When we switch on our heating, none of us want to be warming the streets outside. However, even with your windows shut tight, they could be opening you up to heat loss.
Windows are one of the main channels for heat escaping from your home. But by replacing older glazing with more energy-efficient windows it is possible to limit the loss.
Switching single glazed windows for A rated double glazed units in a detached house could save a householder up to £175 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust and as much as £105 a year in a mid-terrace.
Compare this to a replacement with lower C rated windows, and the saving will be up to £150 and £90 respectively, although costs and savings will differ for each home.
When choosing your windows, the most energy-efficient glass for double glazing is low emissivity (Low-E) glass. Very efficient windows might use gases such as argon, xenon or krypton in the gap between the sheets of glass and pane spacers containing little or no metal – often known as ‘warm edge’ spacers – offer maximum efficiency.
Look out for the energy efficiency rating of windows. Some manufacturers display the energy efficiency of their products using an energy rating scheme from A to G – like the one used for appliances such as fridges.
Even an uninsulated cavity wall is more effective at preventing heat loss than the best glazing.
Conservatories are not thermally efficient and should not be heated. However, provided they are never heated, and the doors between the conservatory and the heated house are kept shut in cold weather, they can reduce heat loss by acting as an extra insulating layer outside your house. Installing a sealed sliding door and sealed blinds or heavy, lined curtains to separate the conservatory more effectively from the rest of your house can further improve the energy efficiency. Double glazing, blinds, heavy curtains and shutters can all reduce the amount of heat escaping from your home.
Draught-proofing is another cheap and effective way to save energy – and money. Good ventilation helps reduce condensation and damp, but draughts are uncontrolled, letting too much cold air in and too much warm air out.
Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you on average of £10 to £50 a year. Choose draught-proofing with the Kitemark – this shows that the product is made to a good standard.
But remember air needs to flow in and out of your home, so make sure you do not block or seal any intentional ventilation such as extractor fans, under-floor grilles or airbricks, wall vents and trickle vents.
