According to a recent story in the Times the Governments advisory body on domestic energy use has announced that poorly insulated homes should be banned from being sold or rented. Further more the Energy Saving Trust has released figures showing that 5.5 million homes in the UK are in the lowest two energy performance bands. This equates to a fifth of all homes.

The latest figures have also led the trust to believe that tougher measures need to be introduced in order to help the government reach its carbon dioxide emissions target. Suggestions have included additional stamp duty and higher council tax. This will undoubtedly be unpopular with many home owners however the trust estimates that these homes could be made fit for less than £5000.
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Keeping cool and saving money has never been more important with temperatures soaring into the mid 30′s last week. The mini heat wave left many scrambling to buy fans and air conditioning units however there are some other great ways to reduce energy loss and keep cool. So here are our home energy efficiency tips for the summer.

1. Being an insulation company we will mention insulation first. Implementing the amount of insulation helps control airflow and in turn reduces temperatures in the summer months and increases them in the winter. Loft insulation is one of the most effective areas to install insulation for this.
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Property owners have a number of choices when it comes to insulation these days but a recent article by mydesert.com suggests that insulating ceilings is the most effective. In a typical home owners can insulate walls, windows and of course roofs however the article suggests ceiling insulation can save 60 percent in utility costs compared to roughly 25 to 30 percent from window and wall insulation.

source: tand on Flickr
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In today’s market place insulation comes in a variety of formats and the levels of insulation people install should depend on a number of factors. One of the main considerations is the age of your property. The older your property the more insulation you will require. Current building regulations recommend a minimum of 275mm. Homes built twenty years ago typically have little over 100mm of insulation. The rise in thickness levels has been down to increased energy bills and the need to create more efficient homes.

source: http://insulationinfo.org

Another critical factor to consider is the r value of the insulation. You will want your insulation to be as effective as possible so finding an insulation type with a good r value is critical. The placement and thickness can be determined by the r value. An insulation type with a high r value won’t require as much as one with a low r value.
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Critic’s and the Local Government Assocation have slammed energy companies for using cheap gimmicks rather than commiting / helping households reduce energy costs. Energy companies like British Gas for example are offering free energy saving light bulbs. Critics however suggest that this is only a minor step in which companies could make in order to help consumers.

The Local Government Association which represents councils in England wants the Government to toughen the insulation targets it sets for energy companies. This controversial move would force energy companies to promote measures such as home roof insulation and in some cases the home insulation companies themselves. This would of course work well for both consumers and home insulation companies, however it is unlikely the energy companies will warm to the idea as it will have an effect on their profits.

The recent outcry from the LGA is hardly unfounded when you consider that energy saving light bulbs save just £3 (on average) a year on energy bills. The savings made from insulation is considerably higher and offer subsequent benefits.

It’s clear that home insulation companies offer consumers many benefits and in terms of the wider issue of the environment both insulation and energy saving light bulbs can help. Pushing energy companies to both could have significant benefits for both consumers and the environment.

Image Source: Flickr

Related Links:

http://www.energychoices.co.uk/partner-lp_insulation-not-free-light-bulbs-demands-local-government-06052009/reduce-energy-bills-without-switching.html

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/green-light.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

Home insulation grants have been a hotly debated topic in recent months as many people are confused by what is on offer to them and how they can take advantage of the home insulation grants. At Sprayseal we thought it would be useful to explain some of the finer points and give you some useful resources which you can go away and look at.

We will firstly point out that the insulation grants are only one part of the the energy efficiency grants on offer by the Government and local authorities.

Who The Grant Is Available To?

The media points heavily towards the fact that old age pensioners and people on low incomes are the main ones to benefit from the grants however they are available to any house hold in the UK. It is just that these groups of people get extra attention.

The scheme in England is known as Warmfront and they have the following criteria that needs to be met in order for you to be eligable.

- You are a home owner
- You rent a property from a private land lord
And If
- You are over the age of 60 and are on one or more benefits
- You have a child under 16 or are an expectant mother and on benefits such as income support
- You are on an income of less than £15,466 and are recieving one or more benefits

Who Offer Grants

One of the main suppliers of the grants is the Government itself and they provide up to £2700 pounds to help improve home efficiency. This covers home insulation.

Another of the main providers are energy suppliers. The Government has urged them to cut down on waste and become more efficient. This has lead to many of the main suppliers using better equipment and providing offers and grants. You can also take up offers from any supplier regardless of who you pay your bills to.

Finally and probably most crucially your local authorities offer home energy efficiency grants. If you contact your local authority then they should point you in the right decision.

Home Insulation Grants Resources

To find offers and grants available to you then checkout http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/gid

Resources

Energy Saving Trust – Energy Saving Tool

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-Improvements/The-Energy-Saving-House

Excellent resource to looking at areas to make home improvements to.

Low Carbon Building Scheme

http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/home/

If you are looking at renewable energy sources and want information grants then these could help significantly.

Home Energy Saving Programme

http://www.number10.gov.uk

Page about the scheme launched by the Prime Minister

Rising global demand for gas and electricity has seen bills soar to a record high and more and more home owners are now looking to insulate their homes in order to reduce bills. Companies like Sprayseal and Kershaw have seen good levels of growth in revenue as a result.

Source: thingermejig

Back in July British Gas warned that gas bills could rise by as much as 60% over the next four years leaving people with bills surpassing the £1000 pound mark. The news not well recieved and people started looking at ways to reduce their energy bills. Insulation has so far proved the most popular method.

The energy saving initiative launched by the government in September should also go down well with members of the general public as it gives people the opportunity to get grants for their home insulation. This makes the option much more viable and insulation companies are enjoying the extra business.

The added costs to the average house hold bills coupled with the credit crunch has hit the nation hard. The days of cheap energy are gone. Energy experts are advising the use of insulation and that people should get their properties for the winter months. Our advice is have your insulation installed properly and enjoy the reduced bills for many years to come.

Resources:

Gas bills to soar over £1,000

Energy Efficiency Initiative Promotion

Am I eligible for any of the government’s latest insulation grants?

Taking on a new building project or making improvements to your home can have many environmental implications so is the average person really taking environmentally issues seriously. Research suggests that many people are in fact thinking about environmental issues and more importantly looking at ways to reduce energy costs.

In today’s economic and global climate large corporations are taking the green issue very seriously and many of them are funding large environmental research projects. In fact many of them are pushing there companies forward through new and exciting green building developments. CIS for example have recently given there head quarters a face lift with 7000 new solar panelled windows. The Hearst Tower in New York City has been built using 80% recycled steel and new green developments include the Lighthouse Tower in Dubai and the Urban Cactus in Rotterdam. So with the corporations looking at the green issue is it time for the focus to shift to the individual?

Many would be inclined to think yes but what can the individual really do?

How The Individual Can Help

As with most things people can try and learn a little more about the subject as there seems to be plenty of misgivings about it. There are numerous specialist websites on the area including EcoGeek and the Energy Saving Trust. People can also look at the building materials and methods that they use on future home improvements. So for example the paint you use and what materials are used for insulation.

Insulation for example is one of the main areas where people can make a real difference. Using a spray foam insulation can help reduce energy costs and the solution used for spray foam is environmentally friendly. That is they use no harmful fibres and the foam is usually much more effective than tradition insulation. In some cases spray foam insulation can help reduce heat loss by upto 80%.

In the summer months insulation can help to keep a room cool whereas it can also keep a room warm in the winter months. This is done through its ability to form an extra barrier between the inside and outside and keep the air levels balanced.

In the summer months many people consider installing wooden decking in their gardens. People should consider the type of trees that are used to make the decking and whether there are eco friendly alternatives. Essentially there is many things we as individuals can do. We can install solar panels and more efficient utilities for example. The key lies in planning. Plan your green building project carefully and research materials fully. Research suggests that the emphasis is now on us and we should be using greener building materials.

At Sprayseal we can help you with your insulation projects. If you would like more information then please fill out the form on the right.