Of all the stupid ideas...

[Gareth Hughes]

Window Scrappage Scheme petition. If anyone from here signs it I'll come round and be rude about you.
http://www.ggf.org.uk/ShowContent.aspx?ID=712

The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) has petitioned the government to introduce a scrappage scheme, whereby householders are encouraged to scrap their old poorly insulated windows in return for a £1,000 grant towards the installation of new, professionally installed, energy efficient ones.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Problem is, the Government might just be stupid enough... :twisted:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Lovely! Nice, dry windows - bye bye strange wobbly glass and wee astragals that need splicing and splining every two years. Honest, clean, plastic that lasts forever - where do I sign up?

And will I get an enraged Hughes on the doorstep? Do hope so!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I don't suppose the £1000 grant covers even a single window------ grrrrrrr

 

[Flyfisher]

Problem is, the Government might just be stupid enough... :twisted:

I'd put it more likely than "might".

All the indications point towards people without double-glazed windows being demonised in a similar way to 4x4 owners. And just wait until the government (of any persuasion) carries out a council tax re-banding exercise and factors-in "energy efficiency" to their calculations, which will unleash a mass of listed property owners lobbying for relaxation of LBC to allow them to replace their draughty, SG windows in favour of nice new modern ones. Government will relent, because saving the world is good PR, but will only allow wooden DG replacements in listed buildings as a concession to the conservation lobby. Besides, making and fitting all those new windows will be good for jobs and the economy.

Just remember, you read it here first.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Has anybody calculated the energy efficiency of these plastic windows? I mean a proper assessment - one which includes the embodied energy in the produciton of the plastic, glass, gas, transport and installers' tea break?

I doubt they are at all energy efficient.

And they look cr@p. :twisted:

 

[Gareth Hughes]

What's needed is a well-informed counter-petition setting out the concerns eloquently rehearsed above (I believe something of the sort may have been set in motion even if it hasn't yet made it to the Number 10 website). Perhaps one that makes this required reading:

http://www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk/live/research_generic.aspx

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I don't suppose the £1000 grant covers even a single window------ grrrrrrr

It would cost me about £5000 to replace the eight windows and two doors in my house with the cheapest plastic equivalents (several of them are, to be fair, not very good quality 1980s replacements)

I realise that the intention is to "save on carbon emissions", but purely in terms of heating costs I could expect that investment to save me around £50 to £70 a year on the gas bill. Or if you prefer, four further replacements (after this one) at the same cost, given that the new windows would be guaranteed for 20 years. Assuming the price of plastic windows - and gas - doesn't change, ( :shock: ) that's me dying happy at the age of 137 having paid £25,000 to save, at most, £7,000.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Gareth - if it means you live to 137, I say it's money well spent. Where can I sign that petition? 8)

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Well, yes, I am aiming at dying aged 137. In bed.

Shot by a jealous lover :lol:

But it won't need the carpy double glazing to keep warm...

and frankly, at 137, I think the occasional blast of fresh air through the ill-fitting sashes may be much needed.

 

[Flyfisher]

Why are "ill-fitting" sash windows a bad thing whereas modern DG windows with mandatory (I believe) trickle vents are OK?

I guess trickle vents are less variable than ill-fitting sashes when it comes to ventilation, but it would be interesting to know how typical examples compare, And if old sash windows are fitted with the latest and greatest draught-proofing measures, does that mean they would not comply with the ventilation requirements in the building regs ?

Given that it's recommended for domestic rooms to be ventilated to the tune of 4x per hour (more for kitchens and bathrooms) for a heathly living environment, I'm not entirely sure about all this fuss over a few draughty windows. Whats the point of a hermetically sealed house if you have to open the windows for a healthy living environment?

 

[robgil]

you know there are some very good double glazed wooden framed windows on the market , i for one would make good use of this scheme to get rid of my 1950's metal framed single glazed monsters in exchange for some nice oak framed period styled dg windows , although 1k wouldn't even buy the window fitters lunch never mind the windows to fit.
however i do agree , those plastic dg windows are horrid things.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

So, if you only get £1000 grant for scrapping all your windows to save the planet, which ones are you going to go for - the nice wooden ones, or the cheap placcy?
You've exposed another flaw in the reasoning (though the biggest flaw is that it's being promoted by double glazing manufacturers)

 

[Penners]

What's needed is a well-informed counter-petition setting out the concerns eloquently rehearsed above (I believe something of the sort may have been set in motion even if it hasn't yet made it to the Number 10 website).

Well, Mr H., what are you waiting for? It's the democratic right of any citizen to start such a petition on the No. 10 website and have it ignored.

You're better-informed than the great majority of us here. You set it up, and I'll be among the first to sign it - in blood, if necessary.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Well, Mr H.... You're better-informed than the great majority of us here.

The cheek of it! I seem to remember you objecting to some chap on the 10:10 post making generally assumptions about "most of us" and there you go making the same assumption.... oh hold on. You're completely right, though. :lol:

 

[biffvernon]

Just back from a few days tramping the Galloway Hills so haven't really had time to read everything. Am I right in thinking the Government are going to give me an extra £1000 every time I replace a plastic window with an oak one?

 

[chuckey]

Lubbley Jubbley, that a grand on the price of any double glazing I'll do.
Del Boy

 

[Penners]

Am I right in thinking the Government are going to give me an extra £1000 every time I replace a plastic window with an oak one?

Er... close, but no coconut. Try looking at that principle in the mirror.

 

[Penners]

It seems that one particular window vand... er, replacement company has decided not to wait for the Government to ponder the No. 10 website petition.

See the green flash here: http://www.anglianhome.co.uk/windows/window-request.aspx?from=0237&campaign=google_windows&kw=bathroom+glass&atlassearch=paid&cmp=windows&gclid=CNT89fep5Z0CFUtp4wodcmm3MA

They were advertising on TV, last night.

:evil:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Although to be fair to them Penners, their unique manufacturing process for their wooden sash windows (including vacuum-impregnation with an anti-fungal and anti-rot treatment followed by a microporous coating) means they can offer a fantastic 5 year guarantee on all their wooden windows.

If only many of our PPUKers original wooden windows had lasted for 5 years. :roll:

http://www.anglianhome.co.uk/replacement-upvc-windows/wooden-sash-windows/