Energy-efficient glass can help homeowners save up to 20 % a year on heating bills .

Here are some useful tips to help choose the right glazing to maximise the performance and energy-efficiency of a home :

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 roof lights 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 energy-efficient 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 energy-efficient .

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 double-glazing .

For more advice on the different types of energyefficient glass available and its installation , please view the Pilkington webpage : www . pilkington . co . uk / energikare