The new energy efficient products seem to have really captured the imagination and got people thinking seriously about helping the environment by investing in Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic technology.

These new green home improvements not only reduce a households impact on the environment but can also generate revenue.

For more information on how you can improve your home with Solar please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in solar energy.

However not everyone will be in the position to consider this type of home improvement. Reasons for this could vary from either a financial or practical perspective like living in a flat. Homeowners will still look towards a more improving their homes by replacing your windows for a more efficient design.

I have been told several times recently that homes that have or desire an alternative colour window to white struggle to get the ultimate A-rated efficient window in other colours. The question is why can’t we supply an A rated Mahogany or Rosewood uPVC window?

Taking the Anglian Mahogany, Rosewood and Golden Oak windows first. Due to their dark colour these window frames will absorb, unlike white, far more heat and being a thermal plastic are liable to expand to a greater extent. To combat this Anglian dark woodgrain windows are always fully reinforced. This additional steel reinforcement reduces the thermal performance of the frames. As such even if we were to use low iron glass in the out pane we would be unable to achieve an A rating.

As you can see from the above it is a balancing act to ensure that our windows meet all the stringent performance criteria that we expect, whilst at the same time achieve a thermal performance.

Whilst the majority of window companies are able to offer an A rated white uPVC window, it is far more difficult to achieve an A rated dark woodgrain finished window that has the same performance characteristics. So the questions to ask is if you find a company that actually has an A rated dark woodgrain Window Energy Rating or do they possess one for white only? If they do, have they compromised on the performance of the window (i.e. not fully reinforced) to achieve this standard?

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Improving a homes’ efficiency since 1966.

Later this summer after many years researching the most effective and cost efficient systems of green energy for the home Anglian are now ready to raise the standard in solar energy with this latest product development.

Here are a few facts about Solar;

There are two types of solar panel; these are Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal. Photovoltaic uses the suns energy and turns it into electricity for the home. Solar Thermal difference is that it changes that energy into heat.

• As soon as you have solar panels installed, solar energy is free
• It’s safe, clean and environmentally friendly
• It will reduce your energy bills
• You maybe able to generate an income by selling surplus power to the National Grid.
• Solar power systems can provide heat or electricity for the home
• Most modern boilers are compatible with solar heating.

Over the next couple of months I’ll be taking a more detailed look into the technical side of solar as I bring you a comprehensive guide to Anglian’s marketing leading and energy saving improvement.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Helping improve the efficiency of Britain’s homes since 1966

The New Anglian Verandah

Launched earlier this year the new contemporary design from Anglian has seen an unprecedented level of interest. It seems that everyone is eager to get their hands on their own piece of home improvement paradise this summer and I for one can’t blame them!

The Anglian Verandah really does breathe new life into the home and helps bridge that gap between enjoying the sun in the garden or being inside.

The new Verandah brings the garden into the home

Homeowners that have purchased the Verandah are eager to stamp their own individuality onto the new room. The most recent installation has a beautiful wooden floor from Timberland Flooring and looks stunning within its new surroundings.

Timberland's Flooring helps add additional styling to the Verandah

The interior of this Verandah was designed by Ann Broad of who is one of the most respected interior designers within the industry and on the evidence of these pictures Ann can bring any room to life!

Styling from Ann Broad in the Verandah

For more information on how you could bring Ann Broad style into your home please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in home improvements since 1966.

Today though I had an extra spring in my step, the sun is out and you can really feel the temperature change after the poor recent weather.

The heat from the sun is very potent today (yes, i burn easily!) and I just starting thinking about all that potential energy that we can now utilise to save money, save power and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We are more than aware of the risks to the environment with fossil fuels especially with the current ongoing catastrophic oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico with BP. The environmental impact from this will be unprecedented.

It’s only comparatively recently that we’ve all seriously begun investing in the technologies to harvest the sun’s free power, either to create electricity or to heat the water of our homes.

Their are two different energy saving systems on the market, the first is photo voltaic which uses “photo voltaic panels” to convert the suns energy into electricity. The systems are made up of thin layers of semi conducting material, usually silicon, which generates electrical charges when the sun hits them. Each cell produces a small voltage so with loads of them connected you form one panel. These systems have been a massive success in Germany with hundreds and thousands of homes having these installed – also helped by a government incentive scheme. Fingers crossed the same scheme will be available in the UK soon.  Christine Shine who Clint wrote about in an earlier blog post constructed 390 photovoltaic panels in her garden and now makes money on her own energy!

The second type is Solar Thermal. This uses solar panels to convert the suns energy into heating a home’s water. This works by the solar panels on your roof heating a constantly moving stream of water which then passes through the pipe-work in your home’s hot tank, exchanging its heat as it goes. To get maximum benefit from solar the panels need to be fitted to a south facing roof – although they can work well elsewhere.

Keep an eye out on the blog next week for some exciting Anglian product development news!

Anglian Home Improvement, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Helping improve the efficiency of homes since 1966.

Hot off the press! I have some more behind the scenes photos from last weeks filming at Hedingham Castle.

The horse, knight and castle images look really good and I cannot wait to see the Anglian adverts when Channel 4’s latest daytime hit “The 5 O’Clock Show” is aired end of this month.

According to Channel 4’s website the chat show consists of various famous people hosting the new tea time series and involves lots of fun, stunts and other famous guests.

The first two weeks will be presented by Peter Andre and includes star guest Louis Walsh.

The conservatory, finished in rosewood,  is a Harmony design structured from a Garden Room and a Victorian design with a splash of leaded lights which gives universal individuality to any home. For more information on glass designs from Anglian  visit our website. Currently we are also offering 25% off all conservatories and verandahs.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Improving Britain’s homes since 1966.

Let’s face it, with the Easter Holidays disappearing fast into distant memory the approaching Spring Bank Holidays are getting us rather excited – what can we do with our 3 day weekends? Perhaps we could head down to the local zoo to hang out with the penguins? Maybe take a daytrip to the beach? Or how about getting up to roof height on a ladder to maintain tatty old Fascia Board? It’s obvious which one we’ll choose to skip.

We trust that you would agree. While how our properties look from the outside is important, there is something slightly comical about choosing to take away rotten timber and replace it with more wood when we know that it will start the rotting process as soon as it’s in position.

Dan Stagg, one of Anglian’s product managers offers an alternative, “Anglian’s low maintenance, PVC-U Rooftrim will free you from that cycle of sanding, priming and painting every spring. Our range of Fascia, Soffits, Bargeboards, Cladding, Guttering and Downpipes provides a real fit and forget solution – we fit it and you can forget it.”

Right now, our entire Rooftrim Range is available with 25% off and, on top of that we’ll throw in any guttering and downpipes for free. To find out more click here for more information. 

It’s here, the much anticipated Verandah conservatory has launched and the Blog Team are ready and waiting to relax and enjoy the very latest in Home Improvement design this summer while feasting in a shrimp or or two from the “barbie”.

The Ideal Home Show was the ideal place to test the public’s taste for a conservatory with a verandah roof. Placed strategically at the front of the executive house in the show home village, a Regency style conservatory displayed the new look roof. 

Verandah at the Ideal Home Show

With two metre overhangs at its front and side – the roof provides a sheltered place to sit in the garden making most of any sun available on spring or autumn days. It is also an excellent sheltered spot to light the barbecue if the wind is a nuisance. For more frequently asked questions on the new verandah please click here.

Anglian conservatory verandahs are available with new Anglian Regency or Garden Room conservatories. They are also available as extensions to the end and sides if desired.

The Garden room verandah is modern in its style and outlook and supremely adaptable in its styling options. It’s ideal for constructing around external corners of your home. It’s lines are simple yet practical.

“It’s design is perfect for bringing the indoors outside into your garden”

Another stunning new vernadah design is the Regency Verandah.  The design is bold yet discerning architectural statement. Based on the Regency period from the 19th century was farmed for elegance and this latest design really brings that feeling to the forefront:-

“A bold yet discerning architectural statement”

For more information on the must have unique home improvements of 2010 from Anglian Hopme Improvements please click here.

It’s important to choose the door that is right for you, your family and your home. Everything from colour,  border design and security can be chosen. A majority of the doors have a glass pane which provides an area  of opportunity to stamp your individual taste onto or go a bit crazy and creative with. House numbers, glass panes and borders are all variable elements to this part of the door.

So, what’s first? Below is a video clip which introduces you to an Anglian door;

A glazed door option allows additional light to enter a room which would benefit those houses which have an enclosed hallway that restricts natural light.

Anglian provide a range of different glazed finishes, these are all outlined in the video below:

Please click on the enlarge icon to see video in full screen if required. To order a full product DVD from Anglian please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements. Improving your homes since 1966.