Thursday, February 24, 2011
NAEA: TOP TIPS FOR
'GREENING' YOUR HOME
HOMEOWNERS need only
take small steps to green their home and make savings, according to
estate agents.
The National
Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) today encouraged property
owners to take advantage of the simple solutions currently on the
market to make efficiencies in their homes.
The UK government is
committed to carbon reductions and needs to cut emissions by 34% to
meet the 2020 targets. Homeowners are being encouraged to refurbish
their properties with more environmentally friendly products to
help achieve this aim. The more this is done on a voluntary basis,
the less draconian legislation might be.
For those looking to
make these improvements whilst at the same time achieving
substantial savings, the NAEA recommends the following*:
• 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 strips 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,
given the huge level of demand, grants 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. Other green improvement
measures are more obvious, such as replacing existing windows and
doors, the gas boiler and installing an air source heat pump that
absorbs heat from the outside air.
Peter Bolton King,
Chief Executive of the NAEA said of green retro-fitting, "It is
important that homeowners are aware of the options available to
them when looking to make carbon efficiencies to their
property.
"There are many
funding choices out there making the installation of simple green
measures a much more affordable option.
"It is proposed that
loans will be made available under the Government's Green Deal
initiative - which aims to tackle global warming - will assist
further in helping homeowners to invest in low carbon solutions.
The details of these schemes are currently being worked on by the
government.
"The CBI's latest
survey looking at the specifics of the Green Deal highlights the
importance of greening your property. They found that energy used
in buildings accounts for a staggering 43% of UK carbon
emissions.
"Therefore it is
important that homeowners consider more environmentally friendly
alternatives for running a property. But whilst doing DIY is very
admirable, we urge them to seek the advice of professionals when
looking to install green technologies in the home."
ENDS
*Source Reference -
December 2010, 'An Introduction to Low Carbon Domestic
Refurbishment,' Construction Products Association
Additional Source -
February 2011, 'The Real Deal? Making the Green Deal work', CBI
Editor Notes
Editor Notes:
About the NAEA
The NAEA has recently
introduced the first ever licence for UK estate agents, designed to
help consumers choose qualified or experienced agents. The licence
is designed to give prospective buyers confidence that they are
getting the best advice and value for money in a complex
market.
The National
Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is the UK's leading
professional body for estate agency personnel, representing the
interests of around 10,000 members who practice across all aspects
of property services both in the UK and overseas. These include
residential and commercial sales and lettings, property management,
business transfer, auctioneering and land. The NAEA is a sister
organisation to the Association of Residential Letting Agents
(ARLA), as is PropertyLive.co.uk, the UK's only regulated property
portal.
The NAEA is dedicated
to the goal of professionalism within all aspects of property,
estate agency and land. Its aim is to reassure the general public
that by appointing an NAEA member to represent them they will
receive in return the highest level of integrity and service in
both sales and lettings, for all property matters. Both NAEA and
ARLA members are bound by a vigorously enforced Code of Practice
and adhere to professional Rules of Conduct. Failure to do so can
result in heavy financial penalties and possible expulsion from the
Associations.
For further
information contact:
NAEA PRESS OFFICE
Tel: 020 3128
8181
E-mail:
press@nfoppmedia.com