At FAIRCO Windows and Doors, we always ensure our products are made to and exceed the highest standards, so for us, it’s very important that we keep up to date with the latest studies that could influence how we design our products.
The UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy recently published the results of a survey they carried out on the Home Environment. The survey is very relevant to the current Irish market, as it was carried out over October and November 2020 and had 984 respondents. It looked at the levels of satisfaction of the home environment and what affected their answers, mainly looking at the following areas:
- Temperature levels – satisfaction and desired changes
- Ventilation – satisfaction with air quality and issues
- Lighting – satisfaction with lighting levels and issues
- Noise levels – satisfaction with noise levels.
Why Irish homeowners aren’t happy with their homes
The Hardware Association of Ireland provided us with the data from the 253 respondents who are homeowners, so we could see what insights we can gain to help us continuously improve our windows and doors.
Here are some of the major findings:
Home Hearing
- 46% are not satisfied with the heating in their home
- 38% say that they would like a warmer home, 8% a cooler one
- Of the 38% who say that they would like a warmer home, 75% of them believe that their home is draughty and expensive to heat
Air Quality
- 46% are not satisfied with the air quality in their home
- 26% believe their home to be too stuffy
- 20% believe their home to be too draughty
Lighting
- 37% are not satisfied with the lighting in their home
- 27% say that spaces in their home need electric light during the day
- 9% use half electric light and half natural light during the day and
- 1% have to brighten their homes with electric lights, even during daylight
Noise Levels
- 9% say that their homes are too noisy
How draught proofing can improve your home environment
Of the 253 respondents, 38% of Irish homeowners said their house was too cold and 34% said their house was too stuffy or too warm.
When installing windows, it’s important that your fitter takes a precise custom measurement and designs your windows to fit your space, not the other way around. At FAIRCO, our experienced fitters properly align your windows to your opening, and fill and insulate any gaps properly to can ensure proper draft proofing.
Draught–proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy relative to the overall cost of any window project. We also offer a wide selection of window types with various openings made of different materials to ensure you have full control of your ventilation. This helps maintain a consistent temperature throughout the summer and winter, and also reduces condensation and damp, by letting fresh air in when needed.
How windows can affect the brightness of your home
It almost goes without saying that windows let light into your house and can control how bright your home is, but surprisingly, 37% of respondents said they were not satisfied with the lighting in their home.
Aside from making sure your current windows are clean, the best way to allow more natural light into your home is by installing large new windows and doors. Bi-folding Doors and Sliding Doors are great options, where you can turn an entire wall of your kitchen or living room into glass. This will allow you to open your home up to your garden more in the summer, and allow a lot of needed natural light into your house year-round.
Where you don’t have space to change an entire wall, you can also upgrade existing French Doors that have fewer panels and more glass, sometimes increasing your light by 30%.
Transform your home today with FAIRCO Windows & Doors
If you’d like a free consultation with one of our home experts, call our showrooms here to see how we can help you improve your satisfaction with your home.
