| The causes of climate change cannot be easily | | | | although the small print in some PVC window |
| reversed. There is no simple remedy to help us | | | | guarantees can require a full wash down every |
| meet our obligations to our grandchildren. We | | | | year to prevent airborne corrosion from occurring. |
| must face our responsibilities as custodians of | | | | However, in the real world, damage, colour |
| Planet Earth. | | | | change and wear and tear can occur, which will |
| In fact, virtually no single action that any of us will | | | | spoil the appearance of any window frame |
| ever take will make a measurable difference on | | | | material. In the case of aluminium, when the |
| its own. And yet, collectively, if our tiny efforts | | | | powder coating is damaged that can allow in the |
| are co-ordinated and concerted, then the | | | | elements and especially salt/sea spray, to start a |
| possibilities can become enormous. | | | | corrosion process that cannot be reversed. |
| Take any snowflake and its contribution is utterly | | | | Neither aluminium nor PVC can be realistically |
| insignificant - and yet, an avalanche contains no | | | | repaired or re-painted and therefore when their |
| snowflake which is any bigger. So it's the | | | | appearance becomes unacceptable, they must be |
| combination of all of our efforts and actions | | | | replaced prematurely - and at great cost |
| working together, which ultimately and powerfully | | | | financially and environmentally. The beauty of GRP |
| can and will make a difference. | | | | Fibreglass, however, is that it is completely |
| Product specifications within the Construction | | | | impervious to the weather and salt/sea spray, so |
| Industry are no different. One building performing | | | | the applied colour is for aesthetic purposes only - |
| less well than its neighbours will hardly make an | | | | and not to protect it, so any surface damage will |
| impact and yet, each one should be designed and | | | | be inconsequential. Furthermore, even major |
| built to the best ability of its creators, in order to | | | | damage can be easily repaired (with an epoxy |
| achieve the highest environmental criteria - and | | | | resin system) and any paint colour can be applied |
| thereby helping to reduce our total carbon | | | | to it at any stage of its life, thus bringing back the |
| emissions. | | | | original pristine finish, or changing colour - giving |
| Individual building products, contributing to just one | | | | another long and attractive life ahead for each |
| of those building projects make an even smaller | | | | application. Thus, the combination of zero |
| impact - but which accumulate towards the | | | | maintenance with the ability to optionally repair or |
| environmental performance of the total building, | | | | re-paint if ever required, allows GRP windows to |
| provided it has been correctly selected and | | | | achieve their full life potential of 50 - 75 years |
| specified. | | | | with low risk of necessary replacement. This adds |
| From the foregoing, therefore, you can see that | | | | considerably to their environmental advantage and |
| this article is certainly not claiming that GRP | | | | important Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). |
| Fibreglass Windows will save the Planet. Far from | | | | 4. Growing dissatisfaction is also occurring with |
| it! But they can make an important contribution in | | | | incumbent window materials today, due to the |
| 5 ways. Here's how:- | | | | either toxic or high energy use of their |
| 1. Pultruded GRP, being 65% glass is primarily | | | | manufacturing processes, resulting in the window |
| made from sand, the most renewable substance | | | | having 'high embodied energy'. Aluminium |
| on the planet. Also, 33% is from a recycled | | | | production, for example, requires temperatures |
| source. Combined with a tough, polyester | | | | approaching 2000C, which is a high ecological price |
| thermosetting resin creates an immensely strong | | | | for the environment to pay, if fossil fuel energy is |
| composite compound with astonishing durability | | | | used. PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) does not require |
| and long life (50-75 years). The resultant GRP | | | | such heat but Human Toxicity is high due to the |
| composite has twice the strength to weight ratio | | | | Chlorine (Ozone depleting, greenhouse gas) being |
| of steel and five times that of reinforced | | | | released during manufacture, as well as lead |
| concrete, no less! Also, it is unaffected by the | | | | stabilisers being used in the process, according to |
| harshest climate, or sea water, which corrodes | | | | Greenpeace and Good Homes Alliance (GHA). |
| steel and especially aluminium. The recycled and | | | | Even timber cannot escape concern, since |
| renewable source, long life and zero maintenance | | | | Mahogany can only be grown in a Rainforest and |
| all exceed the performance of other window | | | | takes 75 years to mature. So, to cut it down and |
| frames and contribute to its excellent | | | | convert it into a window with 20 - 25 years |
| environmental credentials and smaller carbon | | | | service life at best, hardly seems sustainable at all. |
| footprint. | | | | The pultrusion process for GRP, however, runs at |
| 2. The largest proportion of carbon emissions in | | | | below 150C and the process is non-toxic, |
| UK comes from the heating of homes and | | | | non-carcinogenic and inert from every |
| buildings, which accounts for just over 50% of | | | | perspective. Furthermore, in situ it remains inert |
| the total carbon output. This is why improved | | | | and does not leak any harmful chemicals (VOCs) |
| thermal insulation is so important and why | | | | which also adds to its sustainable credentials. |
| Government is using both, legislation and financial | | | | Therefore, GRP Fibreglass can be regarded as |
| grants to encourage us all to insulate better and | | | | benign during manufacture and throughout its life, |
| conserve energy. which uses both carrot and | | | | which achieves further advantages over both |
| stick! Glass is a naturally good insulator and since | | | | aluminium and PVC. |
| GRP Fibreglass contains 65% glass, then that, too, | | | | 5. Disposal at end of life is also a key |
| is an excellent insulator and makes for very | | | | consideration for sustainability. Aluminium can be |
| thermally efficient window frames. Compare that | | | | recycled by re-heating and melting the profile, |
| to aluminium, ironically an inherently good thermal | | | | whilst PVC can be recycled only by approved |
| conductor, which is not what you want - or to | | | | licensed specialists (like asbestos), consequently, |
| PVC, which needs internal metal reinforcing bars | | | | there is little evidence that this occurs in any |
| for strength, which also conducts very well. The | | | | meaningful numbers. The majority of timber goes |
| metals in both of these windows create a 'cold | | | | to landfill, where it releases Methane (green-house |
| bridge' which allows heat to escape and thereby | | | | gas) as it decomposes (Source: BRE |
| lowers the overall thermal efficiency of the entire | | | | Environmental). GRP can be disposed of positively |
| window. Therefore, GRP windows can achieve | | | | by grinding down and using as a filler in concrete, |
| much lower thermal efficiency 'U' values down to | | | | which acts as an enhanced binding agent in the |
| 0.9 W/M2K, whereas aluminium, for example, | | | | concrete mix (BRE) |
| struggles to achieve a 1.8 'U' value, which is twice | | | | To summarise, therefore, GRP Fibreglass windows |
| as bad, of course. Therefore, not only is GRP | | | | can help to reduce our collective UK carbon |
| twice as good an insulator but combine this with | | | | emissions beyond incumbent window materials, as |
| twice the longevity over aluminium and PVC and | | | | follows: |
| the true benefit is a four-fold advantage for the | | | | * Renewable and recycled source - giving the |
| environment, in this most critical of areas. Put | | | | longest, maintenance free window life. |
| simply, GRP windows can insulate twice as well, | | | | * Excellent thermal insulation - twice as good, for |
| for twice as long. | | | | twice as long. Best value! |
| 3. Maintenance of timber windows is costly, both, | | | | * Zero maintenance required - but repairs and |
| financially and environmentally, with teams of | | | | re-coating simple. Peace of mind! |
| surveyors and decorators driving around the | | | | * Low embodied energy, non toxic and inert at |
| country, assessing and then making multiple visits | | | | every stage of life. Benign! |
| per property to paint the windows to prolong | | | | * BRE recommended disposal to pass its benefits |
| their life. This is the Achilles heel of timber | | | | onwards to concrete production |
| windows - and which makes them the most | | | | No wonder that GRP has become the window of |
| expensive option of all when this essential element | | | | choice in North America for zero carbon |
| is factored into the calculation. GRP, aluminium and | | | | construction which is now a consistent reality. |
| PVC require no such maintenance regime, | | | | |