How cost effective is double glazing for me and my family

May 20, 2013

Installing double-glazing in your home can be a great way of improving the energy efficiency of your property, and can stand to make you savings on your energy bills year after year.

In fact, figures from an Energy Savings Trust survey, conducted at the beginning of the year showed that more than a fifth (22%) of the 2,000 consumers questioned had installed double glazing in the last 12 months.

More than half of consumers (52%) also revealed that they were contemplating doing so.

However, with initial set-up costs to take into account, it can be difficult to determine whether double-glazing will be particularly cost-effective for your family. Here are the factors to take into account:

Costs

The cost of installing double-glazing can vary from company to company, but could be in the region of £4,500-£5,500 for 12 standard upvc windows in a three-bedroom house. However, this could climb to as high as between £14,000 and £18,000 for sash windows in a 4-bedroom period property.

However, this cost could be reduced by obtaining a loan under the government’s Green Deal or local authority grants.

Benefits

Replacing single-glazed windows with B-rated double glazing could stand to make you annual savings of £170 for your energy bills, as well as helping to save the planet – reducing CO2 emissions by 680kg a year.

Installing double-glazing will also help your home feel warmer all year-round, helping to retain heat in your home, reducing cold spots and draughts.

As an added bonus, double-glazing will also help to significantly minimise external noise, allowing your family to relax and unwind in peace and quiet.

With double-glazing having a life of approximately 20 years or more, you should have made £3,400 in cost savings over this period, partly negating some of your installation costs.

To make further savings on your energy costs you can secure the best deal on your domestic heating oil.