Home owners considering investing in replacement windows such as double glazing and alternative energy-efficient home improvements could find inspiration from one architect who turned his house into an eco-friendly abode.

BDonline.co.uk reported that John Christophers transformed a property in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, by enhancing its eco-friendly features and had to make both the old and new-build section of the house energy efficient.

“Retrofitting existing housing stock is becoming an increasingly important way of helping the UK meet its carbon emission targets … normally retrofits would not qualify for the code, but Christophers’ did because more than half of the project was new-build,” it stated.

Housing expert Alan Yates added that the new home fits in with the local environment but still remains low carbon, which he commended.

Andrew Leech, director at the National Home Improvement Council, said that he is “surprised” by reports which suggest only 12 per cent of people intend to make energy-efficient improvements to their property.

Last year the Glass and Glazing Federation launched a petition for a nationwide scrappage scheme to be introduced by the government which would assist homeowners in making their homes more energy efficient. 

Anglian Home Improvements. Helping make your home more efficient in 2010.

London mayor Boris Johnson has asked the residents of London for their opinions on what measures can be used to reduce the impact we have climate change.

The city’s climate action plan is meant to help the capital reduce its carbon emissions and big name celebrities like Vivienne Westwood, Richard E Grant, Bear Grylls, Rory Bremner, Laura Bailey and Michael Sheen have got behind it.

He said: “To improve our quality of life, care for our planet and save money from our pockets, we need to adapt our homes and workplaces, moving London to an energy efficient future.”

The mayor added that he is looking forward to implementing new technology such as replacement windows like  double glazing, to help cut the carbon emissions of London.

Labour has recently pledged to help homeowners invest in energy efficient double glazing by offering a Pay As You Save scheme which will loan people up to £10,000 to make their homes more eco-friendly.

The Glass and Glassing Federation last year started an online petition for the Government to help fund the improvement in our homes efficiency through the introduction of a National Window Scrappage Scheme.

Anglian Home Improvements also launched their own energy efficient initiative, an Anglian National Window Scrappage Scheme where you can get upto £2500 for your old windows as money towards new energy efficient replacements.

For more information on how Anglian can make your home more efficient please click here.

The Liberal Democrats have stated that they would  invest in home improvements if they are elected. This could interest people who are considering putting some of their money towards replacement windows such as double glazing or extending their property with a new conservatory.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor, said in the party’s economic manifesto that the country’s third party would focus on refurbishing the UK’s housing stock and set up an Infrastructure Bank similar to the World Bank.

“Until the bank can be established we would seek to maintain investment through a programme of public investment in social housing and home improvements centred on rehabilitated, improved empty property,” he stated.

The party’s economic expert added that the liberals would try to help the worst-off in the UK by giving tax cuts to them.

Chloe Smith, the 27-year-old Conservative MP who won the recent Norwich North by-election, ran a campaign which included making sure residents were able to have double glazing installed in their homes.

Anglian also supports an industry petition submitted by the Glass and Glazing Federation for a National Window Scrappage Scheme. So far the petition has nearly reached 3800 signatures of support.

Anglian themselves have also continued with their own Anglian Window Scrappage Scheme which has recently increased to £2500 off new efficient windows.

For more information on how you could improve your home and efficiency please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements. Improving the nation’s homes since 1966.

A general feeling that more could have been done to make the world’s nations commit to bigger cuts in carbon emissions according to Barack Obama.

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The final day has arrived for the much publicised Copenhagen Summit. One hundred and ninety three nations have gathered to try and negotiate what is commonly described as the most important meeting of recent generations. 

The aim of the submit is simple ‘ To negotiate a binding agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent dangerous climate changes within the near and distance future’.

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The Tories have promised to support homeowners who make eco-friendly improvements to their properties by teaming up with major high-street names to offer deals and save money on bills in the future.

Grant Shapps, the shadow housing minister, said that making the energy-efficient changes, like replacing old inefficient windows with  double glazing, will help to bring down heating bills over time and the party hopes to improve 25 million properties under the scheme.

“All you will see is lower bills with zero upfront cost. Under a Conservative government you will not have to imagine this scheme because the likes of Marks & Spencer and Tesco are already interested,” he said.

The shadow minister added that the scheme is a no-brainer because it allows the work to be paid for from energy bill savings.

In other news, the Independent recently reported on the savings which can be made through eco-friendly improvements, like installing double glazing.

Anglian Home Improvements have launched their own Window Scrappage scheme that gives you the opportunity to scrap your old windows for money towards new efficient double glazing.
Anglian Home Improvements specialise in Double Glazing and high quality replacement windows and have been trading since 1966.

The UK government could take a tougher line on reducing the countries carbon emissions. Additional government support in investment for homeowners could enable eco-friendly home improvement purchases like double glazing, according to one newspaper.

A report on climate change, the Guardian said that encouraging homeowners to reduce carbon emissions needs to be supported by legislation from the government.

The Guardian’s Julian Graff stated: “Individuals can agitate against climate change and act to mitigate its effects. But it’s politicians who presently hold the purse strings and develop public policy frameworks.”

Achieving the UK’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent before 2020 can be reached by investing in energy-efficient home improvements, according to the newspaper, which cited the example of Labour’s plan to make all new houses zero-carbon from 2016.

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A hotel that invested in new energy efficient double glazing has dramatically reduced their heating bills according to one website.

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Chloe Smith MP for Norwich North joined Anglian Home Improvements Group Chief Executive Peter Mottershead to hear more of Anglian’s £2000 National Windows Scrappage Scheme

Miss Smith had a factory tour of Anglian’s glass shop to understand more about the manufacturing techniques that create B rated, thermally efficient windows, which are produced as standard across all Anglian Home Improvement products.

According to the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning for the Environment  in the Netherlands, a temporary scheme has been launched which will subsidise the installation of double glazing within the home.

Homeowners in Holland can apply for a voucher which discounts €35 per square metre of Double Glazing up to a maximum of €1,100 per home (including VAT): 

[Source: http://www.vrom.nl/pagina.html?id=44436]

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