If you are looking at ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home then you should look at the windows that you have installed to ensure that they aren’t losing you heat and costing you more to heat your home.

Up to 25% of your current energy bill can be saved by preventing loss of heat through outdated windows and doors, so by ensuring that your windows are energy efficient it will mean that substantial cost savings can be made on both heating and lighting costs.

But how can you tell if your windows are energy inefficient or not? If you have single glazed then they are likely to be inefficient compared to double glazed windows. However, the main tell-tale sign of inefficiency is a high fuel bill.

Why not check your windows and make an evaluation of their efficiency by carrying out a simple draught test? This test involves holding a lit candle to the window and seals to see if the flame bends or flickers. If the flame does this can be a sign of a draught.

If you do have a draught you can either seal the draught or consider replacement windows if you feel they are outdated and need updating. If you decide to replace the windows then it will be important to install the best energy efficient windows to reduce your energy bill.

To do this you firstly need to research the windows and check their BFRC Window Energy Rating (WER). This energy rating looks at a whole spectrum of relevant energy saving factors such as heat gain and heat loss factors so is a good indicator on how efficient the window is. Energy rating runs from A-G and this is a similar rating scale to that used for white goods and appliances. Some windows also come with Energy Saving Trust recommended logo, so it is important to look out for this as well.

Secondly, consider the glass that is used in the windows and remember that the most energy efficient double glazing glass is low emissivity (Low-E) as it lets in light and heat but ensures that less heat escapes through the glass. Also see what is between the double glazed panes as some windows use argon, xenon or krypton to make the windows more efficient.

Finally, understand that the type of frame that you select will affect the energy rating of the window. For example, uPVC frames are known to last longer when compared to wooden frames that will require maintenance over time.

By installing energy efficient windows in your home then you will start to see the benefits immediately and start to recoup the money that has been outlaid to install the windows. Benefits that will be experienced include smaller energy bills, a more comfortable and warm home, fewer draughts as well as a reduction in condensation and noise from the outside.

You will also be reducing your homes carbon footprint and therefore playing a part in becoming an environmentally friendly household. If the outlay seems expensive then it is important to remember that double glazing can last up to 20 years and you need to consider the amount of savings that you can make in this time.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

With the recession hitting our wallets hard and with the press full of stories of the rise in fuel prices, it is unsurprising that a hard winter is expected with many households predicted to enter fuel poverty.

To put this in context, according to a poverty review carried out by the Government 2,700 people will die this year due to being fuel poor.

In these difficult times there is an abundance of online advice articles, tips and blogs written on the subject to help households reduce their energy consumption.

However, this is now being taken one step further with the development of social media applications (apps) aimed at giving households further useful energy usage and efficiency advice, comparing a households’ data to others and providing real-life information and advice.

The most publicised app is a Facebook application which has been developed by OPower, the Natural Resource Defense Council and Facebook in America. This app is called ‘Green on Facebook’ and will be launched fully in 2012 to look at a homes’ energy efficiency. Details of this app have just been announced and it is felt that it will only be a matter of time before such an app is created for the UK market (especially with OPower expected to move into the UK market). But what does this type of app offer households and what are the benefits of using such an application?

The main principle behind the app is its social aspect and that you will be able to see how energy efficient you are compared against friends and peers as well as gauging your home against the national average. It is therefore hoped that this will pressure users to becoming more energy efficient by applying a “green guilt”.
The other features that the app has allow users to –

• Compare their homes energy use to similar houses and benchmark against similar properties as well as comparing themselves against friends. While comparing their data against friends users can also share tips on how to improve energy efficiency.
• Publish energy talks, discussions and conversations to the Facebook newsfeed.
• Build online community groups (or teams) that can set their own collective goals and compete against other groups. It is also planned that groups will be rewarded and incentivised by their utility provider.
• Automatically import energy data into the application.

It is therefore apparent that using social media to monitor energy usage is a clever way to get homeowners to think about their energy usage by using human behaviour techniques. As people who opt to use this app will want to appear like they are doing their bit for the environment and making the right energy choices for their home.

In the United States it is estimated that $700 billion could be saved if households became more energy efficient, so it can be seen why a lot of effort and creative thought has gone in the development of the app. The creators obviously believe the future is in social networking and this is the best method of getting people to consider their energy usage and to talk about energy reduction.

This app therefore is aiming to become the platform for the future which allows households to become smarter in their energy choices. And if this app is successful in America then as we said it will only be a matter of time before it is rolled out in the UK market…so, watch this space.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

In recent years the Government has pushed their renewable energy schemes hard and developed a number of incentives for households to invest in renewable energy sources for their homes.

One such incentive was the introduction of a feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme in April 2010 that supported solar power projects for households, businesses and communities. However in a move that took the industry by surprise the Coalition Government has now announced plans to reduce the FIT for solar panels.

The reason behind the move is due to the popularity and take-up by households of the scheme which has meant that the renewable subsidies budget will be used up before the planned end date of 2015. The industry will now see the introduction of a new tariff for schemes up to 4kW in size of 21p/kWh which is down from the current 43.3p/kWh – a massive 50% cut. The Government is also proposing reduced rates for schemes between 4kW and 250kW. So what does this mean for those involved in the solar panel industry?

For those involved in the manufacture and installation of solar panels the changes will have a dramatic effect on them. When the FIT was introduced it meant the creation of thousands of jobs in the industry. All these businesses have invested in the growing industry and created new jobs while adding value to the economy. It is also felt that many solar panel companies could be left with stranded assets and contractual disputes due to the changes.

For individual households it is a blow to them having control over their rising energy prices and in helping the environment by reducing their carbon emissions. It will also mean that lower income households won’t be able to benefit from solar panel installation as many of the associated free solar panel schemes will disappear due to financial concerns.

The changes will not come into effect until the 12th December 2011 so there is currently a rush to finish solar panel projects by this date. However, there is a planned protest to the changes called the “Cut Don’t Kill” campaign on the 23rd November at Downing Street. The protest wants to lobby for more modest reductions and a longer timescale for changes to be implemented.

There is no denying that these changes mark a sad time in the renewable energy story as it is felt that the success of the scheme should be built upon and not be taken away in its prime. Many people in the solar panel industry feel these changes will finish this once prosperous industry sector and damage the positive views that households have about renewable energy.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Solar PV stands for solar photovoltaic and is a technology that converts sunlight (even on a cloudy day) into electricity. Solar PV comes in the form of solar panels that are installed on roofs and walls and these solar panels are installed with photovoltaic cells that do the conversion.

There are many reasons why households look to install solar technology. Firstly, the savings that can be made on energy bills is the biggest incentive for most households as once the technology is installed the cost to heat a home will be greatly reduced. Secondly, the carbon footprint of the household will be reduced as renewable energy is greener and doesn’t omit greenhouse unfriendly gas emissions into the environment. Finally, households will have the opportunity to sell excess electricity generated back into the electricity grid and therefore reduce their energy bill further.

With all these advantages does it automatically mean that solar PV is a good investment to make?

Before a decision can be made there are a number of considerations that need to be explored.

The first consideration is the cost of installing solar PV technology. Solar technology isn’t a cheap form of technology to employ and installation costs are perceived as high, so households need to decide whether they can afford the initial outlay. A few years ago it was estimated that the average cost of solar PV panel installation was around £12,500. However, these figures have been revised in recent years and it is now felt that if people shop around they can purchase panels for around £4,000 (for a small 8 metered squared area) or pay up to £10,000 for around 20 large panels.

Once the cost factor is taken into account the second consideration is the payback time that can be achieved on the installation cost and therefore the return on investment that is likely to be experienced. When considering the return on investment it is important to not only look at the amount of money saved on the energy bill but also at external factors such as rising fuel prices and reward schemes for employing a renewable energy source within your home. It is often felt that when payback time is analysed that increases in current fuel prices are not taken into consideration.

Also, there are many government schemes that households looking to install solar PV can become associated with such as joining the feed-in tariff which encourages homeowners to push back excess electricity generated into the national grid and get paid for doing so. Payback time and return on investment is a key factor in the decision whether to implement solar technology or not, however it is perceived by many that installing solar power technology is a good investment because the money invested is guaranteed and therefore a high level of return can be expected.

Once all these factors are taken into consideration an informed decision can be made as to whether installing solar panel technology is a worthwhile investment. From my research I would argue that solar PV is a good investment. This is because it not only appears the most cost-effective solution in this age of rising fuel costs but the installation costs are falling and government incentives for installing such technology is rising. This along with helping the environment and reducing your carbon footprint can only be a positive point for installing this technology.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Finance sector company Aviva is to sponsor the National Theatre Live.

Aviva is a major player in the finance sector and sponsors events both in the field of arts and sports. To further their profile in these areas, Aviva has created a new partnership with the National Theatre. Aviva are now sponsors of the National Theatre Live, taking place in cinemas both in the UK and worldwide.

This is the second season of the National Theatre Live, and was proved incredibly popular in its first. 180,000 people saw films screened on 320 screens in 22 different countries; all broadcast live from theatres and screened in participating cinemas and arts venues.

The National Theatre’s idea to bring theatre to a wider audience is an extremely popular one, and Aviva were keen to sponsor the event in an effort to make sure the second season is just as popular, if not more so, than the last.

"We’re delighted to be supporting National Theatre Live, bringing the best of British theatre productions to international audiences in the comfort and convenience of their local cinemas. As the world’s sixth largest insurance group, Aviva is well-placed to share the National Theatre’s ambition to grow this innovative programme in scale and stature. We look forward to seeing audiences increase over the coming season and enjoying the ‘National Theatre experience’ on the big screen,” says Sally Shire, global brand development director at Aviva plc.

Particular plays are nominated, so that the arrangements can be made to have the cameras at a set time. The broadcasts film the chosen play at the theatre in high definition. It is then broadcast via satellite to the cinemas: in Europe this is live, as well as in a number of US cities, but in other countries it is time-delayed to allow for maximum audience attendance.

The venues can be found in the UK, USA and all across Europe, as well as more far-flung places such as South Africa and Australia.

“We are hugely grateful to Aviva for their support. We could not have initiated the experimental pilot season of National Theatre Live without Arts Council investment; its success has now enabled us to attract a generous corporate sponsor. I very much look forward to a long and exciting international collaboration,” said Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre.

With the sponsorship of the financial sector company, this arts-based idea can continue and encourage other, similar projects worldwide; evidence that different sectors can easily come together in partnership to help one another.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Banks are always anxious to ensure a swift and painless succession when it comes to sorting out the top jobs and HSBC is usually the one institution which can be relied upon to get things right.

Yet the hallowed HSBC Boardroom has been ripped asunder by a top management spat which has brought an end to its safe hands reputation. And it now joins other banks which are turning to those in the investment divisions to run things at the top.

HSBC has just announced that Michael Geoghegan, currently chief executive, is to leave the bank and will not, as usually is the historic custom, replace the outgoing chairman Stephen Green.

Mr Green sparked the round of musical chairs after he elected to follow a new career with the coalition government.

City soothsayers are amazed that Mr Geoghegan was passed over for the chairman’s chair which is going to current finance director Douglas Flint. Although Mr Geoghegan was known to be a somewhat combative and outspoken chief executive, few foresaw his being passed over for the top job. He has told the media that given his non-selection to chairman, he had no other choice but to go.

But HSBC corporate spinners were desperate for the outside world not to see the departure of Mr Geoghegan as a strop.

Chairman elect Mr Flint said, in what many might regard as the understatement of the century:
“We need to restore trust in the banking industry by learning from mistakes made in recent years.”

Mr Geoghegan said there were no ill-feelings, saying:
“It’s been historical at this company that the chief executive goes on to be chairman but you have to be asked, and the reality was I wasn’t asked.”

He leaves with £1.42 million in a severance package

Slipping into the chief executive shoes is Stuart Gulliver, formerly head of the HSBC Investment division and a promotion which mirrors the decision by Barclays bank to reward their aptly named investment chief Bob Diamond with the top job.

This worries the Government and some regulators that far from learning from their past mistakes, the banks are leaning towards the investment, and some would say, riskier parts of their businesses and forsaking the comparatively plodding retail parts. Whether this is coincidence, or key executives making sure they are on the right side of the fence should some people in the government get their way and split banks into two, remains to be seen.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

The recession might not (or might still) be heading for a double dip recession, but the headline, ‘house buyers UK feel more pain’, is still appropriate for most home owners out there.

UK house prices have dipped for the third month in a row and a recent report has revealed that the slowdown is even being felt in the most expensive parts of London. And for those house buyers UK, things are not looking much better across the Atlantic where arguably the whole crisis started.

A cataclysmic event in the US housing market, sparked by a series of bad mortgage loans to people who could never realistically make the payments, caused the recent worldwide recession as the debts were packaged up by the City dealers and sold as prime investment vehicles.

And now comes news that new home sales in the US in the month of August has been one of the worst on record since way back in 1963.

America may just be staving off the dreaded double dip itself, but record levels of unemployment, tight credit and low house prices in general, means that there is little money around to buy new homes. Figures released by the US Department of commerce showed that the seasonally adjusted annual sales was 288,000 – static on July 2010. What’s more worrying to experts though, is that had the figures not been adjusted upwards (to take into account the season), then they would have been the worst on record.

The August figure was off the pace by some 29% compared with August 2009, aptly showing the degree of downturn experienced in the US housing market.

And these figures come after a boost from central government which between January and April 2010, introduced tax credits to help things along. It helped, but when the scheme stopped in April, things turned worse again.

On a slightly brighter note, the number of new homes being built is up 29% from April 2009, although this is nearly 75% off the record seen in January, 2006.

So it’s likely that house buyers UK will have to feel the pain for that bit longer over the coming months.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Bank loans are continuing to be scrutinised by outsiders as an inquiry is set to consider the delicate question of break-ups.

The lack of bank loans may be one of the catalysts which is causing voices to call for a thorough review of banking and the government inquiry is determined to get to the bottom of the issue. At the heart is the vexed question as to whether banks should be split into two: one side which handles retail business and the other which handles investment business, and never the twain shall meet.

Breaking up is just one of the issues being explored by the Independent Commission on Banking and thoughts are polarised on both sides of the argument. Some say that banks should not be allowed to gamble with the investors money and get into situations which caused the current financial crisis. And that retail money must be protected from investment bankers who instead should gamble with their shareholder funds and not customer cashflow.

Others cry foul, saying that to split banks will in effect ruin capitalist principles in the UK and that many banks would have to up anchor and move to a more favourable regulatory environment. This would decimate an industry in which the UK leads; one of few which brings home the bacon nowadays.

HSBC and Standard Chartered have already fired warning shots across the Government’s bows, saying that if the rules were to be dramatically changed, then they would to move their headquarters overseas.

Sir John Vickers will head up a five strong panel and he was quoted as saying:
“Experience shows that the risks from not asking hard questions about financial stability and competition are far greater than from doing so.”

Sir John is the ex-chairman of the Office of Fair Trading and is joined by another non-banker ex-regulator Clare Spottiswoode who’s the former director-general of Ofgas. Others might raise an eyebrow at the others on the panel, wondering if a few foxes had got into the hen house.

They are Bill Winters, the formerly co-chief executive of investment bank JP Morgan; the chief economics commentator at the Financial Times Martin Wolf; and, Martin Taylor, who is a former chief executive of Barclays.

The first recommendations will be ready about a year from now, in September 2011.

Chief apologist for the banks, Angela Knight, in her role as chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association, trumpeted that the banks had nothing to hide and that they welcomed the commission:
"We believe the UK industry has already taken significant steps to improve its financial position.”

It’s now a matter of wait and see. Bank loans will remain under scrutiny for a good while yet.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

New research from the Marks & Spencer money shop, known as M&S Money, shows that most of the UK public are very brand loyal.

The money shop cites new research which shows that once shops and businesses have gathered the trust of the shopping public, they tend to stay loyal and return again and again. Some can remain loyal for over 20 years. Whether this be a food brand, a particular shop chain, or a certain doctor or butcher, people keep going back so long as the trust remains.

So why do people stay so long with their favourite professionals or businesses? Most cite customer service as their main criteria for establishing a positive relationship; good customer service apparently keeps people coming back for more. The research done by Marks & Spencer revealed that six out of 10 people claimed customer service as their main reason for staying faithful.

When it comes to doctors, the British are fiercely loyal if they have a good relationship with their GP. The survey indicated that on average the British keep their doctors for 13 years, with a further 10 million returning to visit the same doctor for 25 years. Favourite and trusted hairdressers are coveted by British women, 1.3 million of whom stick with the same hairdresser for over 20 years.

Banks will be pleased to hear that once a customer is loyal, they will be equally as long-staying with the bank of their choice. Men on average stay with their main bank for 14 years, with women staying on for an extra 12 months with an average of 15 years.

"Consumers will evidently stick with businesses and people who deliver great service and look after their customers. Most people can name someone they trust completely, whether cutting their hair, managing their money, decorating their house or fixing their car. People clearly feel strongly about good customer service, reliability and trustworthiness as these are reasons why they stay loyal for so long,” says Colin Kersley, chief executive of Marks & Spencer Money.

So what of the customers of the brand that instigated this research? How faithful are the Marks & Spencer customers?

“After 25 years in business, M&S Money has stood the test of time and we know how important it is to continue earning the loyalty of our customers. While the average relationship lasts nearly nine years, our own M&S Money customers have remained loyal to us for an average of 17 years.”

This established money shop is one of the many businesses and professionals, once they have proved their worth to their customer, will enjoy loyalty for many years to come.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Those with bank accounts and loans are over-estimating their balance by £70.73 concludes research from a top UK bank.

Barclays discovered that when customers with accounts and loans thought about what their balance was, most could not accurately say how much money was there at any one time and, on average, over-estimated the figure by £70.73. This was the average amounts for Brits in general, but the research goes even deeper, suggesting that Londoners are even worse. Those living in London overestimate their balance by about £91.62. The research compiled a list of areas of the country where the most out of touch with their bank account live. The top ten included Leicester, Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Portsmouth.

So why this lack of knowledge when it comes to our bank balance? Barclays’ research indicated that customers only check their bank balance four times a month. To solve this, Barclays’ research suggests that mobile and text banking may be the answer. 57% of people questioned believed that using mobile and text banking would be a way of keeping more on top of their balance.

This is backed up by more of the survey’s findings: 84% who currently used mobile banking were more accurate in estimating their bank balance. Compared with the 83% of bankers with no mobile banking capabilities, only 17% of those with mobile banking admitted they didn’t know what was going in and out of their bank account on a regular basis.

“Being in control of your money starts with knowing how much you’ve got and where it is being spent. Online and telephone banking made that easier and now mobile phone banking is taking it a step further. Mobile phone banking is still a relatively new way of doing your banking but the number of users is growing at a phenomenal rate and simultaneously more features and functionality are being added. It’s really encouraging to see the positive impact it is having on helping people stay in control of their finances in a quick, easy and convenient way,” said Sean Gilchrist, Barclays Digital Banking Director.

Keeping on top of bank accounts and loans is important to ensure you are not overspending and to get a good idea of things such as day-to-day budgets. The Barclays research suggests that things such as mobile banking can be a great help in keeping on top of your finances.

Guest Article by Neil Camp