When environment secretary Margaret Beckett announced the government’s Foundations for Our Future programme last year, it brought to the fore its commitment to implementing “sustainable construction”.

The aim is to ensure “a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come” said Mrs Beckett, adding that the strategy aims to encourage public and private sectors to adopt policies and practices that protect the environment and use renewable resources.

One consequence of the “sustainability” drive is a return to timber windows. Wood is not just right for the strategy because it’s naturally renewable. Timber windows also have less “embodied energy” than those in plastic or aluminium – complying with the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 on cutting CO2 emissions and conserving energy.

What’s more, timber can be supplied and preserved without the use of harmful chemicals, it doesn’t require the use of finite resources and its disposal doesn’t raise environmental concerns.

With this in mind, registered social landlords are increasingly making timber their preferred choice for joinery.

The Peabody Trust – one of the UK’s largest registered social landlords – has had a policy of using mainly timber windows since May 2001 (Timber Windows Autumn/Winter 2002). Others that have made a similar move include Newcastle City Council, Space Housing Association in Manchester, and East Thames Housing Group.

East Thames’ senior project manager Lesley Elmes said it decided to use mainly timber windows on refurbishment projects because “they perform well in terms of energy efficiency, are simpler to maintain and repair, and they offer long-term environmental sustainability.”

Partnering contract

Through its recent partnering contract with JELD-WEN UK Ltd, the group favours timber for new build properties and will use timber windows on appropriate refurbishments. Exceptions will be on large developments, such as blocks of flats, where all the windows are already uPVC. The refurbishments will be gradual, but substantial – East Thames owns around 9,500 properties in east London, mostly over 60 years old.

JELD-WEN’s national sales manager for the public sector Maggie Gilroy said: “Since last summer we’ve seen a marked increase in the demand for timber windows from registered social landlords (RSLs) tasked with adopting a gradual progression to putting sustainable policies into practice.

“We support measures that encourage quality and sustainability – they are key issues in regard to the way we manufacture and purchase products. And partnering is part of that commitment too.”

Switching to timber, however, is not always plain sailing, as some housing associations have met resistance from tenants who fear that timber windows won’t offer the same low maintenance and high energy-efficiency.

Ms Gilroy said JELD-WEN UK had addressed these issues by matching the product offering of uPVC in terms of low maintenance and high performance. “Our focus is on providing timber windows at a cost as low as possible while ensuring that the product will last as long as possible.”

Guarantee

The factory-glazed timber windows for East Thames are made to exacting standards and coated with a paint system that carries a 10-year guarantee.

“When they’re properly maintained and of the right quality, the lifespan of timber windows can match that of uPVC,” said Ms Gilroy.

All JELD-WEN’s timber windows are manufactured in accordance with the British Woodworking Federation‘s Timber Window Accreditation Scheme. The timber is guaranteed for 30 years against rot and fungal attack, and the windows have a 10-year guarantee against manufacturing defects.

With sustainability on the government’s agenda, timber is making a comeback and RSLs, like councils and social housing schemes, are taking the lead in its resurgence.

BWF product manager Adam Frankling said the private sector was following suit as the government, architects and customers were increasingly putting pressure on housebuilders to opt for timber.