Choose the Right Windows for Your Home with Confused.com
Save money on utility bills with energy efficient windows
Did you know, you can lose a whopping 20% of a home’s heat through your windows? Well-fitted, quality insulated windows can keep you cool in the summer and insulated in the winter, but old, poorly fitted windows can help turn your home into a money-leaking ice box.
But a simple upgrade to double glazing could stop the leak and slash annual heating bills by around £140*.
So if you’re looking for new windows, follow Confused.com’s guide to the different options available – you could save money on your energy bills.
Single glazing
Generally speaking, this is your cheapest window option. It’s also the least energy efficient as only one sheet of glass protects you from the elements, allowing more heat to escape and cold air to get in. You’ll have to heat your house for longer to keep rooms warm, resulting in an increase in your household utility bills. Typically, a standard, single-glazed casement window will set you back around £300 each.
Double glazing
The appeal of double-glazed windows is that they reduce heat loss in your home, provide noise insulation, and also limit window condensation. They do all this by forming an insulated barrier of trapped air between two panes of glass.
Pros:
- Installing double glazing in your home could cut heat loss by half and save around £140 on your annual heating bills*.
- It’s also an eco-friendly choice, saving you 720kg of CO2 a year*.
- They also provide noise insulation for your home
- They reduced window condensation
Cons:
- Double glazing the entire house can be pricey. Expect to pay around £200 for a standard, double-glazed casement window. If your budget is tight, just double-glaze windows in rooms that cost you the most to heat. Remember, you will save money on your energy bills as you will need less heat to warm your home.
Top tip: If double glazing is too expensive, you could fit secondary glazing to supplement existing windows. This is achieved by inserting another pane of glass, usually on the inside. This does not affect the look or security and will still save money by cutting heat loss and draughts.
Energy efficient windows
Energy efficient windows contain an invisible sheet of metal in between the panes, which makes the glass more heat reflective. This has the effect of keeping homes cool in summer and warm in winter.
Pros:
The British Fenestration Ratings Council rates these windows by heat loss and heat gain in an easy-to-understand A to G rating system.
- By switching over to energy efficient windows, you could reduce your energy bill by 18% a year**.
Cons:
- Energy efficient windows are expensive. Expect to pay around £800 for a standard, energy efficient casement window.
- Energy efficient windows should increase the value of your home if you sell.
Note: If you live in a listed or historic property, or in a conservation area or an area of outstanding national beauty, building regulations may restrict any works to windows. Always contact your local authority before carrying out any such upgrading works.
If you’re thinking of upgrading your windows to save money on your gas and electricity bills, remember that you could also save money by switching to a cheaper energy provider using Confused.com.
*according to the Energy Saving Trust
**In an electrically heated house, according to DTI Quarterly Energy Prices