Did you know that the average UK home has a D band energy efficiency and creates about six tonnes of carbon dioxide every year? No only is this extremely damaging to the environment, it’s also incredibly expensive to heat such an inefficient space.
With gas and electricity costs spiralling out of control, isn’t it time you took control of your finances and made your home more energy efficient? It’s possible to save up to 40% of your annual energy costs with a few simple improvements, and government grants are available to help you pay for many energy efficiency improvements.
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Cavity Wall Insulation
According to research carried out by the Energy Saving Trust, insulating the cavities in your walls could reduce your fuel bills by between £70 and £250 per year. There is a government backed scheme for cavity wall insulation so you may even be able to obtain a grant to cover all or part of the costs. Cavity wall insulation costs start from around £350, but will vary depending on the size of your home. Even if you do not qualify for a government grant, installing insulation is likely to pay for itself in a few years.
Loft Insulation
If your home has missing, old, or degraded loft insulation, you could be losing as much as 25% of your homes heat through the roof. Poorly insulated lofts are a major cause of wasted energy, but by installing good quality insulation you could save anything between £115 to £220 each year according to data published by the Energy Saving Trust.
Including cavity wall insulation grants is a great way to save on your energy bills. You could qualify for cavity wall insulation grants if you are a homeowner. To find out more about free insulation grants read the Warma UK full guide on how to qualify for a free grant.
Free loft insulation is available under the government’s energy company obligation scheme, so you may be able to get free loft insulation if you qualify for a grant.
Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is undoubtedly one of the best ways to reduce your annual fuel costs, and the cost of installation has fallen dramatically over the past decade. Back in 2010, a 4kWp solar panel system would have set you back around £20k, nowadays you can pick one up for just £6k.
According the Energy Saving Trust, 84% of UK homes that are equipped with 4kWp solar panels are saving up to 50% a month on their energy bills. Whilst the feed-in tariff scheme is no longer active, lower installations costs and massive potential savings mean that solar panels are still an extremely attractive option.
A Rated Double Glazing
Eclipse Windows A-Rated double glazing has an energy efficiency rating of 92 or higher, making it one of the most energy efficient windows available. Energy saving figures vary depending on the number of windows and type of property, but according to the Energy Saving Trust, a detached home with A-Rated Eclipse double glazing, could expect to save as much as £130 per year for each window. In a flat, the saving would be around £55 per window.
As long as energy prices continue to rise, these savings will continue to increase over time.
Upgrading Your Boiler
If your home has an old and inefficient boiler, it could be adding several hundred pounds to your energy bill every year. Upgrading your boiler can be a great way to reduce your energy bills and improve the comfort of your home.
Boiler efficiency is rated on an A to G scale, with A being highly efficient and G being very inefficient. If your current boiler is inefficient, a new A-Rated boiler will not only save you money, it will also help to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of your home. Boilers are responsible for up to 60% of carbon dioxide produced by a home with gas central heating.
