Phil Brown, European regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, discusses how Covid-19 has changed what people need from their homes while driving requirements for sustainable glazing.
The quick scramble to home working at the onset of the Covid-19 crisis was one of many challenges presented by the pandemic.
But now, 82% of UK businesses are looking to embrace remote working long-term, according to Whereby, a Norwegian video-conferencing company. It’s a sign of how lockdown has dramatically changed our working ways.
Now more than ever, having a suitable working space is a top requirement for housing. And there’s no doubt that this demand will impact glazing specifications in the home – whether change is driven by renovation projects or developers creating houses that accommodate new ways of living.
Rise of the home office
Remote working and spending more time at home has changed what people want from their homes, and there are many ways to create more space, while ensuring a bright and peaceful environment.
Natural light can help reduce eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision, which can detract from productivity. In fact, research undertaken at Cornell University found that workplaces with good natural light saw an increase of up to 40% in productivity.
There also doesn’t have to be a trade-off between having large windows that fill spaces with natural light and the comfort of occupants. Modern climate control glazing, such as Pilkington Suncool™, enables these spaces to be cool and comfortable – perfect for productive working.
When converting other areas of the home into working spaces, such as spare bedrooms or garages, noise control glazing like Pilkington Optiphon™, will be vital – particularly for those in noisy areas.
Increased demand for an eco-home
But many homeowners are also conscious of higher heating bills as a result of spending more time working from home.
The UK Energy Research Centre found that domestic energy consumption increased as a result of the pandemic, with Uswitch estimating people working from home would use 25% more electricity and 17% more gas per day.
Ensuring adequate thermal efficiency in our homes will be key in helping the planet and our pockets. And, energy-efficient glass can play an important role in achieving thermal insulation.
Opting for windows with energy-efficient glazing, such as Pilkington K Glass™ or Pilkington Optitherm™ S1 Plus, can help to keep homes warmer whilst also enabling homeowners to save money on heating bills through energy saving.
Additionally, the government has gone some way to incentivise sustainable home renovation with the Green Homes Grant, which may result in a number of households opting to replace their single glazed windows with double or triple glazing, or upgrading their doors, when installing at least one of the primary measures outlined by the government.
Builders and developers need to be registered with TrustMark to be eligible for the scheme, as homeowners will be provided with a list of accredited local suppliers when applying for vouchers.
After a quote is supplied and the work approved, a voucher will then be issued.
An energy-conscious approach
Being energy-conscious and using materials that will help homeowners to keep energy usage down, will in turn reduce carbon emissions and energy bills.
Ultimately though, specifiers will need to strike the right balance of energy efficiency, sound insulation, solar control and light transmission when selecting glazing for housing projects.
Doing so will help homeowners to make their properties fit for purpose post-COVID, and support developers and architects as they reimagine home layouts to accommodate modern working lifestyles.
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