The benefits of using energy efficient windows

We know that choosing quality windows that have been designed to protect your home from the elements is an investment worth making. But how do energy efficient timber windows raise the long-term economic performance of your property? We explore the technical elements of U-Values and the advantages you stand to benefit from when you opt for energy efficient windows…

Westbury Windows and Joinery strives to produce products crafted to the highest quality, incorporating unrivalled technical and energy saving features while maintaining a traditional and timeless style. We know that our windows perform but don’t just take our word for it – our glazed products are examined by an independent third party UKAS accredited centre, tested to current British and European Standards. Using our expert knowledge, we’ve perfected a design that consistently exceeds the needs of modern day life, standing up to any potential security, weather, sustainable and acoustic concerns.  

You can view the results of these tests here.

How energy efficient windows will benefit your home…

With energy efficient windows, you’ll significantly reduce chilly spots and draughts from your home. Windows with proper insulation and minimal air leaks will mean that you and your family can enjoy a more comfortable, warmer home at any time of the year.

Cooling your property in the summer months will also be easier, as energy efficient windows will also help to keep the sun’s heat out.

As a result, the costs of heating your property will reduce, as your home will no longer be losing a considerable amount of warmth through inefficient windows.

As a general rule, energy efficient windows also tend to have excellent acoustic benefits, so you’ll notice a significant reduction in noise pollution from inside your home.

What are U-Values?

U-Values are a measurement of a material’s insulation efficiency. Effectively, it tells us how much heat a window will let through. If a window or door has a low U-Value, then you know it’s an energy efficient product.

It’s not as simple as just checking the U-Value; the measurements can differ depending on what part of the window is being tested. Many products will advertise a low U-Value number which was only measured from the centre of the glass in the pane, which is usually the section with the highest insulation. All windows will experience more heat loss around the edges, so you always want to check the U-Value of the whole glass within the pane.   

Let’s get technical…

Windows that comply with building regulations will perform to a level that prevents heat loss and lowers the environmental impact. Back in 2018, Part L building regulations for standard replacement doors and windows specify that a product should have a U-Value no higher than 1.6 for windows and 1.8 for doors. It’s generally expected that products of a superior quality should exceed these regulations.

Be wary however; windows that have U-Values of just 0.1 or 0.2 under the regulation threshold will not make any difference to your carbon footprint, or energy bills for that matter.

Performance that you can trust…

Westbury Windows and Joinery expertly craft windows with a whole product U-Value of 1.1W/m2K, based on triple glazed 4mm thick glass with a centre pane value of 0.6W/m2K.

We achieve this by using Accoya®, an engineered timber with very low thermal conductivity, along with specially formulated bonds and strong joints. You can find out more about Accoya® here.

Our timber frames and sashes have deep inside-to-outside profiles, which improve their thermal performance through the wood components. This is a technique that was originally developed in Scandinavia many years ago to protect their homes from the cold weather. They had a standard frame depth of 115mm – which is the same as Westbury uses today.

Our doors have an excellent whole product U-Value of 1.4W/m2K and under. They are made with 68mm deep door leaves, meaning that they can incorporate a much thicker and wider choice of energy efficient glazing.