Renovation and Refurbishment

More than a quarter of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions comes from the energy we use to heat, light and run our homes, while a further 19% is generated by non-residential buildings.  There is a clear need for urgent action to reduce this environmental impact by making our homes and buildings as energy efficient as possible.

Focused on the need to refurbish existing buildings, the majority of which will still be standing by 2050, Saint-Gobain companies are involved in many of the regeneration and redevelopment schemes and large scale public sector projects that are making a difference to communities across the UK.  Saint-Gobain want to renovate buildings to make them safer, warmer, more energy efficient and better places to live and work.

Non-existent or inefficient insulation is the main cause of excessive energy use in buildings.  Saint-Gobain is the world leader in insulation, through its Isover brand, offering glass wool solutions for roofs, walls, partitions, floors, piping and ventilation ducts. 

The new generation of external wall insulation systems from Weber and Isover provide efficient thermal insulation.  The EWI systems eliminate interstitial condensation and create a ‘warm wall’ construction. Available in a comprehensive range of colours and textures enables the creation of striking visual effects.

The SGG PLANITHERM family of products are specifically designed to keep interiors more comfortable in winter months and improve the energy efficiency of your home. Glass of this type is commonly known as low emissivity glass, or low-E glass.  SGG PLANITHERM products have a transparent metallic coating that reflects heat, from radiators or fires, back into the room, rather than allowing it to escape through the windows. At the same time it allows free heat and light from the sun (known as passive solar heat gain) to pass through the glass, warming your home and further contributing to the energy efficiency of your windows.

Saint-Gobain is also the world’s leading supplier of special glass designed for photovoltaic applications. Installed on rooftops or facades, the photovoltaic panels are able to supply a considerable proportion of a building’s energy needs, whether residential, commercial or industrial.