The Government has recently announced its launch of vouchers worth up to £5,000 to homeowners in England. As part of the Green Homes Grant scheme, this initiative will make homes more energy efficient by helping to pay for environmentally friendly improvements like installing loft, floor and wall insulation or double glazing on windows. To help you plan how best to spend your vouchers, we’ve listed some popular options on how to make your home more energy efficient.
Using insulation to make your home energy efficient
Loft insulation
Insulating your home is a great way to reduce your heating bills and make your house more fuel efficient. The most obvious place to start is a roof and loft insulation. A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Loft insulations are also effective for at least 40 years. The savings made in heating costs will certainly pay for this many times over.
Wall insulation
How you choose to insulate your wall depends on whether it’s a cavity or solid wall. Cavity walls can be insulated by injecting material into the cavity. For solid walls, building work is required and it’s recommended that you pair this project with a planned renovation as this can be costly and will require scaffolding or repainting depending on which type of insulation you choose. Internal and external insulation is available for solid walls.
Floor insulation
Insulating your floor is another great way to reduce draughts and help save energy. In most homes, you only need to worry about insulating the ground floor. Like other insulation projects, the work involved depends on the type of flooring you have. Timber floors are insulated by laying mineral wool beneath the floorboards, which could save you about £40 per year.
Double glazing your windows
Double or triple glazing your windows can not only help keep the heat in your home but can also help keep external noise out. They also reduce condensation and damp. Before making any alterations to your windows, you’ll need to check your local planning office as the type of building or area you live in could affect whether you can replace your windows with double or triple glazing. There are a variety of window materials to choose from. Glass is usually considered the most energy efficient type for glazing.
Draught-proofing your home
Keeping your home draught free is another option to make your home more energy efficient. You can easily install quick fixes to your windows, keyholes, letterboxes, and fireplaces to stop any heat from escaping. It’s important to note that you should never cover ventilation, such as extractor fans or wall vents as these are necessary to keep your house dry.
Updating your heating
While it’s still unclear whether this new voucher scheme will include updating your heating, it’s still worth considering this essential upgrade to your home. Heating accounts for over 65% of your energy use. Choosing a cost effective and environmentally friendly heating system, like ELKAtherm electric radiators, can help you reduce your carbon footprint. When paired with a green source of energy, like Solar PVs or a 100% green energy tariff, ELKAtherm electric heating is completely carbon neutral.
