New online tool to drive sales
Listers has introduced an online energy calculator which illustrates the potential energy-saving benefits to homeowners of upgrading their windows to modern, efficient alternatives from the national fabricator.
Hosted on Listers’ website, or available to retail companies to host on their own websites as a simple plug-in, the calculator encourages homeowners to compare a modern window installation with their current set up. The result is a potential cost saving alongside a likely reduction in carbon emissions.
The energy calculator uses estimated U-values for older windows, the published U-values for Listers’ energy saving products, the home’s glazed area, and the price of energy to determine the likely cost savings.
In a typical example, a homeowner in an electrically heated semi-detached property, who replaces single-glazed PVC-U windows with double-glazed Veka windows from Listers, could save £15,290 over ten years, and reduce carbon emissions by 28,760kg. The price of the windows would be in the region of £8,000.
“Right at the top of the news agenda, and driving a lot of today’s window and door buying decisions, is the cost of energy,” said Listers’ MD, Roy Frost said. “Insulating homes and reducing energy usage are key for many households going into 2023, as the risk of further hikes in energy bills is very high. A typical home upgrading their windows today could see their investment paid back in just five years. This is a powerful sales message as the market contracts.”
The government introduced the Energy Price Guarantee in October 2022, which is expected to run in its current form until April 2023. This capped the cost of energy at 34p/kWh for electricity, and 10p/kWh for gas, while the wholesale price of gas continued to rise. Once this cap is lifted, then households’ energy bills could potentially rocket.
“Some homeowners are bringing forward home improvement plans to make sure they are not paying more than they need to by the time April 1st comes around,” Roy said.
“Since the market is being driven by a smaller number of buyers, each with access to a larger pot of money, we are seeing a corresponding increase in the demand for high-end products, and that is driving up sales of our premium collection of products, such as Sheerline aluminium windows and doors, and the Residence Collection PVC-U timber alternatives.”
Part L-compliant
Listers’ Sheerline roof lantern and the Prestige window range can offer U-values as low as 1.3W/m2k with a double-glazed unit, and 0.9W/m2k with a triple-glazed. The range has recently been expanded to include the Sheerline Classic Window.
On the PVC-U side, Listers’ Residence 9 range can achieve U-values as low as 1.23W/m2k with 28mm double glazing, and 0.84W/m2k with 44mm triple glazing. This comfortably meets the latest Part L revisions, while giving plenty of headroom for further tightening of the Building Regulations.
“By offering suites of energy efficient products, we are offering further opportunities for our customers, because homeowners often look for whole elevation refurbishments, and not just, say, the bi-folding door or windows,” Roy said.
“On those occasions where a mix of PVC-U and aluminium is required, we can offer the same lead times across all products and colours, which offers further benefits for installers because they don’t have to keep returning to site to manage multiple deliveries.”
Roy argued that, even though Listers have a market-leading product range, helping the homeowner understand how upgrading a home’s windows and doors can save them money on their bills is a key part of the marketing process.
“With the price of energy as high as it is, tools like the energy calculator are useful assets in helping homeowners visualise the benefits of targeted home improvements, which then creates valuable opportunities for our customers,” Roy concluded.
