Sentinel windows go green!

12 June 2007 -

Sentinel Housing Association will provide around 355 homes with new windows and doors this financial year.  In partnership with Bowater Windows, who produce and install the windows and doors, Sentinel has already provided homes in Popley, Cove, Hartley Wintney and Fleet with new windows or doors.

In a new initiative, all material removed when the old windows are removed is being recycled, including PVC, timber, aluminium and glass.  This is just one of a number of green initiatives being progressed by Sentinel across all its areas of operation including efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its offices, Eco pledges by staff and board members and moving towards building new zero carbon homes.

The new windows are PVC double glazed with energy efficient glass and are produced to police authority Secure by Design standards. Where possible a fire egress window will be installed for extra safety. The windows are being replaced because they are either single glazed or because they are PVC windows which are at the end of their lifecycle. Surveys were carried out on Sentinel homes and decisions were made to replace the windows based on age and condition, although this is an on-going process which will continue in the future.    

Reinforcing the positive work that Sentinel and Bowater are doing, feedback has been extremely positive. Mr Shephard from near Newbury, said: “Thank you for replacing the old windows, the new ones are lovely and it’s much warmer inside the house,” and: “Everything was done with great care and respect for the customer in mind.”

Sentinel has a £38 million, five-year, investment programme and is committed to achieving the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. In addition to window and door replacements, major programmes are underway to provide new central heating systems, kitchens and bathrooms, re-wiring and re-roofing.