TOP TIPS FOR INSULATING YOUR HOME – An increasing number of people are becoming energy conscious because of the benefits it can have on our household bills, as well as helping to reduce the impact on the environment.
We are constantly bombarded with information on what we should be doing – recycling, saving energy, not using the car and so on – but one of the easiest and most cost effective things you can do is to insulate your home.
There are many insulation schemes ready for you to take advantage of that means you could get free insulation and save a lot of money, as well as stay cozy throughout the winter.
Cavity wall insulation
By insulating your cavity walls you will save up to 33% of the total energy that is lost through your home. This energy retention equates to a saving of approximately £115 a year in real money, so it is well worth it. The other advantage is that many energy companies will provide the service free of charge – whether you get your energy from them or not!
Draught Prevention
Every time you feel a draft you will not only think about the cold chill but also about the pounds that are escaping through those small cracks.
Draughts mean that you are losing energy so need to be sealed as soon as possible. Steps to exclude them include adding bristles to the bottoms of your doors and on sash windows and using a sealant on windows that you don’t open often.
If you have old single glazing think about getting your windows upgraded.
Loft Insulation
As heat rises, it should come as no surprise then that 25% of the heat lost from your home escapes through your loft.
Putting down loft insulation is a relatively easy job as it just goes down like a carpet and stops any heat escaping through the top of your house. When you consider that loft insulation will last for 40 years and save approximately £150 a year on your energy bills it makes the decision even easier.
Plumbing insulation
You may not realise it but a lot of heat is lost from your central heating pipes, hot water pipes and your hot water tank, if you have one.
Having a British Standard Insulation jacket on your boiler will save 75% of energy – or around £45. It is very easy to do yourself as you can get pipe insulation very cheap from your local DIY shop.
If you take these simple steps you will save yourself hundreds of pounds a year in reduced heating costs and also ensure your house is as environmentally friendly as possible.
