Commercial Director of TuffX, Paul Higgins, discusses the need for something different when it comes to selling energy efficient glazing, and explains why installation businesses need to get on board with smart products sooner rather than later.
Now that our new government has been elected the UK can hopefully re-focus its attention on the real priorities, including reducing fuel bills and improving the energy efficiency of existing and new homes. Labour’s manifesto promised investment in this area, but whether these promises come to fruition or not, the momentum in demand for products that will make our homes warmer and reduce our reliance on expensive fossil fuels is already in motion. Alongside this demand for greater energy efficiency, is an increased desire among homeowners to make homes smarter.
Technology is driving all areas of our lives forward. Whether it’s a peloton exercise bike helping us to get fit, devices helping us get from A to B, or our phones replacing our wallets, there is no question about our willingness to embrace technology that makes our lives easier. And this desire for ‘smart’ is well and truly inside the home too. It is now commonplace to have smart light bulbs, smart thermostats, appliances that are controlled by our voices or via an app on our phones, and chargers for our electric vehicles that know the most cost-effective time of day to top up our cars.
This combined demand for energy efficient, smart products offers installers a fantastic opportunity to sell something different and stand out from the competition. Installers looking to help homeowners truly future proof their new home improvement should be having regular conversations about solar and heated glass options. TuffX can support installation teams with a couple of strong smart propositions that are easy to install and easy to sell.
No compromise
If you look at some of the popular home improvements today, they come with compromises when it comes to their effect on the home. For example, homeowners love the idea of rooflights flooding a space with natural light, but the downside of these products can be the heat they transmit into the space in the warmer months. TuffX Infinity rooflights offer a solution to this problem while helping homeowners adhere to Approved Document O (legislation giving guidance to reduce overheating in the home) because they reflect twice as much heat as standard glass, with no compromise to the amount of light that is let into the room.
There is also no darker tint to the glass on TuffX Infinity rooflights, as is the case with some other solar products, so there is no compromise to aesthetics either. And the glass has exceptionally low u-values to ensure that it maintains a consistently comfortable temperature all year round. They’re good for installers too, available complete with a 10-year guarantee, a 4–5-day lead time on standard sizes, and crucially, can be installed quickly thanks to the fact it arrives on site fully encapsulated within the frame.
Basking in the Glow
Another smart product our installers are able to offer is the Glow heated glass for bi-fold doors and now for infill panels in roofs too. Our innovative heated glass utilises infrared technology and is thermostat controlled like other heating systems. It comprises a sealed unit that is layered with intelligent conductive coatings, so can be used as the primary heat source in a room with temperatures able to get up to 35-40°C. Another no-compromise product, the Glow technology is also completely undetectable in the glass, so from the homeowner’s perspective will look exactly the same as non heated glass.
With a new government in place, there could be more changes to come to tighten legislation for more energy efficient properties. Meanwhile more homeowners are embracing the idea of a smart home. Smart energy conscious home improvements are a requirement now and installation companies that can offer a solution are the ones winning sales over their competitors. TuffX is pleased to be able to offer precisely what the market needs – a strong proposition with real smart technology without any compromises.
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