Taping against the winter

In spite of global warming, scientists at the Max Planck Institute expect colder winters in central Europe over the next few years. Not a rosy prospect for consumers in the face of rising energy prices. The scientists believe that the sun’s magnetic field is responsible for this weather trend. The researchers are unable to forecast whether the coming winter will be just as frosty as the last one. The only thing that is certain is that low and high levels of sun activity alternate about every eleven years. Anyone who is not prepared to wait for better times to come can now banish the winter from within his own four walls by quite simple means – and go easy on his wallet at the same time. One possibility available is self-adhesive sealing strips for doors and windows. The Tesamoll brand is the undisputed market leader in this field. The adhesive tape manufacturer reports that its product currently has a market share of more than 80 per cent. A success that has lasted for over 60 years: the first Tesamoll product came off the production line in 1953. Since that time the range has been constantly improved and expanded. Around three-quarters of owner-occupied homes in Germany are more than 25 years old and, analogous to this, doors and windows tend not to be up to the latest standard. The number of single-glazed windows alone is put at over 30 million by the VFF, an association of window and façade manufacturers. Around 500 kWh kilowatt hours of heating energy per window and year are lost in Germany as a result of this. A great quantity of carbon dioxide, which is damaging to the climate, escapes into the atmosphere as well. There is unanimity among the experts on the need to replace old windows with modern ones. However, many home owners baulk at the cost. Consequently consumers look for effective interim solutions in DIY superstores. In an official report the ift, an institute for window technology, confirmed that all Tesamoll products offer a 100 per cent sealing effect. On this basis, independent energy experts from Ebök, an engineering consultancy in Tübingen, calculated the potential savings to householders. Annual heating costs would fall by up to 20 per cent, or even to 35 per cent if the gaps are large. Especially high-grade and powerful adhesives ensure that the Tesamoll P-profile and E-profile rubber seals will last for up to eight years, and the foam draught excluders for up to four years. Nevertheless, Tesa is convinced that old windows can be even…