ACHIEVE THERMAL COMFORT FOR A WARM LIVING ENVIRONMENT WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE SWEDISH COMPOSITE WINDOWS
Why everyone needs a little ‘hygge’ and ‘lagom’ in their lives with the principles of Danish and Swedish lifestyles.
(Article accurate at time of publishing)
WHAT IS THERMAL COMFORT?
Thermal comfort is described as “the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment and is assessed by subjective evaluation”. We could go on with the ‘geeky’ technical definition, but it generally describes a person’s state of mind in terms of whether they feel too hot or too cold.
So many factors can influence thermal comfort, such as environmental factors like air temperature, humidity or sources of heat, or personal factors like clothing, health, metabolic heat and psychological factors.
With autumn upon us and winter approaching it’s a good time to assess the thermal comfort of your home, and how you can create a cosy environment to embrace the hygge and lagom ethos.
Read more about Hygge on the Country Living website
Read more about Lagom on the Country & Town House website
HOW TO EMBRACE DANISH AND SWEDISH LIVING ETHOS
In case you haven’t heard already, ‘Hygge’ (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is a Danish word and concept used to describe a feeling or moment where you are creating a cosy atmosphere of contentment and enjoying the simple things in life.
Similarly, ‘Lagom’ (pronounced “lah-gom”) is a Swedish word loosely meaning ‘not too little, not too much, just the right amount’ and is about creating a better, happier and more balanced lifestyle.
These two concepts can work hand in hand to create a happier, warmer and more balanced environment in your home, using soft furnishings, warm colours, cosy textures, candles and heating to achieve the right level of comfort.
WHAT IS THE OPTIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR OUR HOMES?
This is also where thermal comfort comes in. By creating the optimum temperature in each room of your home it will help you achieve the right hygge and lagom feel. In the UK the World Health Organisation recognises 18°C as the basic level of warmth required for a comfortable home.
Living areas such as a lounge or kitchen have an optimum temperature of 21°C, where you are moving around the space or sedentary. Bedrooms should be around 18°C so that our body temperatures can drop to promote deep, continuous sleep.
The optimum temperatures for your home can be achieved through the correct heating, the right level of insulation and with energy efficient glazing. Windows can affect comfort is many ways.
During cold weather external temperatures can decrease the temperature of the glass, so if a person is sitting next to the window they can feel the cold even if the room temperature is at an acceptable level.
Drafts caused by poor window seals can be a secondary level of discomfort. On the flip side, direct sun can have negative impacts on the environment, where solar radiation can cause overheating, increasing the need for blinds or shutters, which then negate the benefits of the natural light.
HOW ENERGY EFFICIENT GLAZING CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THERMAL COMFORT
Around a third of a property’s heat is lost through poorly insulated windows. According to the Energy Saving Trust website, you could save up to £115 a year by installing double glazing into an entirely single-glazed house.*
With Westcoast products the aluminium and timber are bonded to make a truly composite frame and sash. The timber element acts as a thermal break to ensure very high levels of insulation, and seals houses into the grooves within the sash create exceptional air and weather tightness.
By using our high performance double and triple-glazed windows and doors, you can create an energy efficient home and a pleasant living space, while helping to reduce heating costs and also lessen your impact on the environment. To find out more download our datasheet: PERFORMANCE & TESTING DATASHEET
Furthermore, our composite windows can help you achieve the hygge feel with a warm real wood interior. Our windows are supplied as standard in knot-free laminated pine, which can be finished in a clear lacquer or coloured stain to suit your interior style. We also offer oak or other wood options in oiled or lacquered finish. The exterior low maintenance aluminium can also be finished in a colour of your choice to suit your property. Take a look at our STYLES & OPTIONS page to view the finishes available.
For more information about Westcoast Swedish aluminium timber composite windows visit our MADE IN SWEDEN and STYLES & OPTIONS pages.
