Envirology

M. Asif BSc MSc, A. Davidson BSc and T.Muneer PhD DSc CEng MlmechE
FICBSE Millennium Fellow School of Engineering , Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, U.K.

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the life cycle assessment of the materials normally used for window frames, highlighting their respective benefits and weaknesses. Frames of different materials have been assessed on the basis of their production, energy consumption and environmental impacts. It has been found that the embodied energy of the windows made of aluminium, PVC, Al-clad timber and timber, for a reference window (1.2m×1.2m), are 6GJ, 2980MJ, 1460MJ and 995MJ respectively.

The investigation shows that aluminium and PVC frames exhibit large amounts of environmental burdens. Accelerated ageing tests have been carried out to test the durability of windows against weathering impacts. These tests show that aluminium clad timber windows are comparatively least affected by environmental impacts. The article also provides results of a survey carried out with housing associations on performance of the studied windows.