Sustainable Living and Saving with Energy-Efficient Windows And Doors
A home is intended to be your sanctuary, and the character reflected in it reveals you and pieces of what you love. You may be planning your next home improvement project, and considering that your home’s gateway, so to speak, are your windows and doors. you may want to think about whether it’s time to update them. What if you could easily make improvements, that can sustainably save you on heating costs, which in return helps to safeguard the planet?
Further Reading: 20 Simple Life Changes to Help You with Sustainable Living
The good news is that it is possible to be more energy efficient and save at the same time. According to Luxaflex® home improvements is top of the UK’s shopping list for the remainder of 2021. In Ireland and according to the Credit Union, 56% of Irish households have considered home improvements this year – with the main drivers being comfort and warmth (68%) and saving money on energy (63%).
Q&As – How energy-efficient windows or doors can be effective home improvement strategies that also help bring you savings.
What Qualifies as Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors?
Having energy-efficient windows and doors, means that your windows and doors help you secure heat within your home. And along with being more comfortable heat-wise, energy-efficient windows and doors also allow for yearly savings on your energy bills.
When you take the step to get energy-efficient windows or doors you will find that depending where you live, there are governing bodies that rate energy performance.
In Ireland SEAI is the Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland and the WEP (Window Energy Performance) Scheme is run by the NSAI (National Standards of Ireland). In the UK, the British Fenestration Rating Council runs a program that rates their energy performance. Whereas, products in America will be rated according to an Energy Star certification to ensure optimal energy performance and assist in how to choose energy-efficient windows.
The rating that you receive is based on how much heat is potentially lost in comparison to how much of the sun’s heat is retained within the home through the windowpane. It also factors in how much air can leak within the house allowing for a loss of heat that can reach up to 40 percent. They will be graded from A++ to E if you have a qualified installer who is NSAI (Ireland) or FENSA (UK) approved and has the appropriate markings on their products. You will then be eligible for a BER or BFRC certificate demonstrating that your window and door performance meets energy efficiency standards.
How do Energy-efficient Windows and Doors Help the Environment?
The materials you use have an important role in helping the environment. However, the biggest reason you contribute to sustainable development through windows and doors is the amount of heat you retain in your home.
Because you have made measures to become more energy-efficient, you begin reducing the amount of power you need to keep your house at an ideal temperature. This may also be accomplished by insulating your home through the blinds, walls, loft, or ceiling. Energy conservation decreases both greenhouse gas emissions and costs, with savings ranging from 20 to 30 percent.
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How are Energy-efficient Windows and Doors Made?
Certain materials and multilayer glass are used to create energy-efficient windows and doors. The materials utilised help to minimise airflow leakage significantly or eliminate it. Timber and aluminium are the primary materials used for this because of their propensity to transmit heat, which aids in the insulation process. The window panes are either double or triple glazed, or they are stacked as double or triple-paned layers. Making sure to ventilate makes for a clean healthy home.
Photos by Gonzalo Facello – CCO Licence
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