11
May
2012
By Calvin at 08:46 GMT, 14 years ago
I devote several pages to offering information about enhanced security windows for good reason. They work! And the most recent evidence for their impact comes from some research into Nottingham City Homes’ Decent Homes programme, known locally as ‘Secure Warm Modern’.
The research, conducted by Nottingham Business School, has concluded that burglary to domestic properties decreased by 42 percent between 2007 and 2010 on two sample estates after all single glazed windows were replaced with new enhanced secure double glazed windows; this is compared to a 21 percent decrease in burglary across the city over the same period. Since the work was completed, there are 62 fewer burglaries a year to NCH properties on these estates, compared to 33 fewer a year to other (mainly privately owned) properties in the same area. Further to this, the proportion of burglaries via a window in NCH properties with new secure windows was half of that compared to NCH properties with the former single glazed windows.
The cost of the window replacement programme in Bells Lane and Broxtowe was just under £3.3m. It is estimated that the reduction in the number of burglaries has already resulted in a saving of £241,800 in one year, with such savings expected to continue annually over the lifetime of the windows. Thus the initial investment in the windows would reach its break-even payback point after less than 14 years, which is considerably shorter than the viable life expectancy of the windows of 30 years. Furthermore, this figure does not include the expected financial benefits from improving thermal efficiency, for example, from improvements to health and savings on fuel bills.
NCH is now prioritising investment towards full door replacement to counteract the rise in the proportion of burglaries through the doors (as a consequence of the secure windows) and it is expected that the replacement of the old timber doors with enhanced secure doorsets will see further reductions in burglary across these estates.
To read the fascinating and full report click Decent Homes Impact Study (March 2012)
So don’t forget folks; if you’re thinking about replacing your old doors and windows choose enhanced security ones, because you know it makes sense!
