Social housing fit for Net Zero future
Select Windows, a company that is said to have a track record of delivering quality home improvement installations, has recently been busy enhancing the energy performance of social housing around Walsall.
The eco-scheme is designed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of homes in Burrowes St, Leamore, Sandbank, and Chuckery, making them more sustainable whilst also increasing comfort for occupants.
Select’s managing director, Gary Wylde, secured the multi-million-pound contract to upgrade 21 tower blocks across the town, removing and recycling the old windows and doors, before fabricating and fitting highly energy efficient upgrades from Liniar.
Gary commented: “There’s 1,034 flats in total, with each completed home now benefiting from Liniar’s A-rated EnergyPlus tilt and turn windows. It’s a huge undertaking.”
Liniar’s design and development has supported Select with technical specifications for the project, led by technical design manager, Andy Gibson.
“One of the ways we can really help our customers is by checking designs meet wind and unguarded barrier requirements,” explained Andy. “This is especially important in high-rise buildings, as these calculations ensure designs comply with Building Regulations.”
Gary added: “Anything above seven stories on a window contract isn’t supported by Fensa, and has to meet Building Regulations, so Andy’s help with the calculations and design was invaluable.”
Working on high-rise buildings presents unique challenges, not least competing with the changeable British weather as Gary highlighted: “Sometimes the wind can feel still on the ground but it’s 30mph by the time you’re exposed at the top of a tower. We have to be mindful and carefully plan for these conditions to make sure our fitting teams can work both safely and effectively.
“It can be tricky, but it’s highly rewarding and results in better comfort and wellbeing for the tenants, and better sustainability for the building.”
The transition towards net zero societies has increased demand for retrofitted energy efficiency measures. Gary commented: “We’re proud of all Select’s accreditations of course, but particularly the PAS2030 since it’s a prerequisite for working on energy efficiency schemes and allows us to be involved in the UK’s net zero carbon homes agenda.”
With the Burrowes St, Leamore, and Sandbank tower blocks nearing completion, work is due to start on Chuckery imminently. Garry explained: “The project is progressing nicely, and though we’ve almost finished three areas, Chuckery is as big as the others combined so there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
He concluded: “Select is fabricating around a thousand items each week and taking two to three deliveries from Liniar. We never have issues, and find the products, service and support we receive excellent.
“As companies Select and Liniar have similar values – we both believe in doing business honestly and sustainably, but we don’t just tick boxes we’re true to our word.”
