Heating,Hot Water,Insulation & Glazing
How to use less fuel and save money
Most households can save a
substantial amount on fuel bills by using energy in an efficient way, and can be warmer and healthier as a result. Grants
and discount schemes are available to help with fuel efficiency measures. Even if you have to meet some of the costs yourself,
the savings on fuel bills can quickly repay the initial cost.
Heating
If your house is centrally heated, you can make the heating more efficient and
less expensive by upgrading your heating controls. A time switch or programmer allows you to set heating and hot water to
come on only at times when needed. Room thermostats which automatically switch the heating off at a certain temperature will
also save energy. Similarly, individual radiator thermostats can be fitted which allow you to control each room's temperature
separately.
One of the biggest causes of high fuel bills and energy inefficiency comes from
old boilers, generally those over 15 years old. All modern boiler systems are more energy efficient and use less fuel to run.
The most efficient boilers in terms of saving money are called condensing boilers which use 30-40% less fuel. You or your
landlord may be eligible for a grant to install a condensing boiler.
One of the major causes of high fuel bills are old boilers, generally those over
15 years old. All modern boiler systems are more energy efficient and the most efficient of all are condensing boilers which
use 30-40% less fuel. You or your landlord may be eligible for a grant to install a condensing boiler.
Fitting a new boiler is expensive and you could first contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
for information on what grants are available in your area and a list of approved contractors. For contact details, see under
heading Who can help). You should also check that the installer carrying out your work is an approved member of either CORGI
(Council for Registered Gas Installers), for gas appliances, or OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association for the petroleum
industry), for oil fired appliances.
Insulation
Reducing the amount of fuel you use for heating can often be achieved by insulating
your home. Good insulation will keep the heat in the building and drafts and cold out. A lot of heat escapes through doors,
windows, walls and the roof of a house.
There are a number of cheap and easy measures that can make your home dryer and
warmer. For example, if your home has wooden floors, you can fill gaps in floorboards and skirting with newspaper, beading
or sealant, and you can eliminate draughts and wasted heat by fixing a brush or seal to your outer doors.
The most effective way to insulate your home is to insulate your loft. Most houses
already have some loft insulation, but the energy savings will depend on how thick the insulation is. The recommended level
of thickness for loft insulation is now a minimum of 100mm deep, but ideally should be between 150mm and 200mm. Loft insulation
should be allowed to retain its natural thickness and not be compressed, as this will reduce its insulation value.
You can also put insulation or lagging around a hot water cylinder and pipes
to retain heat. Again, your cylinder may already have a jacket fitted, but by fitting a new more efficient jacket you may
improve your fuel savings.
If the outside walls of your house are cavity walls, insulation can be added
in the cavity (the space between the inner and outer part of your exterior wall). If your exterior walls are solid, you can
protect the exterior with render or cladding which will also weatherproof your home. This work is usually carried out by a
specialist contractor.
It is possible to carry out many of the general insulating measures yourself with
good advice from a local builders merchant or DIY store. Before you decide to go ahead with any home insulation, it may be
useful to contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre www.saveenergy.org.uk They can provide information about the best products for the job, and advice about where and how
to insulate successfully. They will also give you important information about ventilation when installing insulation. The
local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre can also provide you with a list of approved energy efficiency insulation installers
if you would prefer to have the job done by a professional.
If you are a private tenant, your landlord may be prepared to insulate the property.
There may be grants available to help with the cost .If you are a housing trust, housing association or local authority tenant,
you can ask your landlord what measures they are taking to promote energy efficiency in their housing stock. All local housing
authorities are obliged by law to operate some sort of energy efficiency scheme. You should not undertake any major work on
any property you rent without first obtaining the permission of your landlord.
Glazing
Double-glazing stops heat escaping and can reduce condensation on your windows.
A lot of heat is lost through windows, so double glazing can be an effective way to make savings on fuel bills in the long
term. It can also reduce outside noise considerably. Glazing is expensive so it is important to contact your local Energy
Efficiency Advice Centre for advice, (see under heading Who can help). If you have to replace windows anyway, it would be
a good idea to choose double-glazing.
Secondary glazing is cheaper than replacement double-glazing and can be bought
from DIY shops. Savings are similar to those made by double-glazing.
A low cost temporary alternative to buying new glazing is to tape polythene across
your existing windows. You can use cling film or buy special products from a DIY store.
