We encourage property owners to take advantage of the simple
solutions currently on the market that can help properties retain
heat and save on energy costs.
For those looking to make these improvements, we have the
following top tips:
- Cavity-wall insulation -Although this involves a rather noisy
installation process, the benefits can be felt instantly.
Insulating your walls harnesses the heat generated in the home
meaning substantial savings on your energy bills.
A specialist installer should always be sought for this type of
job so ensure you choose a member that is Cavity Insulation
Guarantee Agency (CIGA) qualified.
- Draught-Stripping -Installing specialist stripes of foam around
windows and doors will significantly reduce draughts and air
permeation in your home, helping to retain the heat and ultimately
saving you money.
Costing around £50-£80 depending on whether you install it
yourself or not, draught-stripping can save up to £20 per year for
a gas-heated semi-detached house.
- Replacing your boiler - Replacing your old boiler with a new
one can certainly help to reduce emissions and reduce your bills at
the same time. Although the boiler scrappage scheme has now come to
an end, trade-in incentives are still available for this kind of
purchase. It is worth checking out the funding database on the
Energy Saving Trust site for specific details on what is out
there: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
- Loft Insulation -This well-established efficiency measure
offers a cheap and easy way to top up insulation already installed.
Boosting the thickness of the insulation to between 250 and 300 mm
thickness is recommended for optimum efficiency.
- Pipe Cladding -Ensuring an external pipes are well insulated
minimises additional heat loss and can reduce the risk of freezing
if a property is left unoccupied during a cold period.
Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the NAEA said of these
measures, "It is important that homeowners are aware of the options
available to them when looking to make their homes warmer this
winter."
"With bills on the rise, these measures can make a real
difference, as well as having the welcome side-effect of increasing
the carbon efficiency of their property."
"Many of these measures can be applied on different scales, and
for this reason whilst doing DIY is very admirable, we urge any
homeowner to seek the advice of professionals when looking to
install energy and heat saving measures in the home."