in popularity since the 1980’s for their ability to increase home’s energy efficiency. Many new homes have double glazing with a good standard, above B, because it was part of the new regulations. If your home was built before 2002, then it might be worth checking the efficiency of your double-glazed windows and investing in better ones. Triple glazing is an extra layer of glass and gas-insulated space. This makes for a noticeable change when it comes to how warm your home stays, which allows you to use the heating system less and helps you reduce your bills during these hard times. The overall energy efficiency of your home is increased, bringing its value up. The difference in pricing between double glazing and triple glazing is not big, making triple glazing a worthy investment. With prices starting at around £600 per window, triple glazing can help reduce bills by more than £700 a year while at the same time they reducing your carbon footprint and help you take positive steps towards a sustainable future.
Window Coverings
Window coverings are one of the easiest ways to ensure that you have an extra layer of insulation to help protect your home from too much heat or heat loss. They are easy to install and are readily available in many places in good quality and different sizes. They can be made of materials such as fabric and vinyl, with the most efficient being made from pleated materials. The pleated window coverings are called the insulated cellular shades, and they are the best at insulating because they have air pockets.
Argon Windows
Argon gas is used to fill up the window panes, as it does not conduct heat as well as air. This means that less heat will be lost because they will not allow it to travel outside your home as easily, with the opposite being true, allowing you to also enjoy cooler summers. This insulation acts as a long-term solution, with argon gas being able to effectively insulate windows up to 20 years, as long as there are no breaks or leaks during that time. Filling your window panes has to be done by a professional, as the process is done by drilling two small holes and then sealing them up after filling in the argon and releasing the air from the other hole. The process is not expensive and can be performed on almost any window, which makes it a practical solution.
Thermally Broken Windows
Many window frames are made from aluminum because of its availability and the fact that it has a good design that many desire for their homes. Aluminum, when left with no insulation, can pose a big problem for homes because they are good conductors and will allow heat to be lost easily. This is why thermally broken windows are the answer if you have aluminum windows. Thermally broken windows are when you insulate the aluminum by inserting a non-conductive material, usually plastic, into it. This solution is a great answer for those looking to further insulate their homes, as it can help make your home more durable against the cold and will further bring your bills down, especially if done alongside other insulation methods like double glazing and wall insulation.
