The Environment

How green is Slimlite?

Household energy production accounts for a quarter of fossil fuel emissions in the UK. One major action to reduce the demand for energy is to control the loss of heat by insulation in windows.

Levels of insulation are measured in U values. The lower the U value, the better the insulation level. In 2001 the government introduced regulation document L, which states that; all new windows must have a U value of less than 2.0.

To comply with this regulation architects, builders, joiners and householders have had to settle for large double glazed units inherited from the PVC-U replacement industry, typically 18-24mm wide. To house these units we have had to build oversized sashes and boxes. Which have thick, beaded or planted glazing bars, clumpy stiles and rails. They are more expensive to make and offer us little chance of retaining historical and characterful proportions to our buildings. Just not right.

Until now, that is...

Using low emmissivity glass, an energy efficient warm edge spacer and filled with a gas ideal for compression, Slimlite Double glazed units offer something for everyone in the sash window industry. To the architect and householder it offers a real chance of retaining Georgian or Victorian proportions, while at the same time complying with building regulations and keeping us warm as toast.

The low profile perimeter seal (5mm) and the width of the unit (11.3 mm) it can be puttied into conventional sized or existing wooden sashes, leaving no sign of the double glazing . The outer pane can also be heat treated to reproduce inconsistencies in the glass. This gives the characteristic Crown sheet look evident in many old buildings today.

To the builder and joiner it offers savings in timber costs, installation, balancing and making good. The dark years are over, we now have a product we can recommend wholeheartedly.

  • It keeps you warm
  • It retains character
  • it complies with the law and it helps us all to protect the environment