The GGF Visits Number 10 Downing Street

The GGF Visits Number 10 Downing Street

Yesterday, GGF President Natalie Little, Group Managing Director John Agnew, Head of Membership and Customer Relations Ben Wallace and Head of GGF Technical Department Dave Borland had the honour of attending Number 10 Downing Street to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Political Advisor, Ameet Jogia MBE.

We were able to discuss in detail the GGF x British Glass collaboration, A Window of Opportunity and how the document articulates a story to educate and inform Government, Treasury and Stakeholders about windows and doors and the contribution that they can make to energy efficiency.

John Agnew, Group Managing Director at the GGF, explains: “The GGF recently conducted a comprehensive piece of research into the part glazing can play in achieving Net Zero, and the results were conclusive. Despite the fact 86% of homes already have double glazing (the government’s previous argument for excluding the sector from the Energy Company Obligation (ECO+) Scheme), we all know that this isn’t the full story. For example, seventy per cent of windows installed since 2002 were C rated and so they don’t meet the relevant building standards of today.”

The GGF translated the research into the easy-to-read ‘A Window of Opportunity’ infographic to highlight the difference glazing can make.

GGF President, Natalie Little said: “Thank you to Arun Photay for facilitating the engagement and for his gracious hospitality. It was certainly a milestone for our industry and any progress that the GGF makes in the space is progress for all stakeholders in this industry.”

Natalie continues: “We successfully highlighted to government that the research calculates a significant 80 million windows would benefit from immediate replacement, saving as much C02 as taking 1.88 million cars off the road. We were also able to demonstrate the timely cost saving benefit to individuals as the research estimates the average annual saving per household for upgrading windows to current standards at £395.” The GGF will continue to support the industry by gathering and collating the facts and presenting them to the people that have the power to make a change.

It was a privilege to meet and speak with Ameet, as it gave the GGF an opportunity to discuss the role of glazing in reducing the nation’s carbon emissions, and all of the fantastic and innovative work taking place in our industry that can make a difference and contribute to the government’s Net Zero Targets for 2050.