Double glazing: Where did it come from?
When did we install double-glazed windows for the first time? It seems that the birth of double glazing began with Scottish families living in large Victorian homes. The kitchen fire was the only way to heat a home back then. However, this wasn’t enough to adequately insulate larger houses. They were forced to find other solutions to combat draughty homes and heat their large houses during the winter.
In the 1930s, this thinking made its way over to the United States. C.D. Haven is credited by some as the inventor of double glazing. Haven’s idea, also known as ‘thermopane,’ was marketed primarily by the Libbey Owens Ford Glass Company. Thermopanes became very popular in America twenty years later and were associated with luxury and sophistication.
The UK didn’t adopt double glazing for some time, partly because of two practical reasons. Double-glazed windows were expensive for most households and were not considered a necessity. In the UK, it wasn’t until late 1970s or 1980s that the public began to take notice. As energy prices rose, cheaper materials for double-glazed windows appeared. In the current circumstances, it was necessary to consider more cost-effective and energy-efficient options.
Materials were more expensive back then than they are now. In the 1970s the price of replacement windows dropped dramatically due to the introduction of affordable aluminium frames. This allowed more people to invest in energy-efficient homes. The cost of replacing windows was further reduced when uPVC became a popular building material. For Double Glazing Bridgwater, visit https://choicetradeframes.co.uk/upvc-windows-doors/bridgwater/
The energy crisis of the 1970s was another factor that influenced the rise in double glazing. In 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an embargo on oil in response to US support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War of 1973-74. This embargo caused panic among consumers in the US and Western Europe as it severely limited the oil supply. The UK suddenly had to face its dependency on foreign oil. Many newly-aware homeowners in the UK chose to reduce their dependence on heating oil through the installation of new, more energy efficient window technology.
Double glazing is a popular home improvement choice and has grown in popularity. As more companies expand their product range, the technology is being applied to everything from simple windows up to conservatories. Every year, in the UK, millions are spent on new windows, doors, and conservatories. The technology has been boosted by newer building regulations that aim to reduce dependence on oil, and promote environmental awareness.
Double glazing will continue to be a popular choice for homeowners who want to save energy, reduce noise and improve insulation.
