This month I have been in England enjoying a three week skills exchange at Andrew Jaynes Ltd, specialists in bespoke wooden windows and doors for both new build and conservation. This is part of continual improvements to the technical quality of Windows and Doors being developement at Jon Taylor Carpentry. (See Temple Door)


It was a shock to me to discover how many houses in Kent are compelled by conservation laws to continue fitting SINGLE glazed windows. Simultainiously scientist on Radio 2 were claiming that, if we continue producing the current levels of CO2, the sea levels could rise by seven meters over the next 50 years. In the same week the Gaurdian released its 1010 campaign ("reduce your CO2 emmisions by 10% by 2010") and world leaders were meeting to discuss global environmental issues. Sensitively made double glazed windows can look almost identical to their "traditional" single glazed originals. If we continue to enforce such ridiculous conservations laws on houses in "conservation" areas (and I am not talking here about important historic monuments), then many of these properties may soon be "conserved" under six feet of salty water!!

I also jumped to Sussex for the Weald Wood Fair, a predictable mix of bodgers in the woods and agroforesty machinery. Here even the wooden ducks were acting out the possible effects of increased CO2 emissions!

As a final note Cement production is one of the major producers of CO2 (on a par with power stations). Wood on the other hand ABSORBS CO2 in its production. Another reason for chosing wood!