Archive for January, 2010
We are currently experiencing extremely low temperatures – prompting many homeowners to turn up the heating and stay inside. However, we have some tips to help keep your energy bills down. If you haven’t already, read part 1 and then see some of our additional tips below:
6) Replace Your Old Boiler: A scrappage scheme is now in effect throughout the UK that means thousands of people who currently have G-rated boilers could be entitled to a voucher towards the cost of a new, A-rated boiler. This could dramatically lower your energy bills and carbon emissions.
7) Wear Layers: It may be simple advice, but it works. Wear a few extra layers and you’ll be doing your part for the environment when you don’t have to keep the heating turned up as high.
8 ) Insulate Your Water Tank: Fitting an insulating ‘jacket’ around your water tank can instantly save you around £35 a year, and you can also insulate your pipes to help you save a further £10 per year.
9) Block Out Chimneys You Don’t Use: Chimneys can be a source of draughts, so block them out using newspaper or a ‘chimney balloon’ which is designed to keep the cold air out. It’s important to remember to remove any items before you use your chimney again.
10) Stay Active: Try to exercise, go out for walks or just do a little housework to keep you active and naturally warmer.
When you couple the above measures with eco friendly changes to your home, such as double glazing in the windows, you’ll notice a huge difference in how warm you feel, and you’ll be able to turn down the heating to save some money.
The recent weather conditions, or the ‘big freeze’ means that many people are struggling to stay warm and, as a result, turning up their heating.
However, doing this can leave a massive dent in your pocket, as well as increasing the impact you have on the environment. Poorly insulated homes mean that energy, and money, are being wasted every minute.
If you want to keep warmer in your home this winter, follow some of this quick tips:
1) Loft Insulation: This could save about £150 per year on your energy bills, and will cost around £250 to get installed.
2) Cavity Wall Insulation: This can save around £115 a year on heating and can cost around £500 – though there are many grants available.
3) Double Glazing: This will help to save around £135 per year on your energy bills by cutting out around 50% of the heat that is typically lost through your windows.
4) Lowering Your Thermostat: Try turning down your thermostat by just one degree and you could save around £30 a year!
5) Draught Proofing: Get rid of draughts in your windows and doors and you could save around £25 each year on energy bills.
Look out for our post tomorrow where you can discover even more ways to keep your home warm during the winter – and do your part for the environment!
An expert has recently claimed that the government needs to provide a ‘hard commitment’ when it comes to retrofitting of existing homes in the UK.
Deputy directory of the Green Alliance, Thomas Lingard, says that a government example is the only way to achieve improvements across the country that can help the cause of reducing carbon emissions and making homes more energy efficient.
Lingard added that existing homes will make up around 75 per cent of property use in 2050, which is why retrofitting should be seen as such an important element of reducing carbon emissions.
He stated that it is ‘very encouraging’ to see a number of established builders coming into the retrofitting market, as he believes that this will help to reassure home owners about the importance of making these changes.
Measures that can help improve energy efficiency in existing properties include double glazing in windows and doors to help reduce heat lost and to make homes naturally warmer. Insulation is also another important factor at keeping heat inside the home. All of these measures will also help homeowners to save money.
However, only a ‘hard commitment’ from the government, by bringing in new policies and making retrofitting more desirable, will be the catalyst to widespread measures across the country.
The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan has stated that changes will need to be made to improve energy efficiency of our homes which will account to 15% worth of carbon emissions cuts by 2020.
The Home Energy Manager – a new system that has been designed to connect all appliances that consume energy in the home, and allow householders to set budgets through a touchscreen interface – has been named as one of the ‘game changers’ of green technology and the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The Home Energy Manager (HEM) has been developed by a partnership consisting of Whirlpool, Direct Energy, Best Buy, Open Peak and Lennox – as reported by the International Business Times.
The HEM works by connecting appliances and devices that use energy in the home. This includes the heating, lighting, TVs, microwaves and more: all linked into one control station where homeowners will then be able to set maximum limits for their use.
The device will be programmed to alert householders who are reaching their limits, and it will also provide recommendations on how to reduce bills and make homes more energy efficient.
It is hoped that knowing exactly what is used will help encourage householders to reduce consumption, by using less electricity as well as by installing measures in the home such as double glazing – to make the building itself more energy efficient.
The HEM will be able to be programmed either directly or remotely, to help ensure energy usage is cut back during peak periods.
The system is to be trialled in the US this spring.
At the CES, a new device was also showcased that could help residential property owners to control their hot water and heating by sending text messages to a central hub.
Recent weather has shown us just how cold it can get in the UK, with temperatures well below freezing in the last few weeks. And, for those of us living in draughty homes, the cold is felt even more strongly.
When it comes to battling your way through the cold snap, there are answers besides turning up the heating – and the first place to start is with your windows.
1) Close the Curtains: Closing your curtains is a good way to keep the heat inside your home.
2) Choose Double Glazing: If you only have single glazing then you’re going to feel the draughts a lot more than others. Getting double glazing in your windows will greatly reduce the amount of heat lost, helping you to stay warm all winter.
3) Secondary Glazing: If you live in listed buildings then double glazing may not be allowed. If so, check whether secondary glazing could be a solution for you.
4) Draught Excluder: For those who really don’t have the cash to spend you can also choose draught excluder, which can be bought for a few pounds per foot.
When it comes to keeping your home warm, all of these measures will have a noticeable effect. But let this winter be a lesson in planning ahead – the best results will be seen when you opt for new double glazing before the next cold patch hits!
It has recently been confirmed that the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) will be working in partnership with the Cambridge University Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), the College of Estate Management and WSP to provide training programmes for professionals involved in the construction and property industries.
The training program is due to launch in 2010 and will be part of the Sustainability and Training Education Programme (Step). Step was launched after research showed that there is a large demand for tradesman to get involved with green education and training.
An introductory course will be given by the College of Estate Management to cover sustainable development and buildings. It is expected that around 12,500 people will take the course in the first 12 months, either in person or online.
The WSP and the CPSL will also deliver a sustainability leadership course which is aimed at senior management professionals, and those at board-level, in construction and property industries. In its first 12 months the course will have space for 90 people.
The head of business development at UKGBC, Chad Harrell, said that the organization is delighted to be taking on ‘like-minded delivery partners’ to help make Step happen.
The UKGBC works to promote sustainability within construction, hoping to open up green jobs. Despite the economic climate, there is still demand for measures such as double glazing, insulation and renewable energy sources in households – which the UKGBC will add to by teaching about sustainable practice, materials and more.
The London Plan has helped to encourage builders and developers to go beyond the bare minimum required by Building Regulations to do as much as possible to cut carbon emissions when submitting schemes to the mayor.
A new report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority, London South Bank University, has found that the average carbon reduction coming from developers, above standard Building Regulations, has risen to 34 percent in mid 2009 from 29 percent in 2006.
A sample was taken from the major planning applications that were submitted to the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, for approval. Half of the applications were looked at, including schemes for tall buildings, 150 homes, retail and office projects.
Energy savings came from a number of sources, including the use of passive lighting and heating, renewable technology, low-carbon sources as well as energy efficient options such as double glazing, to keep heat inside buildings.
The study praised the London Plan for how flexible it has been on achieving reductions in emissions, which has allowed developers to choose solutions that suit their particular project and site.
The replacement London Plan for 2010-2013 was published in October, and will help to push development of more green homes. The aim is to cut down on carbon emissions by 44 percent for all new developments.
The new year is set to be an “exciting time” for home improvements, as property owners are looking to personalise their homes’ colour schemes and opt for more experimental decoration, according to one expert.
Editor of House Beautiful magazine, Julia Goodwin, has said that fewer people are looking to sell their homes, giving them the freedom they need to ditch those beige walls. Instead they are opting for “zingy” colours such as citrus yellow, greens, limes and olives on their walls and floors.
Looks inspired by the 1950s and 1960s are also coming back into fashion in terms of furniture and homeware, and patterned floors will be seen in more and more places.
Goodwin stated that “people shouldn’t be afraid to experiment and really make their home something that reflects their own interests”.
In addition, she commented on the fact that more and more people are once more opting for costly improvements such as double glazing, to improve the comfort within their home. In keeping with her prediction of more personalised changes, double glazing can also be designed to match your home and your tastes perfectly.
A recent survey carried out by Screwfix stated that many property owners are calling in tradesmen to carry out changes in the new year. 60 per cent of men stated that they lack the time or the knowledge to carry out the work DIY.
Now that 2010 is upon us, many of us are making new year’s resolutions to stay healthy. However, on top of many people’s lists, according to a recent survey by GoCompare.com, is our financial situation.
If you want to help improve your finances then take a few of our tips to save money in your home and ultimately increase its value.
Becoming More Energy Efficient
The weather has been extremely cold lately, which is reason enough to make sure your home is as energy efficient and as warm as it can be.
One of the best measures to increase the natural temperature of your home is to install double glazing in your windows. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that this will save around £135 on your fuel bills, and they will pay for themselves within just a few years.
On top of this, replacing an old G-rated boiler with an A-rated model could save you over £200 each year. The good news is that the government’s boiler scrappage scheme will also be coming into effect this year to help out qualifying households.
It’s also important to look at grants available to you. For example, if you are aged over 60 then you may qualify for a grant from the Warm Front Scheme. This will help towards insulation and improvements to your heating system to make your home more comfortable.
Whilst these measures may seem costly or difficult to begin with, they will be well worth it in the long run, ultimately paying for themselves.
Residents throughout the Stirling area are being advised to help protect their homes against the weather, as extremely cold and icy weather continues to be a problem for householders.
As temperatures drop below zero, there is a scheme that can give advice to residents in the area, helping them to save energy and to learn of any other benefits that could help beat cold temperatures.
The Energy Assistance Package is worth £60 million in total, and can supply a number of measures ranging from insulation in the loft and walls, new boilers, radiators or double glazing windows.
The Energy Assistance Package is managed on behalf of the Scottish Government by the Energy Saving Trust. Extensions were recently made to the scheme meaning that more homes are now eligible for help.
Alex Neil, Housing and Communities Minister, said that everyone has been noticing the cold recently, but that ‘no one should feel that they can’t keep themselves or their family warm’.
The truth is that many residents of Stirling are living in fuel poverty, meaning that a large portion of their income goes towards paying energy bills. Despite this fact, many people are not aware that they are entitled to help.
The aim of the scheme is to send the message to householders that they can receive real help to meet their fuel costs and stay warm throughout the winter.
