Lower Your Energy Bills By Specifying Planitherm SGG

Saint-Gobain’s Planitherm glass is proven to be one of the most energy efficient glasses available in the UK.  Planitherm is a new generation energy saving window glass that uses an advanced ‘softcoat’ coating that helps to retain more of the internal warmth whilst capturing free energy from natural daylight (known as passive solar heat gain). This equates to lower energy bills compared to windows with standard glass. By specifying Planitherm in your windows you can cut your energy bills by as much as 28%*. All glass has a slight tint, however Planitherm products are almost completely clear and maximise the amount of natural light coming in.

Saint-Gobain is the largest supplier of high performance low-emissivity (or low-e) glass’s in Europe, and is one of Pilkington’s largest competitors here in the UK. Planitherm glass is not a new product; it has been available and manufactured in the UK since 2004. Duration Windows have been supplying Planitherm Total+ for many years. However since 2010 when Window Energy Ratings (WER’s) became part of the revised more stringent part L of the Building regulations, we have been supplying Planitherm glass as our standard double glazed sealed unit for the majority of our aluminium windows and doors.

This glass is designed specifically to to keep interiors more comfortable in the winter months and improve your home's energy efficiency. It is far easier to achieve a Window Energy Rating (WER) of ‘A’ when using Planitherm Glass, as it provides high solar gain, capturing free energy from natural daylight. Window Energy Ratings provide an outline or overall value for how energy efficient a window is and are an alternative to thermal efficiency (U-values) for compliance to the building regulations. WER’s are calculated by offsetting the heat loss through a window against the solar gain through the glass. Window energy ratings were introduced to the building regulations to try and help to reduce CO₂ emissions and protect the environment. The ratings range from A to G with a C-rating being the minimum rating required for compliance with current Building Regulations (Alternatively an overall U-value of 1.6 is required).
Find Out More About Window Energy Ratings.

The Planitherm range can be combined with many Saint-Gobain Glass products, providing a multitude of high performance of high performance, multi-functional glazing options, inculding:

• Self-cleaning and/or solar control glazing
• Acoustic insulation
• Safety and security
•  Obscured and/or decorative glazing

Planitherm products are the ideal low-e solution. Not only do SGG Planitherm products allow free heat and light from the sun to pass through the glass and warm your home, but they have a transparent metallic coating that reflects heat from radiators or fires back into the room, rather than allowing it to escape through the windows. This further contributes to the energy efficiency of your windows. The thermal insulation provided by low-E double glazing is three times more efficient than that of standard hard coat double glazing, such as Pilkington’s K glass. The coating is permanent and hermetically sealed within the glass unit so will last the lifetime of the window. Of course all old, uncoated, double glazing offers a limited level of heat retention. However, Building Regulations now state that an energy efficient window glass must be used in all replacement windows. A double glazed unit containing Planitherm is on average 40% more thermally efficient than standard non-coated double glazing.

Reasons why we use Planitherm Glass products:

• Free Solar Gain - Planitherm uses advanced coating technology to capture free energy from natural daylight, helping to heat your property.
• Thermal Insulation - The advanced coating reflects heat back into the room, meaning less energy is needed to heat the home to the desired temperature.
• Optimal Window Energy Rating - Planitherm combines with virtually any window frame to achieve a Window Energy Rating (WER) of C and an A rating is easier to achieve allowing for easy compliance to the Building Regulations.
• Haze & Tint Free Windows - Planitherm maximises the amount of natural light into the home, without the haze or tint effects associated with older double glazed windows.
• Eliminate Condensation - Planitherm helps to virtually eliminate internal condensation, reducing draughts and cold spots in and around the windows. 

For more information on the glass we use as standard, the glass we offer as upgrades and glass specification please visit our website at www.duration.co.uk

*Savings calculated using the GGF energy savings calculator based on upgrading from single glazing to A-rated double-glazed windows in an average gas heated detached house.