Timber selected for FC office

Brand new energy-efficient glazing Pilkington energiKare Legacy has featured in a pioneering refurbishment of a London council property in Islington. The refurbishment aims to cut household bills by 50% and reduce carbon emissions by 70% through the application of sustainable products and techniques.

This is one of the first housing refurbishments in the UK to use Pilkington energiKare Legacy, which was recently launched in the UK to provide an energy-efficient solution for older traditional properties, or where a slim line insulating glass unit is required to improve aesthetics. The property is a 150-year-old, 600ft2 ground floor flat, which is part of a Victorian conversion, and has been sympathetically refurbished to maintain its original character. Various new energy-efficient products and methods, such as Pilkington energiKare Legacy, innovative insulation and a ‘value carbon’ assessment have been applied to show that older properties can be brought up to standard with new sustainable regulations.
 
The ‘value carbon’ assessment is a method of eco-assessment developed by contractors United House that measures carbon saved against money spent. Pilkington energiKare Legacy was specified as the appropriate glazing option as it provides considerably improved thermal performance when replacing single glazing, and performs well under this assessment. Using two panes of glass separated by a gap of 0.2mm (compared to a 20mm gap in traditional double glazing), its total thickness of 6mm is enough to provide an aesthetically pleasing glazing solution and an effective carbon saving technique. This is combined with the properties of the original Pilkington energiKare product, which uses solar gain to allow heat from the sun in through the window and the use of a low emissivity glass as the inner pane in the insulating glass unit which reflects heat back into the room. This process helps to reduce the need for heating, therefore saving energy and money off fuel bills. 
  
Daniel Johncock, intermediate building services engineer, United House Group, said: “Windows are one part of a building that can have a huge impact on sustainability and energy loss. We specified Pilkington energiKare Legacy for this project as it is an unrivalled glazing product, which contributes to the building’s overall energy performance while blending seamlessly into the external design.” 
  
www.pilkington.co.uk/energikare