How to benefit from insulation
WINTRY weather and higher energy prices mean homeowners are being forced to pay more to heat their houses. PATRICE JOHN looks at how making your home energy efficient could cut your carbon footprint and save you money.
CASE STUDY
RETIRED academic assessor Michael Clark has noticed a real difference since his home was insulated.
The 65-year-old, from Four Oaks, in Sutton took up the offer from Miller Pattison to get the work done on his house last autumn.
And Mr Clark, who has lived in the two-bed property, in Beaton Road, for almost 20 years thinks loft and cavity wall insulation is something everyone should have done at home.
“I haven’t seen much of a difference in my bills, but that is because it’s so expensive to heat a house at the moment,’’ he says. ‘‘I have noticed that the house is warmer though, especially upstairs, and that is definitely because of the loft insulation.
“It used to feel very cold upstairs at night but now I find the house keeps its heat, which means I don’t have to keep the heating on for as long.”
He says the process of having the work done was very simple as the loft was insulated in two hours and the cavity walls filled within four.
“I was quite surprised how quickly they did the cavity wall job, considering this is a two-bedroom house,” he says.
“They did it from the outside of the house and apart from a bit of dust it was fine.
“I noticed a real difference with the cavity wall insulation as I can put my hand on the wall and it doesn’t feels as cold as it was. It’s good that I don’t have to turn up my boiler excessively, especially with the kind of prices we’re paying at the moment.’’
With the help of an energy saving grant, Mr Clark had the work done for just under £500.
What can I do to save energy at home?
* Insulation
One of the most cost effective ways of improving your homes’ energy efficiency is to ensure it is correctly insulated. A loft insulated to the recommended depth of 270mm (or about 10.5 inches) can save around £205 on your yearly heating bills.
If your property was built after 1920 there is a good chance it has cavity walls, if so insulating them can save around £160 a year on your heating bills.
There are a variety of energy saving grants available for those wishing to instal insulation measures and if are over 70 or in receipt of benefits you may qualify to get the insulation installed for free.
* Energy saving solutions for properties off gas.
For homeowners without a gas supply and who rely on oil to heat their homes, Air Source Heat Pumps offer an energy saving space heating solution.
Powered by electricity, but producing 3.5 times more energy than they consume, Air Source Heat Pumps convert energy in the air in to heat which can be used for central heating system and water heating.
The system can be integrated into central heating and therefore provide reductions on heating bills.
* Harness the power of the sun and save
There are two main types of solar technologies currently being used in the UK which are solar thermal and solar PV (photovoltaic).
Solar thermal systems are capable of delivering up to 70 per cent of the average home’s yearly hot water requirements and so they provide significant reductions on hot water heating bills. Solar PV (photovoltaic) systems convert sunlight into electricity which can be used or stored within the home, or sold back to the National Grid.
Solar PV systems are a great way of saving on electricity bills.
What financial help can I get to be more efficient?
* The Low Carbon Buildings Grant
What is it for? Solar panels, wind turbines, solar thermal hot water, ground source heat pumps, woodfuelled boiler systems.
How much is it? Up to £2,500. Any exemptions? Applicants must have already installed basic controls for their heating systems, fitted low-energy light bulbs and insulated their homes. The homeowner must then get a quote from an accredited installer and grants can be applied for online.
The grants normally cover between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of the costs depending on the type of product.
Information: Call 0800 512 012 or see www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk.
* Warm Front Grants
What is it for? Cavity wall and loft insulation, draught proofing, hot-water-tank insulation, energyefficient light bulbs, gas, electric or oil central heating.
How much is it? Up to £2,700 (or £4,000 is oil central heating is recommended)
This is restricted to those who are over 60 or in receipt of benefits including child tax credit, income support, council tax benefit, housing benefit, job seekers allowance or pension credit.
Information: Call 0800 316 6011 or see www.warmfront.co.uk
* Energy Companies
The Government’s Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) has been replaced by the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT).
This means energy suppliers with a certain number of customers operating in Great Britain are obliged to achieve targets for improving home energy efficiency.
The suppliers therefore provide a range of offers which significantly reduce the cost of installing energy efficiency measures.
Offers can be taken up from any of the energy companies, regardless of who supplies the gas and electricity at a property.
Examples of offers in the past include free loft and cavity wall insulation for EDF Energy customers aged 70 or over, in receipt of income of disability- related benefits; free cavity wall and loft insulation for npower customers aged 70 or over and energy efficient light bulbs; and British Gas also offered free insulation to the over 70s.
Check with your own energy supplier for details.
* More Information: Call Miller Pattison on 0800 096 0700 or see www.miller-pattison.co.uk for details.
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