100,000 Homes in Edinburgh and Across Scotland to Be Made More Energy Efficient

13,000 homes in Scotland’s capital are to be given help to make their homes more energy efficient.

The news came as councillor Paul Edie spoke at the launch of the Home Insulation Scheme by the Energy Savings Trust and the Scottish Government.

Edie stated that it is great to hear that Edinburgh will be benefitting from the scheme, with 13,000 homes in the area of Craigentinny and Duddingston able to take advantage of expert help when it comes to making energy saving decisions and changes in the home.

The reason these areas were selected is due to the fact that there is massive potential to reduce their carbon emissions, as well as helping to combat fuel poverty.

Edie also claimed that many people are struggling to heat their homes due to the fact that they are poorly insulated. The scheme is welcomed as a way to reduce energy bills and to reduce carbon footprints.

There will be experts knocking on people’s doors in the area to help give locals advice on how to save energy. They will also be gathering data on the property, and sign owners up to specific energy-saving measures if necessary.

There will also be a number of free steps offered to those on low incomes. Other homeowners will receive a discount.

The scheme, in total, will be helping 100,000 homes in Scotland. Measures will including insulating homes thorough loft and cavity wall insulation. Advice will also be given on further energy saving measures, including double glazing and more.

Improving Your Home – Where Should You Start? Part 2

Yesterday we mentioned how important it is to install double glazing in your windows and doors, to insulate your roof and to check your boiler to help save energy from being lost in your home. Those measures alone added up to saving of around £500 each year, but there is more you could do!

Watch How Much Water You Use: You don’t just need to think about how much hot water you use. The truth is that the cold water you use has all been treated to get to you, and accounts for much of your carbon footprint. Certain measures can help you reduce the energy you use in this area. Try installing low-flow showerheads, as well as turning off taps when they aren’t used, and using less water for washing dishes. You could end up saving money on your heating bills and water bills!

Your Walls: If you live in a detached house, you could be losing a third of its heat through the walls. If you install cavity walls then you could save over £100 on your heating bills, and it is relatively cheap meaning it will have paid for itself within a couple of years.

Your Lights: Lastly, one of the simplest way to save on energy use is with your lights. Try not to switch on the lights for as long as possible. When you do turn them on, go for energy-saving light bulbs which use around 80% less energy on average.

You don’t have to implement all of these measures at once, but if you do you could see massive savings in your energy bill and greatly reduce your carbon footprint.

Improving Your Home – Where Should You Start? Part 1

Whilst you’ve probably noticed that your home isn’t as energy efficient as it could be, it’s often hard to know exactly where to start. This is why we’ve put together this list to help you understand just which areas are most important in terms of saving energy.

Windows and Doors: Around 18% of the energy that you use in your home is lost through its windows. If you want to cut this number in half, then installing energy efficient double glazing is the way to do it. If you can’t afford to install it all over your house, choose the areas that you use the most and that could benefit from staying warmer. If you do get double glazing in all of your windows, you could be saving as much as £135 per year on your heating bills.

Your Boiler: Checking your boiler could mean huge savings in terms of how much energy is wasted in your home. If your boiler is older than 15 years then it probably isn’t energy efficient – so try replacing it with an A rated energy efficient boiler, which could save you over £200 every year.

Your Roof: Around a quarter of all the heat lost through our homes is lost through the roof. The good news is that roof insulation isn’t too expensive, and can end up saving around £150 a year, meaning it will only take a few years before it has made up for what it cost.

Stay tuned for our post tomorrow on more ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home!

How Do You Know if Your Home is Inefficient?

There has been much talk recently of how homes are wasting energy, contributing to the carbon footprint of Britain as a whole.

If you’re trying to understand how ‘green’ your home is then the easiest way to start is by thinking about how old it is. The truth is that older homes are likely to be far less efficient than newer homes – and if your home was built in the last eight years it probably won’t need much work to make it more energy efficient.

Green measures that you should look for in your home include:

• Double glazing,
• An efficient boiler,
• Well insulated walls, lofts and floors.

On the other hand, if your home was built in the early 1900s, or even earlier, you will usually find that your carbon footprint is a lot higher. This is because it’s unlikely that you have wall insulated, you may have an open fireplace, and you will only have single glazed windows.

The more external walls that your home has, the more heat that is also likely to be lost through them, and the less energy efficient your home will be. If you share walls with your neighbours then the heat is lost both ways, so you won’t need to worry as much.

The type of wall you have also plays a huge factor – and if you have un-insulated solid walls (usually found in older properties) you could be losing a lot more energy than if you have un-insulated cavity walls.

Keep reading this week to learn more about the key areas you should think about improving if your home’s energy efficiency isn’t quite up to scratch.

Why It’s Time to Start Thinking About Making Changes to Your Home

You have probably recently heard talk of ‘zero carbon’ homes. This might sound futuristic, but the truth is that the time is now when it comes to improving your home and its energy efficiency.

Last year the UK government committed to reducing carbon emissions by a massive 80% by 2050 – the first government to make such a decision. This is to help us do our part to reduce climate change, but it means quite a few changes in our lives.

To meet this large target, Britain’s homes are going to have to be almost carbon emission free. Our homes make up a huge portion of the energy Britain uses as a whole, including heating, heating water, our appliances, lighting and cooking.

Not only is the planet suffering, but so are our bank balances as fuel prices continue to rise, and are set to continue doing so year after year into the future.

By 2015 the government has stated that all British homes must be zero-carbon – which could be quite difficult for many of us to achieve given that we have draughty old windows, and heat escaping from every angle. However, if we do take measures, we could lower our emmissions by a massive 40%.

The government is helping us to take it gradually, and starting with just energy saving light bulbs could mean we save £1bn a year.

However, bigger measures such as double glazing and loft insulation could really make the difference when it comes to keeping the heat inside the home, saving CO2 and money over time.

Brits Argue Over When to Turn On the Heating

Latest research from the price comparison site, moneysupermarket.com, has shown that the question of when to turn on the heating is one that causes many arguments across the country.

A quarter of those who took part in the survey said they argued with family members over when to turn on the heating, 16 percent said they found it annoying that others turn on the heating too soon, and eight percent said they wanted to turn it on sooner than others in the house.

The survey also states that 750,000 people are going to wear extra layers this year in an effort to delay turning on their heating. Two thirds of those who are going so say it’s to save money, and around 18 percent say they cannot afford to pay their bills otherwise.

Utilities manager of moneysupermarket.com, Scott Byrom, said that ‘on average we use around 40 per cent of our annual fuel consumption between November and January’, though the results were ‘concerning’ – especially when it comes to children and the elderly.

Byrom’s advice for customers is to switch to monthly direct debit, and manage accounts online to get the best deals.

Moneysupermarket.com also have a number of other recommendations to help customers save money on fuel bills:

• Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree,
• Switch off appliances instead of leaving them on standby,
• Instead of heating the whole house, heat only the rooms you regularly use.
• Close curtains as soon as dusk sets to keep heat in,
• Install double glazing: though it’s costly to install it will cut heat loss through windows by around 50%,
• Use energy saving light bulbs,
• Take showers instead of baths.

30 New Homes Planned At Kings Worthy

The planning chiefs at Winchester have recently approved 30 new homes to be built in the Kings Worthy area. These new homes will come with a number of energy efficient measures, including double glazing in the windows and doors.

Some of the homes are planned to be built just 20 metres away from the A34 dual carriageway, which is why double glazing will be so important in keeping down noise levels in the properties.

Planning officials recommended the scheme to be approved due to the fact that 29 out of the 30 homes will be affordable housing. Nine will be shared equity, and the others will be rented from housing associations.

There are conditions attached to the planning permission , including the fact that double glazing must be installed, and that there must be mechanical ventilation. Double glazing will also make the homes more energy efficient, keeping the properties naturally warmer and reducing the need for so much heating. Ultimately, residents will also be saving money on fuel bills.

Principle planning officer of affordable homes, Jill Lee, stated that though it is a noisy site, it will be 100 percent affordable housing. The council has struck a deal to ensure low cost homes, as half of the site is owned by local authorities.

The plan will also mean that a council house and garage court will be demolished to create room for the new properties, designed as modern two-storey houses.

Emissions Will Be Reduced With New Energy Saving Window Scheme

Experts have claimed that emissions across the country would be significantly lowered if the government were to introduce a new window scrappage scheme.

This claim comes from the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) who stated that a plan should come into place, similar to car scrappage schemes were people are paid for their old vehicles, if they buy new ones.

The chief executive of the organization, Nigel Rees, states that householders would then be given an incentive to make sure their home contained energy efficient windows. This, in turn, would be important at reducing fuel bills and carbon emissions.

Rees states that ‘energy efficient windows can reduce emissions by ten percent’, as well as cutting a similar amount from our fuel bills.

Choosing double glazing means you will see results both in how warm your home is as well as how good the windows look. The Energy Saving Trust also states that double glazed windows can reduce carbon emissions by a yearly 680 kg.

Experts believe that more people will work harder to compare energy suppliers if such a scheme were to come into place.

By making people more aware of the benefits of installing double glazing, this may also lead to changes within other areas. For example, people can install insulation in their loft and walls, as well as take new measures to make sure appliances are turned off when not in use.

Top Insulation Tips for the Coming Winter

If you want a way to instantly save money on your fuel bills, then insulating your loft could help you to save an impressive £150 per year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

The perfect time to act is now, before the weather gets really cold. You should always check your loft for any problems before the work starts. Check the wood to look for woodworm and damp, and call in the professionals if there is a problem.

When carrying out the work, bear in mind that traditional insulation materials can irritate the skin and eyes, which is why you should wear goggles, gloves, a dusk mask and overalls. However, if you want to do your part to help the environment then choose eco-friendly alternatives such as sheep’s wool, plastic bottles or newspapers.

Different insulation materials require different depths, so it’s important to check before you start, and that you leave enough space for air to circulate around the eaves.

More Insulation Tips for Your Home

Loft insulation isn’t the only way you can make your home more energy efficient. Double glazing is an extremely effective way of saving money on your bills each year, and will also make your home feel a lot more comfortable.

Employ some of these measures before the winter hits and you’ll be feeling warmer and saving money this year. Not only this – your home will be more energy efficient and valuable when it comes time to sell.

The Orangery is Fast Becoming the Most Popular Style of Conservatory in the UK

The last twelve months have seen a dramatic rise in the popularity of the orangery style of conservatory. They are a very popular way to extend the living space of the home, adding style and not being as complicated as a full extension.

Orangeries were first made popular during the 17th century, where the wealthy used them as a place to grow oranges. Oranges were seen as luxury back then, but they had to be protected from the harsh winds, as well as benefit from as much sun as possible. This is why one side of the orangery was typically made of glass.

However, the orangery has now evolved to become the perfect setting for a wide range of uses, both in the home and in businesses such as restaurants. In many ways they are seen as a forerunner to the conservatory.

Though the orangery has a number of important differences to the conservatory, the styles have now blended meaning homeowners can achieve the look they want.

Modern orangeries are an extremely affordable option, and are perfect for creating an extra living room, dining room, or whatever else you need the space for. They are known for their elegance and warmth, and are very popular throughout the summer months.

And, with double glazing, this style of conservatory is also warm, quiet and secure.