It’s no coincidence that several of the UK’s national health charities run awareness campaigns in November. With the month usually heralding the start of the cold wintry weather and increased hours of darkness, not to mention the financial and emotional pressures of Christmas and holidays, many people feel the effects of existing physical and mental health conditions more acutely at this time of the year.
This was on the mind of our CEO, Dr Tanya Ewing, when she noticed yesterday was World COPD Day. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) affects 1.2 million people in the UK, and any sort of air pollution, inside or outside can greatly affect those living with a lung condition. When you consider that we spend about 90% of our time indoors – at home, at work, at school, or when we go to shops or restaurants - it is easy to see why the issue of poor indoor air quality is so relevant. How we heat our homes, poor ventilation and dampness due to climate change can all affect the quality of indoor air so there are some real and tangible health advantages in improving the energy efficiency of the glazing in your home or workplace.
Having recently been challenged to say which of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) the company is working towards, Dr Ewing reflected that, while it's clear that Glaze and Save’s sustainable business practices are in line with the UN SDGs of responsible consumption and production, and innovation in industry and infrastructure amongst others, the company's products and services also contribute positively to the UN SDG of good health and well-being.
We have evidence, for example, that the InvisiTherm™ system helps to reduce and eliminate cold, condensation, dampness and mould from the interiors of buildings. This then has a positive and often profound impact on various physical health conditions such as pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis and other lung conditions as noted previously. Another product benefit is the ultra-violet blocking feature of the product which is important to those receiving cancer treatment and with suppressed immune systems.
In addition, the company's products have been shown to have a positive impact upon people’s mental health. For example, by improving the energy efficiency of a property, the energy bills are significantly reduced, thus relieving financial pressure which often contributes to stress, anxiety and depression. Furthermore, we have evidence that the products reduce external noise which again can reduce stress and anguish for the inhabitants and promote well-being by creating a peaceful, comfortable environment. It’s well-known that if you are running short of sleep, it can affect your mood and how you interact with those around you, and that rest can help you think more clearly and positively.
For more information on this topic, please visit our website at GlazeandSave.co.uk or contact us for more information. Also, Dr Ewing regularly gives talks on creating healthy homes – you can find details of dates and venues on our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.
Cocoon Window Insulation is a trading style of Glaze and Save Ltd