Cavity wall insulation is therefore when the gap gets filled to have an insulated property to keep warmth in and reduce energy bills.

It is felt that cavity wall insulation can save a household up to £135 per year and is relatively cheap to install with typical installation costing between £100-350. This therefore means that you can recoup your investment within three years.

If you are interested in cavity wall insulation then you will need to find out whether your property is suitable. Suitability often depends on whether the walls are unfilled, whether there is a 50mm wide gap to work within, whether the external wall is in a suitable condition and if the walls are not exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Walls are often unfilled if the property is older than ten years as newer properties tend to be built with cavity wall insulation already built in. If the property is suitable then every part of the wall will need to be filled with insulation so it is important that all walls are easy to access. If one of the walls is joined to a neighbouring property then a cavity wall barrier may have to be inserted to ensure that your neighbour’s property isn’t affected.

The insulation is installed by small drill holes being drilled at regular intervals along the outside wall and then a specialist machine blows insulation into the brickwork. The insulation material is usually made out of three materials which are mineral wool, beads or granules and foamed insulants. Your chosen installer will recommend the best material to use on your property but you should ask whether the material is energy efficient and complies to British Standards with a 25 year guarantee.

It is important to remember that cavity wall insulation needs to be carried out by an expert and is unfortunately not a job that you can do yourself. It is important that you choose a qualified company to do such work and it is recommended that you look for companies that are accredited by the National Insulation Association (NIA) or the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA).

By choosing to insulate your cavity walls you will therefore be guaranteeing that your home retains heat and therefore reduce your energy bill and give you long-term energy savings.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Therefore when you are choosing a new computer you may want to consider buying an energy efficient one as this will help both the environment and your carbon footprint.

So, what do you need to know before you make a purchase decision?

Initially, you need to decide whether you want a laptop or desktop computer. Laptops use 85% less electricity than a desktop over the course of a year so in this respect are considered more energy efficient. The energy saving comes about due to the smaller screens and components than the laptop has and therefore, it is felt that if your computer needs can be met by using a laptop then this should be your choice. However, if you need a desktop you should look for ones that are recommended by the Energy Saving Trust and consider turning the computer off rather than putting it on standby as this can use a lot of energy and cost you up to £58 during the lifetime of the computer.

It is also not just the type of PC that you need to decide on but also the peripheral equipment that comes with owning a computer and how energy can be saved here.
Firstly, if you are using a desktop computer you should consider how efficient the monitor is. Take a look at the label and description of the monitor and buy a monitor which uses less energy in comparison to others. By choosing a monitor which offers better energy saving then you can save up to 70kg of carbon dioxide going into the environment over the lifetime of the monitor.

Secondly, you will need to consider the type of printer to buy. Most households will purchase an inkjet printer which also scans, copies and faxes, so is multi-purpose. When buying a printer you can look out for ones that are recommended by the Energy Savings Trust and you will know that this printer is relatively cost effective to run when compared to others as their recommended printers use 40% less electricity in sleep mode.

As well as looking for energy efficient computers and peripheral equipment you should also not forgot about turning equipment off completely and not leaving them in standby. This will stop the device using any energy and reducing consumption.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Often people don’t realise that draught proofing is one of the easiest ways to make home energy improvements as it is usually cheap and straightforward to fix.

There are common places in a home where draughts can be found. Typically draughts can be located in windows, in doors (especially in the keyholes and letterboxes), loft hatches, floorboards and pipe work leading outside as well as open fires.

Fixing draught issues can be done yourself if you are able to carry out simple DIY tasks. When choosing material it will be important for you to look for material of good standard which is British Standard Institution accredited. You will only require the help of a professional company if you have single glazed windows and require these to be changed to double glazed.

The best ways to fix draughts around the home typically include:

1. Windows – for draughty windows you can purchase draught-proofing strips that stick around the windows and can help fill the gap between the window and the frame
2. Doors – For external doors you should draught proof keyholes by buying a metal cover that covers the keyhole. For letterboxes you should fit a letterbox flap or brush which can stop heat loss. For internal doors these should be shut to retain heat and if they have a gap at the bottom a draught excluder can be purchased to save heat loss.
3. Loft hatches – Hot air rises and a lot of heat is lost through the roof of a house. Loft hatches can be insulated by using strip insulation (as described above for use on doors).
4. Floorboards and pipe work – Gaps in the floorboards and pipe work can be filled by putting filler into the crack.
5. Fireplaces – Fireplaces are notorious for losing heat. When the fire isn’t in use then you should install a chimney balloon which inflates in the chimney and blocks any heat from escaping.

Remember, if you repair any draughts in the home then you can save yourself up to £55 per year. It will also mean that you can lower the thermostat setting as heat will be retained in your house for longer and this could save you an additional £60 per year.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

If a home uses a hot water tank then it has been found that by heating the water through the immersion heater it is more expensive than if a combination boiler was used. It is therefore recommended that if your home uses a hot water tank that you do not leave the immersion heater switched on continuously as this will waste both hot water and therefore energy consumption.

This is just one such tip to help households become more energy efficient when using water within the home. If you are looking for more ways to become energy efficient as a way to save money here are four more tips that you should follow:

1. If your household has a hot water tank it is important to make sure that it is insulated as it has been found that a well insulated water tank can save you up to £40 per year.
2. As well as insulating the water tank you should insulate any hot water pipes to ensure even more energy saving as well as ensuring that hot water taps also run much quicker.
3. Make sure that you are using your hot water controls correctly and set them to when you do and don’t want water.
4. Switch your fuel supply to gain for energy savings. For example if you are using electricity you should switch to gas as this is cheaper or look at renewable energy resources.

These tips will help you save money as your energy consumption will be reduced. However, if you are looking at ways to save even more money then you will also need to reduce the amount of hot water that your household uses. Using less water can save you more money than you realise and areas in your home where you can save water include:

Inside the house where you should –

• Use the shower instead of having a bath and replace the shower head to a water-efficient one.
• Ensure that you fully fill dishwashers and washing machines before starting their cycle and use the energy saving setting. Also when the appliance needs replacing replace it with an energy efficient one.
• Stop running the tap while brushing teeth, washing faces etc. as this wastes water. Also use cold water instead of hot water to save energy.
• Fix any dripping taps in your home to save water.

Outside the house where you should –

• Collect water excess rainwater in a water-butt instead of letting it go down the drains. Then use this water to water the garden or wash the car.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

If you are one of these people, here are ten top tips to make your home greener and help the planet:

Tip 1 – Reduce the use of paper and plastics

Households should look at ways to reduce the amount of paper and plastics used. Ways in which this can be achieved is by making relatively small changes such as buying reusable shopping bags and cancelling paper bills and opting for email/online bills instead.

Tip 2 – Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products

Many household cleaners contain ingredients which can harm the environment and it is recommended that to be greener that you swap to less harmful products instead. There are a number of green cleaning products on the market or you could make your own cleaning supplies from natural ingredients like vinegar or lemon.

Tip 3 – Use energy efficient lightbulbs

Lightbulbs can account for up to 10% of a households electricity use and therefore households should ensure that their lightbulbs are energy efficient.

Tip 4 – Purchase energy saving appliances

When an electrical appliances needs replacing in a home it is suggested that the appliance is replaced with an energy saving one. Energy saving appliances may cost more money but they are a worthwhile investment as they can save you money on your yearly electricity bill.

Tip 5 – Watch your water consumption

Households should consider how they use water within the home and look to change their usage behaviour as small changes can make a big difference. For example, households should consider turning taps off when they are brushing their teeth for instance and take shorter showers to save water. Households can also look to employ water saving devices such as low-flow toilets.

Tip 6 – Unplug and turn-off electrical appliances

Most homes will leave electrical appliances plugged in and to save energy and be greener it is recommended that these are turned off when not in use. This also means unplugging phone chargers etc. which many of us leave plugged in as this waste electricity as well. Also, turning off any lights in the home when they are not in use is important.

Tip 7 – Turn down temperature controls

Households should turn down their temperature thermostat by 1 degree as this could save them both energy and money, just by making this simple change.

Tip 8 – Review your fridge freezer settings

It is recommended that homes get a fridge and freezer thermometer as you can review settings to ensure you are getting the most energy efficiency from the appliance.

Tip 9 – Make your garden greener

Gardens should make use of natural fertilizers and not use chemical ones which are bad for the environment.

Tip 10 – Look to use renewable energy sources

If a household is looking to implement a drastic change to become more environmentally friendly then it should consider switching to a renewable energy such as solar or wind. Even though this is a big initial outlay the money saved in the long-term is worthwhile and the energy is eco-friendly.

The following tips highlight that it doesn’t take much effort to become more environmentally-friendly and that small changes can make a huge difference in becoming greener and improving your homes carbon footprint.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

There are two main types of wood fuel systems that can be installed in homes. Either a home can install a boiler to replace a gas or oil boiler which would heat the radiators for the whole house as well as the water. Or a stove could be installed in a single room which will be used to heat just that room in conjunction with another heating system which is used for the rest of the house.

Once the type of system is decided on the next decision is to decide what sort of fuel to burn. There are three main fuel types which are wood pellets, chips or logs. It is generally felt that wood burning chips are more suited for heating larger buildings than single households and therefore it is recommended for households that wood pellets are used as these can be better than logs as they are much more controllable.

There are many advantages and reasons why households decide to use a wood fuelled heating systems with the two main benefits being:

• Wood fuelled systems are affordable heating systems which can work out considerably cheaper than other heating options such as gas and electric especially over a period of time.
• The system offers environmentally aware households a low carbon option for their home energy requirements. The carbon dioxide which is emitted when the wood is burned works out to be the same as if it was absorbed over the month and years when the tree was growing.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of the system to be considered are as follows:

• Households employing this type of system will need to ensure that they always have a guaranteed supply of wood pellets, chips or logs to keep the system working.
• Wood fuelled systems can take up a lot of space compared to gas boilers so this extra space requirement needs to be factored in when selecting this type of system. The system also puts additional strain on the flue and ventilation required. A household’s flue will therefore need to be robustly checked in a home to ensure it has sufficient air movement and can support a wood fuelled system.
• Correct removal of the ash created by the system also needs to be dealt with. This means that the system requires weekly cleaning and maintenance to ensure the correct operation compared to gas boilers which only require yearly servicing and maintenance.

If you do want to install this type of system and feel the advantages are for you just remember the following two questions to make sure that the system is fully suitable for your home. Do you have enough space for the system including the storage of the wood pellets, chips or logs? And do you have a suitable flue which will vent the appliance?

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Research shows that 300,000 old aged pensioners died since 1997 due to cold-related illnesses and it is felt that this number will increase significantly this year due to money troubles brought on by the recession and many households entering fuel poverty. So how can you stay warm this winter and keep your energy bill as low as possible?

The following five tips are here to help inform you of how to keep warm this winter and how to be more energy efficient.

Tip 1 – Use your boiler controls

Make sure you know how to use your boiler controls correctly. You should make use of the timer and programmer to ensure the heating comes on before you wake up and turn off when you go to sleep. Also, to save energy consumption it is best in extremely cold weather to set the central heating to come on earlier rather than turn the thermostat up. It will also be important to bleed the radiators in the property to ensure there are no air bubbles trapped that reduce the heat radiated from them.

Tip 2 – Utilise and transfer the heat generated in your home

During the day you will often heat more rooms than those heated at night time. At night time you should therefore open the doors from all heated rooms to circulate the warm air around the house. If you don’t want to heat the whole house to heat a bedroom at night then you should consider using an energy efficient electric blanket to keep warm.

Tip 3 – Ensure your insulation is adequate

Make sure your insulation is adequate to retain heat within your home as this will reduce your energy bill. This will also include fixing any draughts, making sure the loft is insulated and insulating cavity walls.

Tip 4 – Carry out household maintenance

You should carry out routine maintenance on your property to ensure it is energy efficient. This type of maintenance includes checking if there are any cracks or damage to pipes, damaged or slipped tiles on the roof, paintwork that is deteriorating or pipe work becoming rusty. If so, repairs will need to be undertaken.

Tip 5 – Look after your health

As well as looking at the maintenance of your property you need to consider your health. It is important to therefore dress warmly, get the annual flu jab if you qualify for it and eat well during the colder months to retain good health and energy.

By following these tips and implementing household improvements in relation to such factors as insulation to prevent heat loss it will only improve the energy efficiency of a home and will help reduce a homeowners energy costs during the winter and the long-term.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

These audits can easily be carried out by yourself and will give you a good indication of how well your home is performing and what improvements can be made to make it more energy efficient.

A do-it-yourself home energy audit consists of you checking and assessing the following on your property:

The location of draughts

The first thing that you should do is to check for draughts (or air leaks) in your property. Locating and fixing these leaks can result in a 5-30% saving in your energy bill per year and will mean that your home will retain heat for longer. The best places to check for draughts include gaps in doors, windows and window frames, floorboards, lofts and fireplaces. It is also recommended that you check for gaps around electrical sockets, pipes, wires and the letterboxes that may contribute to air leaks.

The type and level of insulation

Homes lose the majority of heat through poorly insulated walls and lofts so the level of insulation in a property should be assessed to see whether it can be improved. Loft spaces should be adequately insulated to ensure that the warm air that rises in the property is retained as much as possible as well as the walls, pipes, chimneys and tanks being checked for their insulation properties.

The households lighting

The lights used in a household accounts for up to 10% of a households energy bill so it is important to review the type of lights you use in your property. You should look to see whether you could have a lower wattage bulb and you should consider installing energy saving lightbulbs throughout your home.

Your boiler serviced

Finally, you should get your boiler serviced. Although you can’t do this yourself this is something that is important to do annually. A boiler service will ensure that the appliance is as energy efficient as possible to reduce your energy bill.

It is important to remember that when you are carrying out an audit of the above elements you should write down and keep a checklist of what you have discovered in relation to each area. This will then detail all the problems and findings that you have discovered during the audit. Once all these elements are written down you will be in a position to prioritise the list and work through the problems to make your home more energy efficient.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

The following article details the five most common ways in which your home loses heat and how you can prevent this heat loss therefore resulting in your home becoming more energy efficient and reducing your fuel bills.

Windows and doors

Windows and doors are a main culprits for heat loss especially if they are old or the original ones that were in the property when it was built. There are two ways in which you can fix draughty windows and doors. Firstly, the windows can be replaced which can be costly especially into today’s economic environment or secondly, the draughts can be fixed or reduced. The draughts can be fixed by locating them and then using sealant over the cracks to stop the air leakage. To reduce the draught homeowners could use quilted curtains to cover draughty windows as this will help a room stay warmer.

Loft

Most of a homes’ heat is lost through the loft as heat rises. It is therefore important that the loft is insulted with the right depth of insulation so that it is as energy efficient as possible. Even though an initial outlay is required to buy the insulating material it is found that loft insulation lasts for 40 years and the initial outlay made will be recouped again and again.

Walls

Along with the heat loss through the loft, cavity walls are the next area where most heat is lost. Cavity wall insulation is therefore recommended as it will fill the gap between the two external walls and help to keep the warmth in the home. Cavity wall insulation is most suited to properties that were built from 1930 onwards as these properties were constructed with two walls with a cavity between them. The insulation will need to be implemented by a registered company who will pump insulating material between the walls to give it an insulating property.

Floors

Uninsulated floors are also areas where heat is lost with as much as 10% of heat being lost. To resolve this problem the floor can be covered in insulating blankets or thick underlay.

Electrical sockets

Electrical sockets often have heat loss problems associated with them due to air leaks from the way they are fitted. These leaks can be fixed by using a sealant or insulating foam round the socket to cover up gaps between the wall and the socket itself.

With winter setting in it is important to make your home as comfortable as possible. It is therefore essential that you look at the ways in which your home is losing heat and then look at ways to reduce this lose. It is recommended that you check your property regularly to see whether you suffer from such heat loss and look to fix any problems you discover, as it will save your winter fuel bills as well as save you putting on those woolly jumpers on the cold winter evenings.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

The home energy rating scores your home in two different ways. Firstly, your home is scored out of 100 for a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating and secondly it is scored out of 10 for a National Home Energy Rating (NHER). These ratings look at energy costs in relation to factors such as water heating and lighting as well as how much carbon dioxide the home emits into the environment. SAPs are shortened to provide households with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which provide an accurate assessment of a houses energy performance. These certificates are required when a property is to be sold to provide buyers with an understanding of a property’s energy efficiency and the likely fuel bills they will have.

There are many ways in which we can make our homes more energy efficient and there are many reasons why we would want to do this ranging from reduced energy bills and improved comfort in our homes to helping the environment. Below are a number of ways in which a homes’ energy efficiency can be improved which are considered to have the most impact:

Locate and fix household draughts

Most of a homes’ energy is lost through draughts from walls, windows and doors. It is therefore important to locate draughts and then repair the cracks and seals where the draughts are located. This will also mean replacing any old windows with new energy efficiency double glazed ones. Even though this could be costly it will save money and energy in the long-term.

Consider replacing an out-of-date boiler

If you have an old boiler which needs replacing then it will be worthwhile investing in a new one. Newer boilers are much more energy efficient and therefore will help reduce energy bills. Again this could be a costly but worthwhile investment. Boilers have a big effect on a property’s EPC because space and heating is taken into account during the EPC assessment.

Insulate the loft, walls and water tank

About half of a homes’ heat is lost through the loft and walls so it is important to ensure these areas are insulated. Loft insulation can also save households up to £200 per year and cavity wall insulation will improve a property’s EPC as well as saving a home up to £160 per year.

If your home has a water tank this should be insulated as well. This insulation is relatively cheap to buy and can save up to 75% of heat loss from the water tank. If there is any exposed pipe work for the hot water these pipes should be insulated too, to minimise heat loss.

The above recommendations are suggested to help improve a home’s energy efficiency.

Remember if you are looking to sell your property then it is a legal requirement to have an EPC and the better your rating, the easier it should be to sell your home. So implementing the above recommendations will help make your home more attractive while reducing your carbon footprint.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain