We are all aware that the cost of keeping our homes and workplaces warm is rising as fuel prices continue to increase and we know that burning fossil fuels is damaging to the environment

To encourage homeowners and the construction industry to use thermally efficient products Government legislation dictates that when new buildings are constructed or old windows are replaced there are now thermal performance standards that must be met and these are becoming more demanding as time passes

The glass industry has had several years to prepare for these new guidelines and the results are impressive. By using all the improvements you can significantly reduce heating bills and carbon emissions

Low-E glass is a clear glass with microscopically thin coating of a metal oxide that allows light and heat from the sun to pass into the building but at the same time reflects heat back in rather than letting it escape

This clever technology has made an enormous impact on heating bills across the country and is now a standard product for all domestic installations

Recent changes to building regulations have driven many improvements to the thermal performance of building products and the glazing industry has looked at ways to maximise 'free energy' emitted from the sun.

Low Iron glass is extra clear and allows a greater degree of solar heat gain making homes feel warmer without the need to turn the heating up.

Used in conjunction with other new innovations heat loss through windows now can be dramatically reduced

Sometimes excessive heat build up on hot sunny days can make it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature behind large glass areas.This may be particularly noticeable if a room has limited ventilation or has a glass roof (eg conservatories). Using Solar control glass can avoid the need for costly air conditioning or blinds

A microscopically thin coating reflects heat from the sun rather than letting it pass though the glass. There are different types but up to 2/3 of the sun's heat can be reflected at the same time as reducing glare

Solar control glass such as COOL-LITE can be combined with self clean and Low-E coatings ensuring your room stays warm in the winter

It may be hard to believe but self cleaning glass is a reality and it really does work.

A transparent coating on the outside of the glass uses the combined power of the sun and the rain to remove everyday dirt and grime

Buildings located close to busy roads, railways or airports can suffer from excessive levels of sound transferred from the outside world.

Glass can play an important part in the reducing the level of noise that gets into an office, home, school, hospital or hotel. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). A comfortable level during the day is approx 35dB (30dB at night).

A standard double glazed unit performs better than single glazing but specialist acoustic glass has a special interlayer which prevents much of the sound vibrating from one pane of a double glazed unit to the other.

If you have a particular requirement please call us and we can advise on the best solution to your problem. For a simple demonstration of the level or reduction that is possible please visit the Saint Gobain website and download the app

Integrated blinds (built into a doubled glazed unit between the two panes of glass) offer all the flexibility available from traditional blind systems but with the added advantage that they are protected by the glass

So they never get dusty, dirty or damaged and they move with the window or door so don't blow in the wind, rattle or get in the way. You don't even need to worry about fixing them to a wall or window frame

They work really well in conservatories, bi-fold doors and sliding door systems. At the time of writing it appears that the addition of blinds does not affect any Window Energy Ratings so your A rated windows stays A rated

Heronhurst offers two systems; either a Venetian style that can be raised and lowered as well as tilted and a pleated style making it ideal for attics, roof windows etc. Both systems use magnets to control the operation of the blind through the glass [find out more]

Hourglass has an experienced team of designers that can produce intricate designs using coloured decorative films and a range of adhesive leads to recreate the traditional look of stained glass

Of course they can also replicate the look of diamond and square lead patterns with various widths of lead available in an antique finish that gives the appearance of aged, weathered lead [find out more]

When glass was not mass produced in the way it is today it was difficult to get large panes so smaller pieces were used to glaze windows separate by slim wooden bars

This look can be replicated in a number of ways using modern window and glass technology. The most widely used is a Georgian grill fitted between the two panes of a double glazed unit

These can be white or in a woodgrain finish to match most PVC window finishes and the layout of the grid can be varied to suit the original windows

Some window systems may offer bars that sit on the outside of the double glazed unit (often referred to as Astragal bars) that require a special arrangement inside the unit

By combining the effect of coloured decorative films, adhesive leads and real glass bevels we are able to produce some stunning designs.

These are ideal for small conservatory fan lights or doors [find out more]