The march was organised and led by Independent Councillor, John Warrow, who says:

“The thing to do is put pressure on our MPs.

“A number of people seem to think that the politicians just aren’t listening to them, so we thought we’d get out onto the street.

“We’ve had overwhelming support, I’ve knocked on about three quarters of the doors in Birchington personally and everyone feels the same way.”

Mr Warrow’s comments are sure to be echoed by millions of homeowners, not just in the Kent area, but across the UK, as more and more people are faced with the choice of getting themselves into serious debt or going without essential heat and light.

Gas seems to be a particular concern for those who live in homes without contemporary windows and doors as old windows and doors just aren’t equipped to deal with the effects of draughts. The older a window or door, the more likely it is that it will age and weaken, causing energy bills to be higher than they actually should be.

Therefore the moment you suspect that your windows and doors are no longer up to the task of keeping you warm you need to purchase replacement windows with double glazing and a new set of UPVC doors.

Once installed they will make a massive difference in terms of the level of warmth felt in your home and the existing cost of your heating bills. What more could you want!?

It is no surprise to see that those aged between 25 and 34 have the biggest gap in income between what they earn and what they need to be able to live comfortably, needing a substantial £627 extra  month to survive.

Business Development Director at Aviva, Simon Warsop, says: “Even those who have the highest income feel they need the greatest increase to feel comfortable.”

It has become increasingly difficult for homeowners to put money to one side each and every month as the cost of living continues to rise.

Energy bills, water bills, petrol prices and food and clothing costs have all gone up in recent times, leaving millions on the brink financially. This growing trend in price rises is set to continue well into the future and a stage has been reached where it is up to the individual homeowner to locate ways of saving the pennies.

Money saving begins at home. Have you ever sat back and considered how responsible your home is for those expensive energy bills? If you haven’t then now is the time to start.

Check to see whether the windows and doors you have installed are doing their job properly as far as insulating it is concerned. If they aren’t then you know that the time has come to replace them with replacement windows including double glazing and composite doors.

You will easily spot whether they are past their sell-by date or not as the cold draughts that hit your living space will be an immediate give away.

This is according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change who say that the total amount of people switching gas or electricity suppliers is as low as it has been since 2003. This means that there are undoubtedly huge numbers of people paying far too much for their energy bills than they should be doing which in the present financial climate is far from ideal.

Shopping around for the cheapest available energy tariff is simple. There are numerous comparison sites online where you can input your current gas and electricity usage along with a few other details and get the best possible deals. You should also contact your current supplier and ask them if they can provide you with a more affordable tariff. If they can’t then politely inform them that you will leave and seek a better tariff elsewhere.

It is also up to you to try and find ways of utilising less gas. This means replacing any windows that may be responsible for draughts and fitting replacement windows with double glazing or triple glazing.

Contemporary windows are far more effective when it comes to providing energy efficiency as both the frame and glass are fantastic at insulating homes. Even if you fail to switch suppliers in addition to installing new windows you will still notice a significant drop in energy bills.

Make a conscious effort to cut energy and you will be rewarded!

Prevent heat loss

Old windows are responsible for approximately 25% of heat lost from the home. Double glazing will restrict heat loss, whilst also ensuring that large quantities of heat from the outdoors reach your living space so that you never feel the cold when indoors. Draughts will no longer be able to force their way into your home.

Added security

Keeping your home secure will be one of your main concerns upon moving into a property. A new window comes installed with a durable and tough locking mechanism which thieves will find almost impossible to break. The glass inserted is also internally glazed so therefore cannot be removed from the outside for quick and easy access to your home.

Wide choice

Replacement windows are available in a huge selection of colours and designs. Finding a shade and shape to suit your home really couldn’t be easier. The window option you choose will be guaranteed to last too as most contemporary windows are made using UPVC, a weather-resistant material.

Universal appeal

Anyone who moves into a new home expects double glazing to be ready-installed. No-one wants to move into a property that has yet to have modern windows installed as they will be reluctant to pay out in energy bills and replacement costs. It also pays to install UPVC doors as the same time.

Don’t forget to choose the right double glazing installer. Speak to family and friends as they may be able to make a recommendation.

Of all the potential home improvements you could make to your home, installing new windows and doors throughout your property can help to make the most impact. Replacement windows in the form of some new double glazing offer an especially high standard of safety and security in addition to greatly boosting your home’s energy efficiency, keeping more of the heat that would normally escape through your windows, firmly indoors. Combine this with a huge range of styles that are available for you to choose from there really is no excuse for sticking with cold, draughty single glazed windows.

Composite doors also represent a great investment for you and your home when you consider how much of an improvement they will make to your property. Bridging the gap between traditional timber doors and modern UPVC, composite doors are incredibly safe and secure helping to give you greater peace of mind when you are away from your property. They also help to create a stunning focal point for people visiting your home, creating the perfect first impression for any new visitors.

With the clocks set to spring forward next week now really is the time to make that commitment to improving your home.

Therefore any responsible homeowner should realise how important it is to give their front and back door the attention it deserves. This means checking the current lock on your door and ensuring that it provides your home with protection it needs each and every time that you leave it empty or go up to bed last thing at night. You should also make sure that the existing finish applied to your doors is still supplying your home with the aesthetic qualities it needs.

If any of these features are missing from your current door/s then the time has come to get them replaced. In their place you should look to put a set of UPVC doors as not only do they look good and offer a lasting finish, but they also have extreme durability and provide fantastic insulation so that your hallway never again feels cold.

Each time it rains, sleets or snows, a UPVC door will stand firm and fight off the weather so that you remain warm and cosy inside as UPVC is a weather-resistant material. The biggest peace of mind will come from knowing that your front or back door will do its upmost to wade off the threat of burglars and intruders.

As an alternative to a UPVC door you could also look into composite doors as they share many of the protective qualities UPVC possesses. Then you can get round to installing that much-needed double glazing.

If you are trying to sell your home then this news may seem very disheartening but there are a lot of things that can help you to make your property seem more appealing to potential buyers and push up the value of your home. Therefore before you put it on the market you should have a good look around and assess the areas where you could improve.

When someone new arrives at your home, the first thing that they will be able to make an assessment of is the windows and doors. Most homeowners would now expect to have double glazing within a property before they move in to it. No one wants to have to make such dramatic changes within the first few weeks of moving in to a property so if you have single glazing, replacement windows are a must. If you are really looking to impress then triple glazing may be the answer. Everyone nowadays is so aware of energy efficiency measures that triple glazing is a sure fire way of making your home stand out from the crowd.

Once the exterior of your property is up to scratch you will need to begin looking at the rooms in your home that can make the most impact. Kitchens and bathrooms are often deal breakers when it comes to buying a new home as they can be a hassle to replace if you have just moved in. Stripping out the old fixtures and fittings may seem excessive but it may be essential if they are past their best or look dated.  Replacing taps, painting the walls and changing the tiles and flooring are all relatively inexpensive ways of transforming a room very quickly. It also helps to impress the estate agent as they always make note of such changes, taking them into account when estimating the overall value of a home.

Trying to sell your home can be stressful and frustrating especially if you have found a new property that you would like to move in to but it can take time to find the right buyer. Making small changes can be the difference between a yes and a no so it makes sense to spend a little now to make a sale in the future.

Kingston Council say that replacement windows with double glazing included won’t be introduced until at least 2013-14. This is despite proof that traditional windows in such a poor state are a known cause of draughts, expensive energy bills and poor aesthetics. The windows in their current state can even have a detrimental effect on the health of residents due to the cold air that is inevitably set to make its way into private living spaces.

If residents try to compensate for the cold air that infiltrates their home by turning up their heating then they will also be hit by expensive energy bills. The only other option is to go without heat even when they need it most which could have catastrophic consequences for them.

It would seem irresponsible of the local authority to delay installing double glazing when you weigh up all the benefits to be had from it. Contemporary windows can prevent heat loss, cut the cost of energy bills, improve the appearance of a home, enhance security and better ventilate a property.

Once installed, you can be guaranteed you will get value for money out of them as they will provide you with at least 20 years of quality window design. Replacement of them again won’t be required until this time.

You can make a similar change in your home by visiting your local double glazing dealer who will also offer the best UPVC doors in the business.

As a traditional door gets older it deteriorates in terms of appearance, with fading, discolouration and rotting becoming more and more evident as it ages. This is due to it coming into direct contact with outdoor weather on a regular basis and due to the fact that timber is more susceptible to the ageing process more so than other types of material.

Timber doors are slowly becoming outnumbered by the amount of UPVC doors now present in UK homes. UPVC is a particularly popular choice of material as it offers fantastic insulation and is great at keeping out the cold, whilst retaining heat created in the home. The energy efficiency of a UPVC door is one of its key assets and is one of the main reasons why it so good at keeping energy bills down.

A UPVC door also promises water-resistance so won’t become inflicted with damp, something that contributes towards the premature ageing of certain doors. It can help deflect away adverse cold, wet and damp due its hardwearing exterior and will give you the value for money you expect and deserve when buying a new door.

The cost differential between a UPVC door and traditional door is also substantial. Despite the fact that UPVC is so successful at so many different ways, it can be bought at a fraction of the price of a normal door.

To see the best UPVC doors, composite doors and double glazing on the market visit the showroom of your local door dealer.