JELD-WEN WINDOWS HELP RETROFIT HOME TO MAKE ENERGY SAVINGS
High performance windows from JELD-WEN UK, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber windows, have been specified for a major refurbishment of a Retrofit for the Future project by the London Borough of Harrow, working in partnership with Kier.
The 1960s four bedroom semi-detached property, which was previously void, was upgraded with Tilt & Turn softwood timber windows from JELD-WEN with a Hi-Build white factory finish, which comes with a 10 year guarantee.
Offering very strong thermal performance, these triple glazed windows achieved an overall U-value of 0.8 W/m2K, to enhance the energy efficiency of the building. The windows also met with security requirements to BS7950 and were supplied with an aluminium cill to further enhance performance and ensure low maintenance. .
Timber windows were chosen to replace the existing PVC-U windows, as JELD-WEN offered a bespoke engineered solution and the projected lifespan of the windows far exceeded that of other materials.
Jon Seeley, National Sales Manager for JELD-WEN UK, said: “This project just goes to show what performance can be achieved by timber windows. Our technical capabilities meant we were able to deliver the exact specification required on this project. In addition, the fact that our fully finished timber windows offer excellent lifetime guarantees means it is further enhancing their appeal with social housing providers. This is one of a number of Retrofit projects that we have supplied and it is very satisfying to hear how our windows are providing such an energy efficient solution.”
Bob Bolton, Contracts Manager for the maintenance team at Kier Services, said: “This has been a flagship refurbishment of a property to bring it up to the living standards of the future. With increased energy efficiency, a reduced carbon footprint and lower energy bills very important to many local authorities and their tenants, there have been many lessons learned here about what can be achieved. JELD-WEN’s windows played an important part in the upgrade of the property and we look forward to finding out what the energy savings will be in the future.”
The property, based on Tintagel Road in Harrow, underwent a complete “green” refurbishment, which included not only replacing all the windows and doors, but upgrading the cavity wall insulation and adding an insulated plasterboard to the inside of the property to further reduce energy loss. Each room then had both floor and ceiling insulation added and loft insulation was also included at the top of the house to prevent heat escaping from the roof. The property also had an energy efficiency condensing combi boiler installed with electronic thermostatic radiator valves to provide greater control.
In addition, solar thermal panels were fitted to the roof to provide a natural way to heat the household’s water, whilst a rainwater harvesting system was installed that provided water for flushing toilets and for the washing machine.
The property is now occupied by a family with five children. In the first quarter since the refurbishment, the family has reported major savings on their electricity bills – a recent quarterly bill for the summer period was just £31. The property’s future energy savings will be closely monitored on behalf of the London Borough of Harrow by external consultancy called BSRIA, as part of gathering further information on energy usage and carbon reduction for the benefit of all its properties.
This ‘Retrofit for the Future’ project was funded by the UK Technology Strategy Board. It is part of a UK-wide scheme that monitors a wide range of projects to find the most practical and affordable ways of transforming older homes with a high level of heat loss into energy efficient properties. Following refurbishment, energy usage and carbon emissions will be analysed and the results used to help achieve the country’s zero carbon goal for 2016 and beyond. The project was carried out within a tight budget, covering the whole conversion, including not only the windows and doorsets, but also the building fabric, insulation, heating systems and more, all of which were part of demonstrating how upgrading the energy efficiency of a property could be completed successfully with limited funding.
As the only truly renewable material for windows, JELD-WEN’s timber windows supplied to these developments had full Chain of Custody certification, which means they originate from well managed forests with strict reforestation programmes.
For more information on energy efficient windows, contact JELD-WEN on 0845 122 2890, or visit the website www.jeld-wen.co.uk
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