Clearview National March 2015 - Issue 160 | Page 28

INDUSTRYNEWS

Reducing Noise through Glass
The GGF has released a new publication entitled
‘Acoustics - How glazing can help reduce noise’.
»»The new document
offers guidance to homeowners
and the industry on the complex
subject of how the installation of
suitable glazing can help reduce
noise entering the home.
It may seem obvious, but
the new publication defines
exactly what noise is and how
it materialises in many forms.
The new leaflet explains how,

for example, having replacement
or secondary glazing windows
installed can potentially reduce
airborne noise, and also explains
that reducing noise levels is
often dependent on how noise is
entering the home.
Giles Willson, GGF Deputy
Chief Executive and Director of
Technical Affairs comments: “It
is pleasing to see this publication

released after all the hard work
and expertise the GGF Technical
team and our Members have
contributed to its production.
This new information booklet
is designed not just to educate
homeowners but also to help our
Members handle homeowners’
perceptions and expectations on
glazing and how it can help noise
reduction.”

To download the publication
please visit, www.ggf.org.uk

RESPONDING TO ECO 2 PLANS
The GGF this week responded to the Department of Energy
and Climate Change’s (DECC) Consultation on the extension
plans for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 2015-2017.

»»In the letter of
response, the GGF outlined
its support for the proposed
requirements for ECO for the

obligation period 2015-2017
and welcomed moves towards
ensuring energy efficiency targets
are met and households pay less
in energy bills as a result of energy
saving measures being installed.
However, the GGF emphasised
the important role glazing plays
in the efficiency of homes,
highlighting that up to 23% of

a home’s heat energy can be lost
through inefficient windows.
Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief
Executive commented: “The
installation of energy efficient
glazing plays an important role
in helping to create more energy
efficient housing, and given its
many benefits, the GGF believes
that energy efficient glazing

should be incentivised further in
Government schemes.”
The GGF will continue
to closely follow further
developments within the ECO
scheme and related Government
energy efficient schemes to ensure
Members are kept fully up to
speed with any changes that may
impact on their business.

CONTINUING GREEN DEAL DISAPPOINTMENT
»»The GGF continues to be
disappointed with slow progress of Green
Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
following last months release of the latest
statistics which continue to show how the
scheme is not working for the replacement
window industry.
The latest Green Deal and ECO statistics,
giving details on the Green Deal (GD) up to
the end of December 2014 and the Energy
Company Obligation (ECO) up to the
end of November 2014, show a decrease in
the number of Green Deal Assessments in
December, which is being attributed to the
Christmas Break.

28 » M AR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

The scheme still has not taken off as
quickly as originally promised by former
DECC Minister Greg Barker and has been
marred with bad press recently surrounding
reports that consumers have had to wait for
promised cashback payments that fail to
materialise.
However, following on from the £100m
that Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed
Davey secured from the Treasury, the Green
Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF)
is said to be secure and the DECC continue
to say that it is offering consumers access to
energy efficiency measures and helping them
to reduce their household energy bills.

‘the DECC continue to say
that it is offering consumers
access to energy efficiency
measures and helping
them to reduce their
household energy bills’