PVC systems company Rehau has urged the fenestration industry to emphasise thermal properties of portfolios, in order to meet these shifting consumer priorities. The recommendation follows a survey published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), which revealed that 73% of 2,000 respondents were concerned about the energy efficiency of their current home.
“Energy efficiency has never been too far from consumers’ minds, and this latest survey from the HBF reaffirms this,” said Russell Hand, Rehau Windows’ head of product and technical. He added: “With Part L guidelines being tightened as part of the Future Homes Standard, and wider efforts to reduce green house gas emissions, windows professionals should look into the U-value of their current solutions to stay ahead of legislation and trends.
“This latest change is likely the first of many for new and existing homes. So, by taking action and futureproofing now, businesses will be well-placed to stand out in an increasingly eco-conscious market. One key way of doing this is to look for systems suitable for the Passivhaus standard, which is currently the most energy-efficient specification for European and UK buildings.”
According to sustainable construction experts GreenSpec, windows can represent up to 10% of the total heat lost in homes. Added to this, “the country is bracing itself for heating costs to soar,” Russell highlighted. “As vital as consumers see the issue of energy efficiency now, it is only going to grow in prominence. Being able to mitigate these costs in any way will be at the forefronts of homeowners’ minds, so installers and fabricators need to stress the thermal performance strengths of their frames.
“By stocking systems that can help do this, including Rehau’s Total70C, which can achieve U-values better than that required by the new Part L, tradespeople can help answer the market’s pressing needs. This combination of right choice and right emphasis will undoubtedly help fenestration businesses at this highly disrupted time, and into the future.”
