Archive for April, 2010
In a recent interview, an interior designer has claimed that there is a need to think about the wide effects of housing design.
Oliver Heath (author of Urban Eco Chic), in an interview with the Scotsman, spoke about a quote coming from architect Eliel Saarinen encouraging designers to think about their work in a larger context, an example being ‘a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan’.
Heath took this advice and talked about the way it applies to modern design. He said that ‘urban eco chic is about creating a balance between style and function, with a conscious effort to reduce one’s environmental impact’.
He added that it is a ‘thoughtful style’ that thinks about the wider impact that a design will have on the environment where it is built. It looks good but also, importantly, is ‘inherently green’.
Such thoughts may help to encourage more take up of green technologies in the home, including eco friendly uPVC double glazing in windows and doors, as well as insulation, and renewable energy technology.
The government recently introduced their Code for Sustainable Homes to help reduce the environmental impact that properties will have.
The hope is that by following all the guidelines now in place, only zero carbon homes will be being built by the year 2016.
When it comes to choosing double glazing for your home, there are many things to consider. However, one of the most important is the way in which double glazing is going to change the way in which your home looks.
For most properties, double glazing can make your home look smarter and sleeker. Because of this, it can even increase the value of your property when it comes time to sell. However, to make it as valuable as possible you need to be careful to choose the most appropriate style available.
For older properties especially, it can be more difficult to find double glazing that does not take away from the character of the building. However, the good news is that there are now more styles of double glazing available than ever before – it just takes a little while to choose the best option.
One of the best ways to make your decision is simply to take a look around at properties that are similar to yours, comparing the effect that double glazing has on the way they look.
In general you should think about:
- The material you want for the frame (uPVC, aluminium etc),
- The colour you want the frame to be,
- How many openings your window will have.
A good double glazing company will help to make your decision a little easier – they will have experience installing windows and doors in all kinds of properties so make sure to ask if you have any problems at all.
The Liberal Democrats have recently voiced their election manifesto for 2010 – much of which is targeted at the issue of climate change.
The aim is to cut down on carbon emissions in the UK by 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2020, and to ensure that Britain as a whole is carbon neutral by 2050.
A number of measures have been suggested to help achieve this aim, including a ten year programme to make sure homes are well insulated. They have also spoken about plans that will give homeowners cash back when they take measures to become more eco friendly. This extends to all kinds of green measures such as double glazing in windows, or replacing inefficient boilers.
They also have other targets in mind, including 40 percent of all the electricity in the UK coming from clean energy sources by 2020 – which will increase to 100 percent by 2050.
The Liberal Democrats also propose blocking any coal-fired power stations unless they include certain required technology. No new nuclear power stations will be allowed.
They are planning to invest as much as £400 million into the refurbishment of shipyards around the north of the England, to turn them into the place of manufacture for offshore wind turbines, to further boost Britain’s green credentials.
The launch of the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto is the last in the line of the three main parties, with the others being unveiled earlier in the week.
It has recently been announced that all of the council homes in Southend will be given extra insulation in their walls as well as double glazing in windows, resulting in cheaper energy bills and warmer homes.
The council housing of the borough is managed by South Essex Homes, who have recently announced their plans to carry out improvements after securing funding from the government.
There are a total of 6,500 council homes in the area, and work has already started after it was announced that every single suitable flat or house would be given an upgrade.
Chairman of South Essex Homes, Phil Lyons, said ‘We are committed to providing residents with affordable heating.’ He added that the measures they have chosen can help to make a big difference to the costs of energy bills throughout the year.
Lyons also stated the fact that many people simply turn down their heating in cold weather to save money. These new improvements will mean that they can stay comfortable whilst feeling the benefits of warmer homes.
Double glazing works by adding a layer of air in between two panes, which helps to trap the heat inside the home as well as blocking out unwanted noise.
Cavity wall insulation also helps to keep the heat inside the home, amounting to a 20 percent saving on bills. Double glazing can help to save a further 10 percent.
Pensioners Nancy and Bill Miller who live in the area say that they have already benefited from the work, especially from their windows.
New building standards have recently come into place, requiring Scottish homes to have better levels of energy efficiency.
The standards target issues such as double glazing, sound insulation and enhanced security features as well as general energy efficiency. However, it has been claimed that the measures may slow down the development of new housing due to increased costs to builders.
Homes for Scotland have made the claims, stating that these new measures – due to come into effect from October 1st – will have certain sustainability benefits, but these are not balanced against “technical and affordability constraints”.
The warning is that as much as £8,000 could be added into the cost of building every new home.
However, there are also a number of benefits to the scheme. For example, installing double glazing in windows will help to cut down on energy bills over the long term, tackling fuel poverty and making homes more comfortable. uPVC windows are also more secure than other windows and help to keep out any sound pollution.
Infrastructure minister for Scotland, Steward Stevenson, said that these new standards are going to help cut down on 1990 CO2 emissions by 70 percent. He stated that households will have ‘better, warmer and quieter’ places to live.
Instead of targeting new homes, the chief executive of Homes for Scotland, Jonathan Fair, has said that the focus should instead be put onto improving the energy efficiency of existing homes in the area.
According to an expert, people in the UK will be very keen to take advantage of the new Feed in Tariff scheme (FITs), which has been launched by the government this month.
The scheme is designed to reward people for becoming more eco friendly by installing renewable energy technology. Not only will they save money on their energy bills from doing so, but they will also be paid for every unit of electricity that they produce.
Gordon miller, founder of whatgreenhome.com, has stated that the reason why this scheme should be so effective is not only because people will save money, but because they will earn money from it.
He added that the government should be doing more to encourage people to make these active choices about cutting down on carbon emissions.
It has recently been claimed that retrofitting of older properties is especially important when it comes to reducing the amount of energy we use, which means replacing old windows with double glazing, and adding insulation to lofts and cavity walls.
Mr Miller added that there is a risk of ‘turning people off the whole eco argument’ by making it seem as though the government will fix the problems.
Two schemes were launched by the Department of Energy and Climate Change this month to help cut down on carbon. FITs are the first, but the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme will help businesses make more eco friendly decisions when it comes to renewable energy.
New rules for sustainable building standards have been released in Scotland this week.
The standards will be implemented in autumn this year. They have been designed with energy efficiency in mind, with hopes that carbon emissions can be reduced from Scottish homes.
Energy efficient measures that can help to ensure new properties use less energy include double glazing in windows in doors, insulation in lofts and walls, draught proofing and energy efficient boilers. All of these can make homes cheaper to run and naturally warmer during cold winter months.
The plans also include provisions for sound insulation and security features in buildings.
These higher standards for energy efficiency are designed to help Scotland cut down on carbon emissions by 30% compared to 2007 levels, according to the Scottish government.
Infrastructure minister in Scotland, Stewart Stevenson, said that ‘I expect higher demand for small scale renewables technologies as developers look at ways to meet the new standards, giving Scotland new opportunities for jobs and investment in low carbon industries.’
He also added the benefits of saving money, and the fact that energy efficient technology will make homes better places to live in.
The new rules will be listed in a technical handbook that has already been published by the Scottish authorities. This will come into effect on 1st October.
Over the next 10 years, the government will be fighting to meet its carbon emissions targets and will be implementing smart metres in millions of homes across the country to help monitor energy usage.
The government’s aim is to install smart meters in every home by 2020. However, British Gas also recently announced that they would install the technology in two million homes by the end of 2012.
Smart meters are designed to show consumers what they are using in real time. Whether they have appliances on standby, or are using a lot of energy on heating, smart metres will help to make them more aware and hopefully to cut down on energy use.
As a result, it is also hoped that homes will make more use of green technologies that exist not only to cut carbon emissions, but also to reduce energy bills. This includes double glazing and cavity wall insulation.
MSN Money has reported that the installation of smart metres across the country will cost an average of £340 per home, totally £9 billion.
However, the hope for the Department of Energy and Climate Change is that the cost will be offset thanks to the savings that result from cheaper energy bills. MSN commented: ‘The political rationale is that, in the long run, they will pay for themselves and more in energy savings’.
British Gas has reported that it wants to make smart metres available to its customers as soon as possible.
When it comes to retrofitting old properties with green technology, London has become a leader after it was announced as a Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA). London is just the seventh city across the UK to be awarded this title, in a scheme that was designed to help encourage properties to become more energy efficient.
The scheme works to help retrofit as many properties as possible, making them more energy efficient and cutting down on carbon emissions. This will also help to make energy bills more affordable for householders. Measures include double glazing in windows, which can help to keep homes naturally warmer.
The scheme was designed to help ensure that the UK is a leader in this green sector, and businessman Ian Lucas said that ‘London will be a world-leading centre for energy efficient buildings, specialising in retrofitting activity’. There is a huge variety of building types across the city, which provides a number of opportunities for green skills that can be transferred to other areas.
Around £90 million has already been put into a number of properties by Regional Development Agencies. Plans include retrofitting programmes, low carbon business growth, green employment skills development and more.
Head of the London Development Agency, Sir Peter Rogers, said ‘We are pleased that our achievements are being recognised by London’s designation as a Low Carbon Economic Area. In the future, London’s financial muscle will provide the investments that turn these schemes into long-term commercial enterprises, with new businesses, new jobs and new skills’.
A new campaign is hoping to encourage people across the UK to insulate their homes in a bid to cut down on the carbon footprint of residential property.
The campaign has been organised by we will if you will, and is a collaboration between ACT ON CO2, Aviva, Accenture, HSBC, the Energy Saving Trust, Sainsbury’s and EDF Energy. It has been named “Insulate Today” and will help to highlight the many benefits of insulating properties to around 250,000 employees.
The companies involved will help their workers to become more green and eco friendly, by offering a number of insulation offers and incentives that will encourage them to take up offers that all workers can benefit from. This can range from small measures to bigger renovations, including double glazing in windows, cavity wall insulation and more – all of which can help to reduce energy bills.
Campaign director of we will if you will, David Hall, has said that working together with so many people is a ‘great opportunity’ to help reduce the carbon footprint of Britain as a whole.
He explained that the collaborative approach is bringing together some powerful employers across the country, which means that a ‘massive audience’ can be targeted. It is hoped that this will be more effective thanks to using trusted communication channels.
General director of the National Trust, Fiona Reynolds, leads the we will if you will campaign, which will be running for five years to help emphases how accessible sustainable living is.
