Guest post by Edgetech
The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) has petitioned the government to introduce a scrappage scheme, whereby householders are encouraged to scrap their old poorly insulated windows in return for a £1,000 grant towards the installation of new, professionally installed, energy efficient ones. The petition has been set up through the ePetition Scheme on the Official website of
the Prime Minister’s Office at: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/windowscrappage
The benefits of this scheme for window manufacturers, suppliers and installers would be increased sales and a reversal in the downward trend in the number of installed windows and doors. Consumers would save £1,000 and enjoy a facelift to their homes, along with lower fuel bills and more energy efficient homes. And the government would benefit from reduced emissions from the
existing housing stock, helping it to meet the necessary greenhouse gas emissions targets. The government would also reclaim some of the grant money in VAT.
“Energy Efficient Windows (EEWs) have a huge role to play in improving the thermal performance of the existing housing stock,” Nigel Rees, Chief Executive of the GGF, explained. “EEWs can reduce emissions by 10% from dwellings nationally and reduce national domestic energy expenditure by 10%.
“The glass and window industry represents over 100,000 employees. Currently direct sell windows and doors fell by 12% in 2008 and a further 14% in 2009. The forecast is for a further 10% drop in 2010. In 2008 FENSA registered 880,831 installations made up of 3,292,437 windows and 761,054 doors. The GGF strongly believes that the proposals to incentivise the professional installation
of new energy efficient windows are the only logical way forward.”
Five hundred signatures are needed to take the petition to the next stage. Given the size of the industry, and the popularity of WERs, the GGF expects the petition to receive many more signatures than that. We at Edgetech urge you to consider signing the petition by clicking the link overleaf in support of this worthy initiative that could be of immense benefit to our industry. 500 signatures are required to ensure that the petition receives official consideration but GGF sees no reason why 10,000+ cannot be
achieved; Whitehall would really have to take notice then!
RCG says – There is a bit of cynicism about signing petitions, but this one really does make sense and the GGF should be applauded for their efforts here. As I write this there are 831 signatories which is disappointing considering the amount of publicity in the trade media this has had. I think 10,000 signatures is unlikely, but if everybody who signs it lets their colleagues know then we can have a good go at getting a decent number so the Government considers it.
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There must be an awful lot of the public out there that would sign it if they new about it. Worth a press release to the national media ?
De ja vu all over again !!
http://renegadeconservatoryguy.co.uk/stand-up-and-be-counted-sign-the-windows-scrappage-scheme-petition-now/
Do keep up Mr Edgetech
Kevin
Some times you need to say things a few times to get the message across
RCG
Ok Matthew , if you insist ………………..
De ja vu all over again !!
http://renegadeconservatoryguy.co.uk/stand-up-and-be-counted-sign-the-windows-scrappage-scheme-petition-now/
Do keep up Mr Edgetech
Taxi to the blog please
Sounds like a great idea, so it will probably come to nothing, the goverment help the window industry I think not. The industry’s full of rouges and criminals isn’t it.
Michael John – I understand what you’re implying, but there are some great companies out there, not least your own!
It was tongue in cheek I know coming from this industry there are some great people within it. It’s just the public perseption of the double glazing industry and unfortunatly we are all guilty by assosiation in the publics eye.
I agree wholehearted with Micheal John. Too many of our present companies, particularly at local level have extremely dubious trading histories. The general public’s perception of us can be awful at times.
It would be a heartening sign if (any) future government grants were only eligible to consumers via INSTALLERS with unblemished trading records. ie same vat number for whole of their entity.
I know the rogue’s would soon find a way around any well intended legislation-they always do- but at least it would be a start and make some of us in for the long haul feel better.
Michael, you say (tongue in cheek) that the industry is full of rogues , have you noticed that the industry seems to have persuaded the government that compliance to the new building regs should be based solely on a marketing tool (WERs) . This method of compliance has no basis in fact and does not even accurately assess the energy flow through a window. Added to that, the effective need for every user of any given window to certify it (in their own name) and you may find a thousand installers all paying the Great and Good For the right to call the same product combination rated!!
Then, to cap it off, we are all to be persuaded to sign a petition to validate this nonsense
Industry full of rogues you say?
I will leave it for you work out who is setting the example.
Kevin:
If I have understood your point correctly,you have a problem with the methods used to arrive at WER. Fine.
But surely WER is just a well intention attempt to highlight the advantages of up rating to a superior energy saving product. whilst at the same time benefiting from the traditional visual and practical advantages of new windows? As far as I can see customers are not being misled or misinformed.
I offer the standard & uprated options on all my quotes and perhaps not too surprisingly customers appreciate having a choice- and most are happy to pay a little more for an enhanced window.
You can split hairs over data till the cows come come,but to imply companies are rogues for promoting these benefits is just plain daft.
Last sentence should read ‘cows come home’
Memo to RCG . Can you not incorporate a 59 minute edit feature for those simple souls like me who habitually make errors?
Ian ,
I am not in any way trying to imply that companies that buy into the energy rating scheme are rogues . They are purely implementing a scheme set up buy the leading industry association . I actually don’t believe the WER scheme is well intentioned, I am inclined to believe it is designed to enable some older technology low e glasses be able to keep selling when the 2010 part L regs come out.
We are a heating dominated climate and low U values are what predominatly count, not pretend solar gain figures.
Do you honestly believe an A rated window provides more heat than it loses ? and guess what , as currently proposed the WER is the only route to compliance in the new regs for replacement windows , new build will still be on the old 2.2Uvalue system , but not the replacement market !!
I agree about an edit function though
I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS SCHEME AS A MEMBER OF GREENPEACE I AM FULL AWARE PVC DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, MANY HOUSES ARE BEING DEMOLISHED,SADLY EVEN THOUGH IT TAKES MORE CARBON EMISSIONS TO DEMOLISH THAN IT DOES TO CONVERT,HAVE PVC DOORS AND WINDOWS, THESE ARE NOT BIO DEGRADABLE, AND GIVE OFF HARMFULL EMISSIONS WHEN BURN,THE ONLY WAY IS HARDWOOD, DOUBLE GLAZED AND SECONDARY GLAZING WHICH IS JUST AS EFFECTIVE, ALSO PVC DOORS AND WINDOWS IN OLD HOUSES MAKE THEM LOOK CHEAP AND NASTY, OFTEN DESTROYING THE CHARACTER OF THE HOUSE,THIS IS CLEARLY A PLOY TO MAKE MORE MONEY, IF THEY REALLY CARE, GET THE BUILDING FEDERATION, TO START RE USING BUILDINGS RATHER THAN DEMOLISH, THAT WOULD SAVE FARE MORE EMISSIONS
Typical Greenpeace.SHOUTING NONSENSE.
Just another incentive for home owners to rip out period windows (many of which have been in place for centuries) and replace them with a nasty non bio-degradable product which will be impossible to repair.In one foul swoop the whole appearance of an old property can be destroyed. The sealed units also tend to have a relatively short of 10 to 20 years (sometimes failing as soon as 3 years) and are usually disposed of into landfill sites- wonderful for the environment i’m sure you’ll agree!
For once I’m with Greenpeace on this one. I’d rather my hard earned tax went to roof insulation incentives which would actually make a difference.
To Mr Save the Earth
Are you aware of progress & evolution
Greenpeace save the earth makes us all unemployed. It obvious you people are not from the industry and do not understand what can be achievied with PVC these days. We carry out work replacing the replacments removing the character of a property can also been done using timber. We do the job properly using quality products.
Greenpeace maybe we should leave our houses and move into caves, we will walk everwhere and rather than money we will trade goods pigs, chicken ect. Perhaps you like me to stop eating meat while your at it.
Remember we are a long time dead so why not enjoy life a little like the rest of us instead of your endless crusades for what you feel is best. It’s your opinion don’t force it down our throats.
Mmm- hit a raw nerve there?!
I do quite a nice living REPAIRING the old window frames many in the “industry” would rip out. Mainly on Georgian and Victorian townhouses using seasoned hard and softwoods and sustainable materials such as linseed oil paint and putty. I have no doubt that a skilfully repaired victorian window can have a lifespan in excess of 50 years before the need for more splice repairs. How many yellowed upvc frames and misted sealed units would be replaced in that time?….and yet all replacement window manufacturers and installers are jumping on the “green” bandwagon. secondary glazing can address the heat loss issues with period windows as can draught stripping and a set of working shutters.
I’m sure many people in the “industry” want a job for life replacing sealed units every 10 years and the frames every 20! Many people with any real experience of windows know sealed unit dg cannot replicate fine 18mm glazing bars-the attempts with internal plastic strips are pathetic! I’m sure such cheaper items are most likely to replace period windows under this scheme.
Where are those wonderful new upvc products? 99% of the ones I’ve seen don’t have the strength to help support a wall properly (often leading to lintel cracking) and block an enormous amount of light on a small opening due to the ridiculous section dimensions.
I love life but do not enjoy conning people MJ. I’m not sure your argument is rational! I’m not that interested in “saving the planet” and drive a 4×4. I don’t particularly want to live in a cave ,thanks, but I would prefer some of our built heritage to remain intact.
To LT28 ( What a stange name )
You suggest we are conning people, credit the public with a little more intelligence as they now make informend decisions based on infromation collected and what they see in front of them i.e product available. Do we say products will last 50 years I think not, in 25 years making and installing PVC products I’ve never had a case of a cracking lintel, maybe you should look for a quality manufacturer and installer for your PVC products.
Protect the heratige buildings local authorities are now giving planning approval for PVC product and conservation areas and on listed buildings, so you are obviously correct in what you say about PVC products (by the way that’s sarcasm).
You sound so passionate about wood with out fine 18mm glazing bars get a life it’s a tree
when all’s said and done check out external PVC fret bars which replicate your fine bar but also keep forrests in tact ” GO PVC AND SAVE A TREE” maybe I do support Greenpeace after all.
By the way my real name is Swampie and you find up a tree near you
Some great debate here.
I wholeheartedly agree with restoring and respecting our English heritage*. Not sure how installing energy efficient windows into properties built in the 60’s, 70’s and 80′ and 90’s could do anything to lose it and regarding these modern houses new windows normally improve their uninteresting appearance whilst increasing the energy efficiency … ie helping the planet
* oh, we offer high performance, energy rated, timber products for those properties that wish to retain their period. (occasionally recommending restoration in cases when the new profiles would simply destroy character or appearance)
Keep smoging us out with your Chelsea tractor Lt28 : )