Archive for October, 2009
Advice from the curator of the Eco Home Exhibition shows that the kitchen and bathroom are two areas of the home that could benefit most from a number of energy-efficient measures.
Curator, Alex Goddard, stated that there are now a new range of household gadgets that can greatly reduce our carbon footprint. This includes kettles, irons and toaster that all use less electricity than in the past. It is also worth considering a number of larger appliances such as washing machines and toilets that are designed to limit the amount of water used.
However, outside of the kitchen and gadgets, there are a number of other measures that can be taken by homeowners to reduce their impact on the environment.
This includes insulation, such as double glazing, as well as rooftop rainwater collection systems.
Simple changes can also be made, such as installing gadgets in taps and showers to help limit the amount of water used. Though these mean an initial expense, most measures (including the replacement of windows and doors with double glazing) will eventually help to save on fuel and water bills, paying off for years to come.
Alex added that the Eco Home Exhibition should encourage people to think more about the impact that each object they use has on the environment. This can help people to make more informed choices when it comes to replacing old gadgets in the kitchen and home as a whole.
When most of us think about pollution, we think about it being outside of our homes. However, the truth is that our homes are usually more polluted than the air outside!
There are a variety of sources of indoor pollution, some of which include:
- Tobacco smoke,
- Biological pollutants such as mould,
- Materials that have been used to construct the building,
- Household cleaning products and pesticides,
- Gases.
The truth is that we can’t avoid pollutants – they are simply a fact of life and the way we build things and clean things.
However, people can become sick simply due to the pollution indoors. This usually includes discomfort that goes away once the source of pollution is eliminated.
If you want to avoid any unwanted effects of indoor pollution then it’s important to keep your home properly ventilated. Double glazing is the perfect way to keep warmth inside of your home, and the good news is that our windows and doors are built with security and practicality in mind.
It’s recommended that you ventilate your home by allowing air in through the windows every single day.
We have a number of options that will allow the air to circulate around your home, getting rid of stale air and letting in air from the outside. The good news is that our state of the art designs mean that the security of your windows and doors will never be compromised even as you ventilate your home!
A recent steep rise in energy bills means that many householders across areas of the UK could end up spending as much as £2,000 extra each year by 2016.
A report was recently released by the energy regulator Ofgem, stating that domestic bills for gas and electricity could increase by a massive 60%.
The report showed that the UK is becoming more and more dependent on importing gas. This means that any disruption of the imported supply will lead to large price rises.
Many Councils throughout the country have pledged to help those who will be worst hit by price rises.
One way of helping to reduce the impact is to opt for energy saving measures such as double glazing in windows and doors. However, those who live in listed buildings will need special planning permission to make these changes.
Chief executive of the Energy Retail Association, Garry Felgate, spoke on behalf of the energy providers. He stated that they face a challenge between reduce emissions and meeting energy needs, all at the same time as maintaining affordable prices. These needs are difficult to balance.
A spokesman from British Gas stated that the average monthly profit per account is just £2.30. They also ‘plough’ profits into windfarms and sourcing oil from the North Sea. The spokesman also highlighted that the Ofgem report shows that large investments will need to be put into sustainable energy to prevent an ‘energy crisis’.
The latest £2m pilot scheme introduced by the Scottish government has not gone far enough, according to some critics.
The scheme aims to give interest-free loans to homeowners as a way of encouraging them to make their properties more energy efficient.
Loans would range in size, from £500 to £10,000 to help install measures such as double glazing, solar panels, and loft insulation. All of these will help to reduce energy bills as well as each household’s carbon footprint.
When the scheme was announced, it was claimed that 2020 climate targets could cost each household an average of £7,000. However, environmental groups have claimed that the cost will, in fact, be much higher.
Charles Booth, from the Association of the Conservation of Energy, said that the money was overdue. However, he claimed it should be £70million rather than 2million, and criticised plans as ‘too little too late’.
Chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland stated that £100million a year would be needed for these energy saving jobs at such a scale, and Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie described the plans as ‘unsatisfactory’.
Labour MSP Andy Kerr stated that the previous government provided new central heating systems in 100,000 homes, where as the SNP Energy Assistance Package has only installed 173 central heating units since April.
If you’re thinking about installing double glazing in your home, then you probably already have some idea about how it can help to keep your home warmer. However, if you want to know more about how this process works, then just keep reading.
All of our windows are installed using state of the art materials and techniques. This ensures that the heat is reflected back into your home, and cold draughts are kept out. This will lead to a permanent reduction in your energy usage and heating bills.
How this works:
- All double glazed windows are installed with a gap between two panes of glass.
- We fill the gap between the pains with Argon gas. This is perfectly safe. In fact, Argon gas is naturally found in the air we breathe. This technology is what helps to distribute heat evenly through the home, keeping the cold air out through the winter.
- The glass itself is even designed to reflect and retain heat, to make your home more comfortable and warm during the coldest weather.
- Windows are only installed by qualified and experienced joiners, so you’ll never have to worry about cold draughts or windows that can’t hold up against the elements.
It is this combination of modern technology and experienced installation techniques that ensures our double glazing is an important investment for your home. The total energy lost through your windows could be reduced by as much as 90%!
As the date hit 10/10 on Saturday, campaigners have really been emphasising the importance of going green as part of the 10:10 campaign to help save 10% of emissions by 2010. Many individuals, businesses and celebrities have already taken up the challenge, with average householders encouraged to do the same. If you’d like to join in, here are a few quick tips.
1) Start Saving Water
When it comes to the carbon footprint of Britain as a whole, water treatment amounts to 8% of the total figure. The more water we use, the more water we send back to be treated. If we all started to use less water, by cutting down on the time we spend in the shower or putting a brick into the cistern, we could dramatically cut emissions.
2) Change Your Diet
Did you know that a vegan diet is a great way to go green? Even switching to vegetarian for just a few days a week can make a huge difference, and save a lot of money on food shopping.
3) Cut Down on Gas Usage
Any home that uses gas will find that it accounts to a huge portion of their emissions and carbon footprint. If you want to use less gas, then installing double glazing is a great way to go. Start heating fewer rooms, and turning down the temperature on your thermostat, and you’ll really see the difference.
4) Buy Second-hand
Buying less new can really help to cut your emissions. Our clothes have a huge impact on the environment, so buying second hand can save money and the environment.
5) Monitor Your Energy Usage
Lastly, getting an energy monitor can really reduce how much energy you use, simply because you’re more aware of it. All it will cost is a small investment of less than £30 to know how much energy everything in your home uses up.
The Scottish Government will be giving interest-free loans to help homeowners make improvements regarding energy efficiency.
The new scheme will allow homeowners to borrow amounts from £500 to £10,000 to install measures such as double glazing, loft and wall insulation, or replacing old boilers. The money can also be used for equipment to generate renewable energy.
Before any work can be done on homes, they will need to be assessed by experts. However, the loans are not going to be means-tested.
The initiative was recently announced by finance secretary John Swinney, who claims that the scheme is going to help people to cut down on emissions and save money on household bills.
Swinney likens the waste of energy to the waste of money, were making homes more energy efficient is seen as key to the economic recovery of the country.
The scheme will give practical measures that can help to make an impact on energy efficiency the most quickly, including double glazing in windows and doors.
The target is in place, set by the Climate Change Act, to reduce emissions by 42% by 2020. However, Swinney claims that necessary changes could cost an average of £7,000 per property. This is why the loans will be given to encourage more action.
Not only will this help householders, but Swinney also states it can help to increase profitability and competitiveness with industry, and spur on the transport sector to improve fuel efficiency.
The first of October is traditionally a time when many households throughout the UK switch on the radiators for the start of winter. However, heating bills are far from being reduced in price which is why it’s important, now more than ever, to look for ways to reduce the energy we use.
Change Your Provider
According to recent research from insurers Bright Grey, a quarter of all householders are already struggling to pay the bills. However, the 42% average price increase of bills in 2008 is still far from meeting its earlier, lower level.
This is why the first step should always be to shop around to find the best deal with your energy company before winter hits. This could instantly end up saving you a few hundred pounds a year!
Make Improvements to Your Home
Aside from changing your provider, the single biggest area that can save you the most money is your home itself. The very materials it’s made from make a huge difference in terms of how much heat is lost, and how high you need to keep that thermostat.
Choosing double glazing for your windows and doors and you’ll really feel the difference. Your home will be warmer, it will be less draughty, and you’ll even notice how much noise it manages to block out!
You can also insulate your walls and your loft for maximum benefit. Though these improvements will take time and cost money, they’ll eventually make your home more valuable, and they can mean big savings in terms of your heating bills!
More and more people are searching for ways to save money in the current economic climate. This includes taking measures to help cut down on the cost of heating the home with double glazing, especially as winter approaches. Conservatories are also a great way to add value to your home – but if you choose to install these measures yourself, will you really be saving money?
More and more homeowners are now going the DIY route when it comes to conservatories and double glazing, where in the past they would have employed a trained professional to do so.
Research has shown that this could be a false economy in the long run. For small projects, DIY is often a great way to save money, but when it comes to uPVC conservatories, loft conversions, double glazing and other projects – it’s best paying the professionals to take care of it.
Why? Because these jobs require a large amount of training and skill to construct. Not only this, but inexperienced householders will often fail to meet specific guidelines. A professional, however, could advise on what must be done.
When you choose to install these improvements yourself they won’t be guaranteed. This means that, should a problem arise in future, it’ll be up to you to fix.
The good news is that there are great prices on professional jobs for windows, doors and conservatories. And, by choosing a trusted, trained body of professionals, you’ll be making an investment in your home which will pay off in the long run.
A youth group based in Garelochhead, Route 81, have just been awarded almost £200,000 in funding.
This money has come from the Climate Challenge Fund. It will be used to help reduce carbon emissions in the form of double glazing and insulation of their outdoor centre, as well as installing a renewable energy heating system. The group hopes that their outdoor centre will open next year.
Chair of the group, Alistair Duncan, stated that they were delighted to have received the cash.
The measures will help to make sure the group is more environmentally friendly, though it will also help to save them a large amount of money when it comes to running the facilities.
The Climate Challenge Fund has also been awarded to a number of projects across the country to help local communities reduce their carbon footprint, hoping that these measures will also inspire others to do the same.
Green MSP member, Patrick Harvie, congratulated all of the projects that had been awarded the fund. He also stated that they are all part of those communities throughout Scotland who are proving to be taking innovative measures to tackle climate change, describing them as ‘climate pioneers’.
Harvie also went on to state that these projects aren’t just helping to tackle climate change, they are also helping to boost the local area by bringing people together and boosting employment.
