More Ignorance From Heritage Organisations

The latest edition of the GGP Magazine has published an article where Heritage organisations SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) and IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation) call for the end to the window scrappage scheme petition, claiming it could cause more damage than what it's worth.

They state that it could put 'thousands of historic windows at risk and place home owners on the wrong side of the law'. They say that the scheme could have a devastating effect on historic buildings. Also that on buildings that are not listed, but have traditional historic windows, they claim they would be replaced unnecessarily, when they could easily be repaired.

Their next major point they explain is how replacing their windows could actaully increase the carbon footprint of the home, especially when using products with a shorter life cycle.

Hearing this sort of uneducated crap frustrates me greatly.

Firstly, listed buildings wouldn't have their windows changed in any case as they would be protected. Also, I'm sure if a window was in a repairable state, then it would be. But at the end of the day Heritage organisations need to face up to the fact that timber will eventually have to be replaced, and PVCu is now the ideal option as it is more energy efficient, low in maintenance, recyclable - even into new PVCu windows, and due to better manufacturing processes, the most secure and now aesthetically sympathetic to any age of building.

Secondly, to say that the homeowner will raise their carbon footprint by replacing their windows is complete rubbish. All the original materials that are removed can be fully recyled and used for something else. Homeowners can take advantage of much better thermally effecient windows, made of recyclable PVCu. PVCu can be recyled hundreds of times, unlike timber windows.

Thirdly, a reputable company wouldn't cause damage to building if they installed the new windows in the correct manner. 

This is just another example of another dusty old Heritage organisation too stubborn for their own good. Having organisations like these around, being allowed to influence the evolution and development of the fenestration industry is only doing harm, not good. It is time these people stood aside and let progress flourish unhindered.

The full article can be found at: http://ggpmag.com/newsitem.asp?newsID=334