By pushing up oil and energy prices, it’s not surprising to see how the Iran war has fuelled a surge in consumer demand for greener solutions.
The second-hand electric car market has boomed in Q1 2026, with reports of 1,600 sales a day in March.
Solar panels have also gone through the roof (pun intended) with some installers reporting a more than 50% surge in demand as homeowners try to lock in lower energy costs by generating their own power.
The heat pump market is also doing very well, with double-digit growth, thanks to a Boiler Upgrade Scheme providing a £7,500 grant.
These are statistics that should make the fenestration industry green with envy.
I am one of the many that have decided that now is the perfect time to splash out on green home improvements, with a large solar installation scheduled for the start of June.
And I have high hopes for it, because after providing a breakdown of my energy bills, the solar installation company has delivered a very clear ROI. In fact, for every sunny day that goes past now without panels, I know that I’m losing out on piles of ‘free’ energy.
With prices for heating oil – which my household relies on for central heating – still around double the usual, the investment should pay for itself in 5-6 years.
This is one of the reasons that window and door sales are lagging behind. Yes, there are tools available to installers that offer energy saving calculators, but they are nowhere near as precise – some consumers may even regard them with some suspicion that they are nothing more than a gimmick.
Where the industry does win however, is that new windows and doors don’t just offer improved energy efficiency. They make a home more secure and more aesthetically pleasing as well.
So, while we can offer some evidence of payback against energy bills, let’s make the most of the new generation of digital tools that can illustrate the difference that they can make in other ways, how they can personalise a property and enhance kerb appeal.
As Mike Parczuk, managing director of Sternfenster says in an article in this week’s newsletter: “If you can spend £10k on new windows and doors and make your home more secure, look better and more energy efficient you’d go for it over a heat pump. Not wishing to take anything away from their positive environmental impact, but heat pumps are ugly!
“If you can show a homeowner exactly what they’re buying, give them a clear, professional quote there and then, and manage the process efficiently, you’re already ahead of the competition.
You can read Mike’s comments in full by clicking here.
Green with envy
By pushing up oil and energy prices, it’s not surprising to see how the Iran war has fuelled a surge in consumer demand for greener solutions.
The second-hand electric car market has boomed in Q1 2026, with reports of 1,600 sales a day in March.
Solar panels have also gone through the roof (pun intended) with some installers reporting a more than 50% surge in demand as homeowners try to lock in lower energy costs by generating their own power.
The heat pump market is also doing very well, with double-digit growth, thanks to a Boiler Upgrade Scheme providing a £7,500 grant.
These are statistics that should make the fenestration industry green with envy.
I am one of the many that have decided that now is the perfect time to splash out on green home improvements, with a large solar installation scheduled for the start of June.
And I have high hopes for it, because after providing a breakdown of my energy bills, the solar installation company has delivered a very clear ROI. In fact, for every sunny day that goes past now without panels, I know that I’m losing out on piles of ‘free’ energy.
With prices for heating oil – which my household relies on for central heating – still around double the usual, the investment should pay for itself in 5-6 years.
This is one of the reasons that window and door sales are lagging behind. Yes, there are tools available to installers that offer energy saving calculators, but they are nowhere near as precise – some consumers may even regard them with some suspicion that they are nothing more than a gimmick.
Where the industry does win however, is that new windows and doors don’t just offer improved energy efficiency. They make a home more secure and more aesthetically pleasing as well.
So, while we can offer some evidence of payback against energy bills, let’s make the most of the new generation of digital tools that can illustrate the difference that they can make in other ways, how they can personalise a property and enhance kerb appeal.
As Mike Parczuk, managing director of Sternfenster says in an article in this week’s newsletter: “If you can spend £10k on new windows and doors and make your home more secure, look better and more energy efficient you’d go for it over a heat pump. Not wishing to take anything away from their positive environmental impact, but heat pumps are ugly!
“If you can show a homeowner exactly what they’re buying, give them a clear, professional quote there and then, and manage the process efficiently, you’re already ahead of the competition.
You can read Mike’s comments in full by clicking here.
Luke Wood
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