Keeping Heritage homes in Devon and Cornwall Warmer in Winter 

Most people who live in a heritage style property with original timber windows the tell the same story. When Winter arrives it means heat loss, draughts, and a season filled with chills, as opposed to snug evenings in. Chills = higher heating bills eating into household finances.

The approach with The Residence Collection is always backed by science. Their beautiful windows and doors are precision engineered to alleviate heat loss, turning chilly nights back into cosy ones. So, they have tasked heat experts to accrue the data that proves exactly how impactful heat loss through your windows can be, plus why you should consider selecting windows that retain warmth.

The Science

The principal way heat loss is measured is by using u-values, which calculate the rate at which heat is lost – in this instance the lower the u-value the better. However numerical data can be a little difficult to translate when it comes to the external profile of your house, with everything from windows to doors to walls providing a risk of heat loss.

Typical u-values have been used to illustrate heat maps which provide an insight into what’s going on. u-values are shown across this home in a differentiating colour, with blue for the coldest zones, through to red for the hottest. We are then able to compare houses with different glazing options, including single, double and triple glazing, and here are the results…

The Big Number

When all the measurements from the heat maps are calculated, there’s a big number to consider…

On average, British houses are losing a massive 18% of heat through their windows

And with this comes some hefty implications for bills and savings, but how do different glazing options compare when it comes to heat loss?

How do your windows measure up

Single glazed windows

No big surprise here, single glazed windows lose the most heat with an average u-value of 5.5, which is 52.8 W/°C per window. Most of the heat loss comes from the windows, doors and roof. The reason that this is so high is because of the single pane of glass – as commonly found in traditional timber windows installed in heritage properties, as it allows heat to escape quickly.

Double glazed windows

You can see that double glazed windows fare better, with the average home offering a u-value of 1.2, with the average loss per window being 11.52 W/°C = one fifth of the loss of a single glazed window. That’s a higher level of protection, with a corresponding saving on bills of £135.00 a year.

Triple glazed windows

The most thermally efficient and cost-effective option is triple glazing. A triple glazed home could offer an average u-value of 0.74 - just 7.1 W/°C per window, which is a 35% reduction in heat loss in comparison to double glazing.

Top quality windows

The Residence Collection provide double and triple glazed options with A++ energy ratings, combined with aesthetic stylings that mean you don’t have to sacrifice on the heritage look and feel of something like a draughty sash window to feel the benefits for this coming winter.

If your house is feeling the chill, then perhaps The Residence Collection could boost your u-value for you? 

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