With Summer 2026 now officially the hottest on record, and with gas and electricity prices set to rise by 4% in October, energy efficiency is likely to remain one of the primary drivers for sales of new windows and doors in the UK.
More specifically, homeowners are going to be looking at ways to keep as much warmth in during the winter while doing their best to keep cool in the heatwaves that have become increasingly intense during the summer months.
Many are resorting to air conditioning, with demand for air con units rising to ‘unprecedented’ levels this year as people look for ways to manage Mediterranean temperatures in houses traditionally designed for much cooler weather. And it’s not just old housing stock, modern homes are also still being constructed to prioritise the retention of heat.
A recent story caught my eye about how an architect had transformed her 1960s former council house so that it stayed cool, without having to install air con.
Upgraded to Passivhaus standards, the house was super-insulated, made air-tight and a ventilation system was installed to manage the flow of fresh air. The works included upgrading ‘draughty’ PVC double-glazing with high-performance triple, which alone was reported to cost £30,000.
The entire project is said to have cost £80,000 – not including the costs of architectural work – and according to the homeowner, have resulted in a yearly saving of £750 on energy bills.
Now my maths isn’t that good, but I make that just over 106 years before breaking even on the home improvement costs!
Click here to read the story in full
Clearly, this is an extreme case (the homeowner even admits to having to put dust sheets over the windows in the summer to keep the heat to an acceptable level…) but it highlights the requirement for solutions that are designed to better manage an increase in temperature extremes in this country.
If demand for air conditioning is anything to go buy, it’s pretty clear that a large number of people will opt for a quick fix, no matter how un-environmentally friendly, but in the long term, solar shading and high performance windows and doors that can also help to keep bills down in the winter, are going to be at the top of the list for consumers looking to invest in their properties.
Energy efficiency a priority for homeowners
With Summer 2026 now officially the hottest on record, and with gas and electricity prices set to rise by 4% in October, energy efficiency is likely to remain one of the primary drivers for sales of new windows and doors in the UK.
More specifically, homeowners are going to be looking at ways to keep as much warmth in during the winter while doing their best to keep cool in the heatwaves that have become increasingly intense during the summer months.
Many are resorting to air conditioning, with demand for air con units rising to ‘unprecedented’ levels this year as people look for ways to manage Mediterranean temperatures in houses traditionally designed for much cooler weather. And it’s not just old housing stock, modern homes are also still being constructed to prioritise the retention of heat.
A recent story caught my eye about how an architect had transformed her 1960s former council house so that it stayed cool, without having to install air con.
Upgraded to Passivhaus standards, the house was super-insulated, made air-tight and a ventilation system was installed to manage the flow of fresh air. The works included upgrading ‘draughty’ PVC double-glazing with high-performance triple, which alone was reported to cost £30,000.
The entire project is said to have cost £80,000 – not including the costs of architectural work – and according to the homeowner, have resulted in a yearly saving of £750 on energy bills.
Now my maths isn’t that good, but I make that just over 106 years before breaking even on the home improvement costs!
Click here to read the story in full
Clearly, this is an extreme case (the homeowner even admits to having to put dust sheets over the windows in the summer to keep the heat to an acceptable level…) but it highlights the requirement for solutions that are designed to better manage an increase in temperature extremes in this country.
If demand for air conditioning is anything to go buy, it’s pretty clear that a large number of people will opt for a quick fix, no matter how un-environmentally friendly, but in the long term, solar shading and high performance windows and doors that can also help to keep bills down in the winter, are going to be at the top of the list for consumers looking to invest in their properties.
Luke Wood
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