Published: 22nd November 2011
Advanced performance thermally efficient windows, featuring frames manufactured solely from recycled PVC-U, have been supplied to a Birmingham sheltered housing scheme.
Manufactured by Framexpress and installed by lead contractor, Berben Group, 128 recycled windows were specified by Yardley Great Trust at its Foliot Fields site, a supported living scheme for older people.
Made using the new recycled low carbon RECO22 window framing system from Profile 22, the carbon footprint of the extruded window profile is just six per cent of that manufactured using virgin material.
The first window system to secure a dedicated A+ rating across all domestic applications from the BRE earlier this year, the specification of RECO22 by the Trust, provides a strong fit to its own commitment to the sustainable management of its property portfolio.
Lynn Bailey, housing manager, Yardley Great Trust, said: “We try and instil a positive approach to sustainability in all of our activity from supporting residents in reducing waste to working with local suppliers and the specification, wherever possible, of products that we feel fit with our own commitments to the environment.
“At Foliot Fields we wanted to make properties warmer and importantly more secure for residents but we also looked at environmental impact and ongoing maintenance costs. We felt that this particular specification was the strongest fit to our own values.”
The 31 properties at Foliot Fields were built by Yardley Great Trust in 1984. A registered charity, the Trust was founded in 1355 and aims to relieve poverty through grants, as well as providing care and housing to older people throughout the Birmingham area.
As residents remained in occupancy throughout the project, full consultation with them and close working between partners formed a central tenet of project delivery.
Barry Nunes, commercial sales manager, Berben, said: “Window replacement isn’t in itself disruptive but as the residents were elderly and some had mobility issues, the project team worked closely with Yardley Great Trust to make sure that disruption was kept to an absolute minimum and that the specific requirements of those individuals were met in full.
“We found that once installed the feedback we had was very positive, residents felt warmer but also fed back positively as to the ease of use and in particular an increased sense of security and sound proofing.”
RECO22 was launched by Profile 22 last year, bringing together the commercial window systems specialist’s expertise in extrusion and innovation in recycling and the recovery of waste and end of life PVC-U, developed by parent company, the Epwin Group.
In addition to cutting the carbon footprint of extruded framing material to just six per cent of that of virgin material, a triple glazed option means that RECO22 delivers an advanced thermal performance achieving u-values (the measure of thermal insulation) as low as 0.8 W/m2K.
Andrew Reid, Commercial development director, Profile 22 said: “In recovering and recycling old material and closing the loop on the recycling process by re-using that material in an advanced generation of low maintenance and energy efficient products we believe we are adding value in our offer to social housing providers.
“In RECO22 we are able to offer social housing providers a low maintenance, low carbon and energy efficient window option. We believe that goes a long way to supporting them in meeting targets, not just of environmental sustainability but also the long termer sustainability of housing maintenance budgets.”
To find out about Profile 22’s advanced performance energy efficient window and door systems visit www.profile22.co.ukor call 01952 290910.
For more information on Berben visit www.berben.co.uk or call 0121 7896369.
To find out more about Framexpress visit www.framexpress.co.uk or call 01952 581100.
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