Pole position
24th January 2012

An independent omnibus survey commissioned by the Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) shows a marked change in traditional reasons for fitting new windows and doors.

Against a backdrop of spiralling domestic energy prices in 2011, the survey revealed 61% of homeowners now list reducing energy bills as one of their three most important reasons for home improvements.

The survey carried out by Opinium Research & Rigby Research was designed to establish homeowners’ reasons for buying replacement windows and doors, and their experience of energy efficient windows. The findings are based on responses from 1,224 UK homeowners aged over 18 and energy saving was clearly top of mind.

Traditional reasons for buying new windows and doors now trail far behind the headline energy-saving figure of 61%, with 43% wanting to make their home more comfortable and 41% wanting to improve the look of their home.

Introduced six years ago, Window Energy Ratings (WERs) are gaining recognition; 30% of homeowners who had had work done or intended to do so, said their windows were rated A-C.

In contrast, U-values were off the radar: only 2% of homeowners who had had their windows replaced recognised the terminology.

Thirty two percent of homeowners questioned had replaced their windows or doors in the past five years. Of the 13% who plan to replace their windows or doors in the next five years 47% say they will have A-C Window Energy Ratings (WERs). Younger homeowners were better informed about energy ratings with only 35% don’t knows compared to 50% of don’t knows among the over 55s. London and the South West were better informed with 39% don’t knows and 31% respectively. They are both much better informed than the North West, with 54% don’t knows, the South East (53%) and Wales (57% don’t knows).

Only 12% of respondents placed “reducing carbon footprint” among their top three reasons for replacing windows or doors.

DGCOS Founder Tony Pickup said: “This is a major shift in reasons for buying and homeowners do understand that energy-efficient windows and doors help reduce fuel bills. Energy-saving used to be a by-product of installing windows and doors but now its top priority because of rocketing energy bills.

“There will be more big changes with the Government setting much greater expectations for consumer protection triggered by the Green Deal and the need to give homeowners the confidence to spend. The peace of mind packs help DGCOS members clinch the deal because it is backed up by the most comprehensive protection in the marketplace. Selling is easier because homeowners can buy completely risk free!”