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Energy savings can be achieved through improvements to the building envelope and heating services. If you want to make your house more comfortable to live in, and save money on your fuel bills, why not treat your home to a Green Makeover.
Check Your Home Insulation
Insulation is the most important of all energy conservation measures because its use has such a large impact on your energy expenditure. The question is no longer whether to insulate but how do I achieve a high standard of insulation at a reasonable cost.
Top-Up Your Loft Insulation
If your roof space is already insulated, there will probably be a thin layer of insulation fitted between the joists. To comply with current standards, more loft insulation will usually be required. If the existing loft insulation material is in good condition it can be left in place and another layer added to it to bring the thickness up to the level of the top of the joists. A further layer of loft insulation material should then be laid across the joists at right angles, to reduce heat loss through the joists themselves.
Insulate Your Cavity Walls
Blown insulation is the most economical way of insulating external cavity walls. It is much cheaper than internal or external insulation systems. If you want to know if your external walls can take cavity wall insulation, you should consult a registered cavity wall installer. The most common insulation materials used are: mineral wool, polystyrene beads or urea formaldehyde foam. Holes are drilled into the joints of the external brickwork and the insulation material is blown into the cavity using an injection nozzle. When the injection process is finished, the holes are made good to match the existing mortar as closely as possible. On completion of the work the registered installer will provide a guarantee for the work.
Install Double Glazed Windows
The heat lost through the windows of a home can amount to more than a quarter of the total heat loss. To save energy and improve comfort, old and ill fitting window frames should be replaced with energy efficient, double glazed windows. Expertly designed, assembled and installed double glazed windows will significantly reduce energy usage. A double glazed unit consists of two sheets of glass separated by an air gap. The air gap provides the insulating layer that slows down the heat loss and reduces the opportunity for condensation to form. In order to achieve the U-values required by the building regulations, low emissivity (low-E) glass must be used. Opportunities to replace windows occur infrequently so, when you do, it is sensible to fit windows manufactured to the highest technical standards.
Fit Draught Excluders
The main sources of draughts are: external doors, windows, fireplaces, suspended floors and lofts. Draught proofing is one of the least expensive and most effective energy efficiency measures in the home. In cold weather, warm air from inside the house passes naturally through the building envelope into the cold air outside. The escaping warm air draws in cold air from the outside which enters the home as draughts. This is uncomfortable for occupants and an expensive waste of energy. The exchange of warm and cold air, which produces draughts through the building envelope, can take place dramatically where there are cracks, gaps and holes in the roof, walls and floors.
Replace Your Central Heating Boiler
If you have an old central heating boiler and are planning to replace it, you will need to have a condensing boiler fitted. All gas and oil fired boilers installed must be condensing boilers, whether they are replacements or new installations. The term condensing is derived from the creation of condensation within the heat exchanger or flue. A condensing boiler releases a characteristic 'plume' of water vapour from the flue which indicates that it is operating efficiently. High efficiency condensing boilers can easily be fitted to most new and existing central heating systems. They convert more than 90 per cent of their fuel into heat, compared with 60 per cent for older boilers.
Update Your Central Heating Controls
The installation of a sophisticated heating controls package on a domestic central heating system can save up to 40 per cent on fuel costs. The central heating control system will ensure that rooms are heated to the desired temperature for the length of time it is required. The system can be turned off at night when heat is not required and off during the day as the outside temperature rises. Wireless central heating control systems are available for existing houses, where fixing new wiring may be problematic.
Save Energy and Save Money
There are many ways to make your home more energy efficient and when you save energy you save money. All these measures require monetary investment but all will give a reasonable return on that investment, through energy savings and lower energy bills.
Government Grants
UK government and local government grants are available for several energy saving initiatives. Why not check if you are eligible?
If you want to learn more about energy efficiency in existing and new homes then visit http://www.lowenergyhouse.com/
What About a Timber Framed House?
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Is Your House Suitable for Solar PV?
PUBLISHING GUIDELINESPermission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as the resource box is included without any modifications. All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication.
The Benefits of Off-Site Building
PUBLISHING GUIDELINESPermission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as the resource box is included without any modifications. All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication.
