What are the benefits of energy-rated windows?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, around a fifth of all heat loss from an uninsulated home is through its windows. Consider your own energy bills and this could be a significant drain on your resources.

Energy-rated windows can help to conserve the heat in your home and depending upon your choice of rating, can even use the solar effect of direct sunlight to help make further savings on your energy bills. In addition to energy savings, you’ll be helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint and it could enhance the appeal of your home should you decide to move on.

How do energy-rated windows work?
Energy-rated windows work through a combination of the window frame and the type of glass surface and gasses used in the sealed glass unit. Heat is not only lost through glass, but also through the window frame. In-fact, the most energy efficient windows will probably lose more heat through the window frame than the glass itself!

• Energy-rated windows use a slim or medium depth window frame to minimise the effect of heat loss through the frame (this can give you the benefit of even more glass area).
• Double-glazed glass units use a low-emissivity (or Low-E) glass for the inner pane that has a thin coating on the inside which refl ects heat back into the property.
• Higher-rated windows allow the sun’s natural solar energy to pass through.
• A thermally efficient spacer bar is used to separate the two panes of glass.
• The cavity between the two panes of glass on A and B rated windows will be fi lled with argon gas, a natural insulator.

And Visit the British Fenestration Rating Council, www.bfrc.org