Retrofit and Replacement Are Not Opposites When homeowners begin planning a low-energy renovation, the glazing conversation can quickly become binary: keep the existing windows or replace them with higher-performing ones. In reality, a well-considered retrofit can involve a much broader range of interventions. Depending on the building and the condition of individual openings, the options […]
Tag Archives: Embodied Carbon
27
Aug
Aug
“Recycled Aluminium” Sounds More Precise Than It Often Is Sustainability language around aluminium has become increasingly prominent in architectural specification. Terms such as recycled aluminium, recyclable aluminium, low-carbon aluminium and circular aluminium can appear alongside one another in product literature, creating the impression that they describe broadly the same environmental benefit. They do not necessarily […]
27
Aug
Aug
Age Is a Clue, Not a Diagnosis One of the easiest ways to judge ageing glazing is also one of the least reliable: looking at how old it is. Homeowners are often told that windows have a particular expected lifespan and that, once they approach a certain age, replacement should follow. In reality, chronological age […]
27
Aug
Aug
Before Asking Where an Old Window Goes, Ask Why It Is Coming Out When discussing the environmental impact of replacement windows, the conversation often begins too late. We ask whether the glass can be recycled, what happens to the aluminium or timber frames, and whether the old units will avoid landfill. These are worthwhile questions, […]
26
Aug
Aug
Aluminium Has an Environmental Cost — and We Should Start There Any credible discussion about the sustainability of aluminium windows should begin with an uncomfortable but important point: aluminium is not an impact-free material. Before it becomes part of a window frame, raw materials have been extracted and processed, aluminium has been produced, profiles have […]
26
Aug
Aug
Embodied Carbon Starts Before the Window Reaches the Building The embodied carbon of glazing does not begin when a window or door arrives on site. By that point, materials have already been extracted and processed, glass has been manufactured, frames and components have been produced, and the complete system has been assembled and transported. Each […]