Enjoying the hot weather? If, like me, you’ve started to acclimatise to the higher temperatures, it might be time to start thinking how to introduce homeowners to solutions that can cool their homes, especially as there will undoubtedly be more heatwaves on the way and all the air con units have sold out.
Long periods of sunny dry weather are all well and good, but according to a recent report in The Guardian, we are running the risk of constructing a new generation of ‘death trap’ buildings that could overheat – an issue that stems partly from the traditional focus in the UK of keeping heat in.
The Guardian article highlights an estimated 2,700 deaths of vulnerable people in the May and June heatwaves and a major shortfall of contingency plans by councils and local authorities for cooling or ventilation strategies for new buildings.
It also discusses the Future Homes Standard, which includes provisions for keeping homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, but adds that the rules do not apply to schools, hospitals or care homes and do not require new homes to have the kind of external shading that experts recommend for blocking out heat.
There is also the matter of permitted development rights that allow dwellings to be built from converted offices without the regulations that apply to other homes – according to The Guardian, a recent survey found that 14% of these homes, of which there are about 120,000, had no windows that could be opened.
Homeowners are now regularly experiencing homes that can become unbearable during hot weather – but our industry now has a number of solutions to present to them.
High-performance solar control glass has been available for years, and now we have the next generation of triple glazing.
Regency Glass’s Thin Triple units featuring Corning Enlighten Glass can be retrofitted into many existing window frames, allowing homeowners to upgrade the performance of their glazing without replacing the entire window.
Morley Glass recently highlighted how integral blinds, sealed within the insulated glass unit, can work alongside solar control glass to significantly reduce heat transmission.
And Caribbean has made a compelling case for external shading following the Environmental Investigation Agency’s latest report on cooling. Its argument for a passive-first approach makes perfect sense. Rather than relying on air conditioning to cool buildings once they’ve overheated, why not prevent excessive solar gain in the first place?
Homeowners are no longer looking solely for lower heating bills; increasingly, they’re looking for homes that are comfortable to live in every month of the year.
Those installers who can explain not only U-values, but also solar gain, shading, glass specification and year-round comfort will be offering far more than a window or door. They’ll be offering expertise.
And in an increasingly competitive market, that’s a far more valuable product to sell than price alone.
A hot topic
Enjoying the hot weather? If, like me, you’ve started to acclimatise to the higher temperatures, it might be time to start thinking how to introduce homeowners to solutions that can cool their homes, especially as there will undoubtedly be more heatwaves on the way and all the air con units have sold out.
Long periods of sunny dry weather are all well and good, but according to a recent report in The Guardian, we are running the risk of constructing a new generation of ‘death trap’ buildings that could overheat – an issue that stems partly from the traditional focus in the UK of keeping heat in.
The Guardian article highlights an estimated 2,700 deaths of vulnerable people in the May and June heatwaves and a major shortfall of contingency plans by councils and local authorities for cooling or ventilation strategies for new buildings.
It also discusses the Future Homes Standard, which includes provisions for keeping homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, but adds that the rules do not apply to schools, hospitals or care homes and do not require new homes to have the kind of external shading that experts recommend for blocking out heat.
There is also the matter of permitted development rights that allow dwellings to be built from converted offices without the regulations that apply to other homes – according to The Guardian, a recent survey found that 14% of these homes, of which there are about 120,000, had no windows that could be opened.
Homeowners are now regularly experiencing homes that can become unbearable during hot weather – but our industry now has a number of solutions to present to them.
High-performance solar control glass has been available for years, and now we have the next generation of triple glazing.
Regency Glass’s Thin Triple units featuring Corning Enlighten Glass can be retrofitted into many existing window frames, allowing homeowners to upgrade the performance of their glazing without replacing the entire window.
Morley Glass recently highlighted how integral blinds, sealed within the insulated glass unit, can work alongside solar control glass to significantly reduce heat transmission.
And Caribbean has made a compelling case for external shading following the Environmental Investigation Agency’s latest report on cooling. Its argument for a passive-first approach makes perfect sense. Rather than relying on air conditioning to cool buildings once they’ve overheated, why not prevent excessive solar gain in the first place?
Homeowners are no longer looking solely for lower heating bills; increasingly, they’re looking for homes that are comfortable to live in every month of the year.
Those installers who can explain not only U-values, but also solar gain, shading, glass specification and year-round comfort will be offering far more than a window or door. They’ll be offering expertise.
And in an increasingly competitive market, that’s a far more valuable product to sell than price alone.
Luke Wood
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