Briefing: Sustainability assessment of super-insulated timber windows

In the wake of ever-increasing energy and environmental challenges, sustainable development has become one of the core issues in the world. The construction industry is responsible for over 40% of global energy consumption and around one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore has an important role to play in achieving sustainable development. Windows are among the most sensitive elements in a building in terms of their thermal performance. This paper presents the findings from an energy, environmental and economic analysis of a super-insulated timber window in comparison with a typical 'Part L' (English and Welsh Building Regulations) timber window and a 'Section 6' (Scottish Building Standards) timber window with U-values of 0·7 W/m²K, 2 W/m²K and 1·8 W/m²K, respectively.