To implement sustainability and protect your wallet, it helps to identify and eliminate the causes of high heating or energy costs. Ultimately, high heating costs are always directly related to poor thermal insulation. More on this here.
In this context, we are dealing with windows as thermal bridges. If heat is lost from the building through the windows and they are identified as the cause or even just a contributor, then the starting point for improving building insulation and thereby reducing heating costs is recognized.
When is the Right Time to Replace Old Windows with Better Insulated Ones?
If windows are identified as the cause of increased energy costs, action should be taken as soon as possible for several reasons. The price trend for energy costs has only known one direction in recent years, and further increases in heating costs are expected in the future. Conversely, it has been observed for decades that real wages hardly rise. Therefore, if there is an opportunity to counteract rising costs through the thermal insulation of doors (https://oknoplast.us/front-doors/) and windows, replacing old windows with energy-efficient ones from Oknoplast should be done as soon as possible. Every expense for additional heating energy until the windows or doors are replaced is permanently lost and cannot be recovered. Furthermore, insulation technology has now reached such a high level that significant leaps in technology are no longer expected, and the so-called U-values of windows will not increase to such an extent that waiting for the next technological leap would be worthwhile.
What Should You Look for in a Window?
A window consists of different components, each of which should meet certain requirements. Not all functions are equally important to all customers, which is why manufacturers offer the possibility to configure windows for individual use. One example is sound insulation. If I live in the city or near an airport, sound insulation may play a completely different role than if I live in a remote, rural area by the forest.
However, certain basic functions should be fulfilled by every window or door, and we will go into the details below.
Basically, windows and doors consist of two major components when they are openable elements, namely the frame that is mounted in the wall opening and the sash frame. The movable sash frame usually has glazing in windows, and doors can also be equipped with glazing. In doors, the movable part is called the door leaf. Additionally, a door has a threshold that seals the lower part of the door. Another important component of windows and doors is the locking system, which provides security against storms and keeps unwanted visitors out.
What Innovative Insulation Technologies Are Available?
One modern technology that has a direct impact on energy management is smart home technology. By integrating windows into this technology, the ventilation of a building can be optimized, thus reducing energy consumption. But there are also innovations in materials. For instance, there are new products made from sustainable materials in the area of door and window seals that contribute to more sustainability in window and door production. Recycling is also playing an increasingly important role in this field. Overall, the materials are becoming not only more sustainable but also more durable. The durability factor is not to be underestimated given the incredibly large number of installed windows and doors, not only in Germany and Europe but worldwide. There are an estimated 1.47 billion residential buildings globally, and in Germany alone, about 10 million windows were sold in the residential sector in 2020.
In addition, triple glazing, with its advantages in terms of thermal insulation values, has now replaced double glazing as the standard. An example of successful product solutions is the Ecofusion window from Oknoplast. It demonstrates how technological progress can contribute to developing windows in the interest of environmental protection, creating a sustainable product with a low but highly efficient profile that, despite larger glass areas and greater living comfort, helps improve a house’s energy efficiency. The success of eco-friendly products proves the manufacturers right and makes it clear that they are merely following the interests of their customers.
