Outdoor Living
Top tips for choosing energy-efficient glass
Energy-efficient glass can help homeowners save up to 20 % a year on heating bills . With the range of options available now bigger than ever , there really is no excuse for homeowners to be spending more than necessary on household bills .
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PHIL BROWN , EUROPEAN regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited , part of the NSG Group , offers his top tips for choosing the right energy-efficient glass to help save money and reduce impact on the environment . These tips can help installers go above and beyond for their customers .
1 . Don ’ t delay . Upgrading windows can be one of the most effective ways of saving energy . A recent National Energy Foundation report indicated that 8.7 % of the overall energy used in UK homes can be saved if energy-efficient glass is installed .
2 . Selection is key . Ordinary clear , uncoated float glass has an emissivity of around 0.9 , meaning it ’ s a poor insulator . However , a glass with a low-emissivity ( low-e ) coating such as Pilkington K Glass™ S , which has an emissivity of 0.05 , offers excellent thermal insulation .
3 . Don ’ t forget location . Windows , doors , conservatories and rooflights can all benefit from the use of energy-efficient glazing to help bring bills down .
4 . Mix and match . To ensure your customer gets the most from a product , incorporate different glass into an insulating glazing unit ( IGU ). Pilkington K Glass™ S can be combined with other glazing products to bring optimum light , solar and noise performance .
5 . Do your maths . Use the GGF Energy Savings Calculator to determine how much could be saved with energyefficient glass , before buying .
6 . Choose a rating . When specifying your product , keep an eye out for its Window Energy Rating ( WER ) to determine how energy-efficient it is . Intended for replacement domestic windows , the rating system is based on a scale of G to A ++, with A ++ being the most energyefficient .
7 . Don ’ t overlook the importance of proper installation . Energy-efficient glass will be compromised if it isn ’ t installed correctly . We recommend using a company which is a member of the Glass and Glazing Federation ( GGF ).
8 . Know your terms . Thermal insulation of an IGU is quantified by its U-value . The lower its U-value , the less heat will be lost through the IGU during the winter . With U-values as low as 0.9 W / m2K , ‘ smart ’ double-glazing can offer triple-glazing performance .
9 . It ’ s not all about thermal insulation . For some applications , notably conservatory roofs , energy-efficiency also means reducing solar gains in the summer . The ‘ g ’ value describes the solar control performance of a panel – the lower this value , the more the sun ’ s heat will be rejected .
10 . The potential for improvement is huge . 86 % of glazed areas in Europe ’ s buildings are considered inefficient , mostly because of using single , or outdated doubleglazing .
For more advice on the different types of energy-efficient glass available and its installation , please view the Pilkington webpage : www . pilkington . co . uk / energikare .
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