ADF09_21-29 9/30/08 10:30 AM Page 25
As the GGF launches the
industry’s first ever
comprehensive guide to
environmental matters, GGF
President Robert Aitken takes
time out to talk about why it
is required by the industry
and what impact he foresees
it having.
Has the industry got attractive products
that are also environmentally friendly?
Yes indeed it has. The standard window
approved under Part L is a very energy efficient
product by comparison with what has typically
been used, for example, in a new build up to
2002, without even moving into the areas of higher
energy products. However, there are products on
Project Green Good
the market at a premium price, but still very
affordable, which can give considerably higher
energy performance. The way to access these
and to identify where you can find them is to look
Glazing Guide
for the BFRC (The British Fenestration Rating
Council) window energy rating.
The basic Part L compliant window under
Building Regulations is equivalent to a BFRC
Who is it aimed at? gone unrecognised. Band E window and you can currently purchase
Project Green is predominantly aimed in the It has been traditionally way ahead of the windows from the industry up to Band A, with
first instance at our Members. regulations in producing and selling energy progressively increasing levels of energy efficiency.
We are seeking to assist them in the best way efficient windows and in developing its waste
we can in demonstrating the benefits of energy management and recycling procedures. Is the GGF really committed to tackling the
efficient windows to their customers, and to help However, in the real world not everyone is doing environment, or is it paying lip service?
them sell and also to assist them in improving all that they can. It is therefore helpful to give We are absolutely committed to tackling the
their environmental effectiveness in areas like them a guide to best practice, to help them environmental issues. We have spent a
recycling, efficient uses, avoidance of waste and achieve this and also to provide an independent considerable amount of resources on
so on. Clearly we are also looking to get the document that shows outside parties, from the developing Project Green, publicizing it and
message across of what GGF membership and consumer through to Government, what the developing the energy calculator. We also took
the industry are doing, and can do for the trade. industry is doing on environmental matters. over the development two years ago of BFRC
We are also communicating with Government (The British Fenestration Rating Council) which
and opinion formers in the energy area and Is the consumer really interested in is committed to the encouragement of higher
ultimately the consumer. environment issues when it comes to energy performance windows based on energy
choosing new windows? bandings. We have put a significant amount of
What is special about this Guide? We will see proof of that in the coming years time and money into its development to bring
Well the first thing that is special is that it is but I think the pragmatic view is that as energy the more energy efficient options before the
unique. It is the first comprehensive bills are rising and the consumer’s disposable £ industry and the public.
environmental guide that has been published in their pocket becomes scarcer, they will
in our industry. It has been written with the indeed see the benefit of choosing higher What’s next for the GGF on the green agenda?
support of the members, but also using energy performance windows, when the time The first key thing we have to do is build on the
factual independent sources of information. comes for them to replace windows. work that has been done already on the green
It is therefore an independent picture of what guide to environmental good practice,
the role of energy efficient windows is, and What impact can the industry have on developing usage of the green carbon
what is best practice in environmental terms the environment? calculator and getting that message out to the
within our industry. It is well demonstrated that the existing industry and the consumer based on the
buildings stock is one of the highest investment we have put in. We are also heavily
How will the industry react to this Guide? contributors to the country’s carbon emissions. involved in consultations with government on
We are certainly hoping that it will react very It is considerably higher than air travel and, the next phases of regulatory compliance under
positively, and that it will be seen as a major based on the energy calculator that we have Building Regulations which are going to set the
contributor in positioning the industry in the developed as part of this Green Project, we can minimum standards from 2010, 2013 and 2016,
forefront of the environmental economy, that we clearly demonstrate the very significant so we have a very busy environmental calendar
are all facing. amounts of carbon emissions that can be saved ahead of us for the next few years.
by using energy efficient windows. The GGF also continues to talk to the
Why is the Guide needed by the industry? Fenestration is one of the major areas of any Government about the need for incentives for
In the past the industry has in fact made a building where heat escapes and excess energy efficient glazing and to encourage them
tremendous contribution to environmental energy is used if we don’t have fenestration up to move in this direction to tackle the energy
good practice, though in many respects it has to modern standards. efficiency of the existing housing stock.
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See inside back cover for Reader Enquiry Card or go online: www.adfonline.eu
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