3 retrofit alternatives to double glazing

A good heating source is key, but the biggest problem in many of our homes is warm air escaping faster than you can make it.

When you’re choosing the right heating for your home there are several factors you need to consider, including the amount of heating you need, the running costs and the environmental impacts of the different options. Good insulation is important because it will mean you can buy a smaller heating system, and running it will cost you less. But if you already have well insulated ceilings, floors and walls, a lot of your home’s heat will escape through windows instead.

While good quality curtains and blinds do stop heat from escaping, they’re nowhere near as efficient as double glazing, now a standard feature of all new homes built in NZ. For older homes, there’s also the option of secondary glazing and DIY window insulation kits which can reduce heat loss through glazing by up to 60%.