Winterproof Your Home

The Energy Saving Trust has put together some top tips to help yoou stop wasting energy and save money by preparing your home for winter.

Paula Owen, Energy Doctor for the Energy Saving Trust said “By winterproofing your home you can cut down on the 50% of heat lost through the walls and roof in an un-insulated home this winter. With the exception of new homes, just about every home in the UK could benefit from having three energy efficiency measures.

The top three measures that have the biggest financial and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission savings are:

1. Cavity wall insulation (save £115 a year) the typical unsubsidised installed cost is around £500, but with a grant from your energy supplier the more usual cost is around £250, and some people (usually those aged 70 or over) can have it installed for free. Usually only suitable for homes built between 1920s and 1990s, (but always get a survey from a CIGA registered installer to check your walls’ suitability).
2. Loft insulation (save £150 a year if you have no insulation at the moment) – the typical cost is £250
4. Replacing old boilers (ones that are 15 years old or more) with new condensing boilers that use the heat from the exhaust gases that would otherwise escape through the flue, in the process turning water vapour from the gas back into liquid water or condensate. Replacing your old boiler with a new A-rated one and fitting a full set of heating controls can cut your heating bills by up to a quarter.

Making your home as winterproofed as possible – five top tips

An inefficient or poorly controlled heating system means you are wasting fuel unnecessarily. A well insulated, draught-proofed house keeps warmth inside and the home is heated efficiently.

1. Go on line, or call our impartial advice line and complete a free Home Energy Check, it could save you around £300 a year off your energy bills.
2. There are grants and offers available to help pay for cavity wall insulation and loft insulation - you can search our grants and offers database on line at www.energysavingtrust.co.uk to see what's available or call your local advice centre free on 0800 512 012, they'll be happy to help.
3. If your boiler is 15 years old or more then it could be a G rated boiler. You can find out if your boiler is G rated by checking the list on line on the Energy Saving Trust web site at: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Heating-and-hot-water/What-is-a-high-efficiency-condensing-boiler
4. Fit a hot water tank jacket and insulate your pipe work. By fitting a British Standard jacket around your hot water tank you can save around £35 a year and around 190 kg of CO2. By insulating your primary pipe work (the visible hot water pipes) you can save around £10 a year and around 60 kg of CO2
5. Fit draught proofing to windows and doors and save around £25 a year and around 130 kg of CO2.

Insulation, in the form of both loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, is incredibly cost effective that it will soon be paying for itself over and over again, with payback starting much quicker than you might imagine. Insulating unfilled cavity walls now typically pays for itself in around 2 years, while topping up your loft insulation to the recommended depth of 270mm typically pays for itself within 6 years.

Before undertaking any major changes to your home or even for small, simple cheap tips, give the Energy Saving Trust a call for FREE, impartial advice to help you stop wasting energy on 0800 512 012 or visit our website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

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