The role of glazing in the road to Net Zero was taken straight to the heart of government when the heads of the GGF went to Number 10 to meet PM Rishi Sunak’s political adviser Ameet Jogia MBE to drive home the need for up-to-date fenestration in cutting the nation’s carbon.
Group MD John Agnew explained how the latest findings, highlighted in the organisation’s ‘Window of Opportunity’ graphic document, show how what the government is missing by excluding windows from subsidy initiatives.
“Despite the fact 86% of homes already have double glazing (the government’s previous argument for excluding the sector from the Energy Company Obligation (ECO+) Scheme), we all know that this isn’t the full story.” he said.
“For example, seventy per cent of windows installed since 2002 were C rated and so don’t meet the building standards relevant today.
“On completion, the GGF translated the research into an easy-to-read infographic entitled ‘A Window of Opportunity’ to highlight the difference glazing can make. This is the document we presented to government.”
Along with the MD, Group Head of Membership & Customer Relations Ben Wallace, Head of GGF Technical David Borland, and GGF President Natalie Little, went to Downing Street to press the point.
Natalie Little said: “We successfully highlighted to government that the research calculates a significant 80 million windows would benefit from immediate replacement, saving as much C02 as taking 1.88 million cars off the road.
“We were also able to demonstrate the timely cost saving benefit to individuals as the research estimates the average annual saving per household for upgrading windows to current standards at £395.
“The ‘Window of Opportunity’ Document leaves little room for scepticism about the impact of glazing on carbon emissions, but we will continue to support the industry by gathering and collating the facts and presenting them to the people that have the power to make a change.”
Pictured: L to R- John Agnew, Natalie Little, Ben Wallace and Dave Borland of the GGF, with Amarjit Dhadwal advisor to Arun Photay, and Arun Photay of the Conservative Party.
