Keeping the temperature indoors comfortable all year round comes down to just one vital point, says an industry expert. He shares his tips for energy efficient homes in Suffolk.
Experiencing the frustration of your home being too hot in summer and too cold in winter? The answer may be to make it more energy efficient.
While it might sound like a vague term, energy efficiency is key to keeping your home at a comfortable temperature all year round.
It means cutting down on the amount of energy used and while it will probably involve an initial investment it should result in savings later down the line.
An obvious place to start is with windows – if the glass and frames aren’t up to scratch temperatures may fluctuate.
HOW TO CHOOSE ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS
Simon Bran, Head of Sales at Waveney Windows says: “To make your windows as efficient as possible the frames and glass need to have either an A or A+ rating. Anything less and they won’t be as efficient.
“That’s really all it comes down too - a high quality rating of A rated glass is best for thermal efficiency in the home, it keeps in the heat when needed and keeps it out when it’s not.”
WHAT ARE THE BEST INSULATED WINDOWS - DOUBLE OR TRIPLE GLAZING?
When it comes to window insulation, Simon advises triple glazed windows rather than double glazing - as long as it is a 44mm unit and not 36mm. Double check as a lot of companies sell the 36mm size.
“Triple glazing is best for temperature regulation in the home and for blocking out noise,” he says.
“It has to be proper triple glazing though, that’s 4mm glass 3 times with two 16mm gaps, equalling 44mm.
“If it’s not done to those measurements it will be not be as efficient,” says Simon Bran of Waveney Windows.
WHAT ARE THE BEST INSULATED DOORS?
When it comes to doors, look for high density, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) free, with closed cell core for excellent insulation.
“A door with these qualities will be better at keeping heat in than a wooden or PVC-U infill door,” explains Simon.
“All of the doors we supply at Waveney Windows have low emissivity glass and are draught proof, meaning even further reductions in energy bills.”
HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF A TOO HOT OR TOO COLD CONSERVATORY
Conservatories are notorious for being so unbearably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter that they become redundant.
But Simon has one great tip that will make the conservatory a great place to be all year round – changing the glass roof into a solid roof.
“The majority of conservatory roofs are poly carport glass which contributes to the extreme temperatures, but we suggest the Guardian Warm Roof conversion to provide excellent conservatory roof insulation.
“It’s a solid, eight inch to a foot thick roof that is fully insulated and finished off with a metalight tile or slate.
“What you get is a high performance thermal and structural solution with zero condensation risk.”
WILL I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION?
“Building control approval will be organised by Waveney Windows but typically this shouldn’t cause a problem and it should be a smooth process.
“Issues may arise if the footings of the conservatory aren’t deep enough or the metal frames aren’t reinforced enough to take the weight of the new roof. If Waveney Windows built the conservatory, it will be suitable for a Guardian roof,” explains Simon.
A Guardian Warm Roof may be a valuable investment for those struggling to use the room because it’s too hot or too cold.
Thanks to Simon at Waveney Windows for providing help and advice for this article. The company has 41 years of experience and offers a wide range of insulated windows, doors, conservatories and much more. www.waveney-windows.co.uk
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