* Planning Permission and Building Regulations  *

Why not have a good think about energy efficiency as you update your home? Here are a few simple ideas which could help you save on your energy bills...

 Efficient 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.

 Double 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.

Secondary glazing is cheaper than replacement double-glazing and can be bought from DIY shops. Energy savings are similar to those made by double glazing.

 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 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.

 Energy Saving Tips

  1. Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and save you around £40 per year.
  2. Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60°C/140°F.
  3. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
  4. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
  5. Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
  6. If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
  7. Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
  8. A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
  9. Replace your light bulbs with energy saving recommended ones: just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £100 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

 Energy-Saving Lighting

In most homes, lighting accounts for around 10-15% of an electricity bill.

Energy saving recommended bulbs work in the same way as fluorescent lights. An electric current passes through gas in a tube, making the tube's coating glow brightly.

Traditional bulbs waste a lot of their energy by turning it into heat. Each energy-saving bulb can reduce your electricity bill by up to £9 a year. They also last, on average up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

 Energy Saving Products

If you're shopping for new appliances, choose ones with the energy saving recommended logo. It's your guarantee that the product will save energy, cost less to run and help the environment.

It can be found on: light bulbs, light fittings, fridges and freezers, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, gas boilers and oil boilers, hot water cylinders, heating controls, loft insulation and draught proofing, cavity wall and solid wall insulation, glazing and digital televisions.

Energy saving recommended products don't necessarily cost any more than comparable, inefficient ones. Products that carry the energy saving recommended logo all meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the Energy Saving Trust, which is backed by the Government.

For fridges, freezers, washers and dryers the energy saving recommended logo complements the European Union energy label, which shows how much energy an appliance uses on a scale of A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

 Solar Power and Solar Heating

The solar panel is the easiest form of collection point for heat, generally installed on a South or South-east facing roof.

Usually the solar power alone is not enough to provide the complete heating and water requirements of a household, but if it halves your fuel bills (which incidentally will halve the carbon dioxide pollution emitting from your home) you can expect to recover the cost of installing a solar panel in a few years.

The continued use of a hot water boiler is recommended as, taken on average, the sun's temperature is not enough to heat the water to the required temperatures and of course, maintain it at those temperatures. The boiler can therefore "top up" on any heating requirements making a completely efficient system for a greatly reduced cost.

The heated water from the solar panel is pumped around a coil inside an ordinary indirect hot water tank. The heat from this water, via the coil, heats up the cold water which is fed into the bottom of the tank, the hotter water then rises to be replaced by more cold. The boiler can cut in to raise the water the last few degrees.

The latest technology allows sun tracking panels to follow sun and face it all day. These have to be connected to a computer and are understandably more expensive. However, their increased ability to maximise the energy absorption from the suns rays actually makes them very cost effective.


Are there other energy-saving ideas that you think we should include? Please let us know