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Home Insulation Grants Guide

Posted on: January 12th, 2009 by admin No Comments

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

Insulation Market Soars As A Result Of Rising Gas Prices

Posted on: December 5th, 2008 by admin No Comments

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?

 

Making The Most Of Green Building Materials

Posted on: November 19th, 2008 by admin No Comments

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.