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We know saving energy saves us money as well as the environment. But new research, carried out by O2 Energy Saver Fund, suggests that paradoxically one in three Brits lives beneath a 'green line', which means they can't afford to take the necessary measures to make their homes energy efficient.
Increasing energy bills are hitting everybody these days, and 75 per cent of the 2,099 respondents in the survey said they were concerned about the energy efficiency of their homes. Out of these, 45 per cent said they would only consider energy-efficient measures if they were more affordable. One in ten felt it was something only well-off people could do.
There's no doubt that insulating your cavity walls, buying a combined heat and power (CHP) boiler or installing solar panels on your roof can be an expensive affair. But there are many cheaper options out there to help you save energy -- and money.
In his book, How to go Carbon Neutral, Mark Brassington explains how little things like radiator reflectors only cost between £5-15 but can save up to 40 per cent of the heat from a radiator on an outside wall. He also point points out how DIY draught excluders -- from old socks to fitted rubber seals -- can keep quite a bit of heat in.
Brassington also emphasises that many councils now give out smaller grants for energy-saving projects such as loft and cavity wall insulation. There are also increasing numbers of private companies that offer lower-income families help with greening up their homes, like B&Q's recent energy-saving lightbulb giveaway. People who live below the 'green line' can also apply for bigger projects, such as The 02 Energy Saver Fund's energy-efficiency home makeovers.
So, there are ways to go about making your house more energy efficient even if you don't have an unlimited amount of money at your disposal. It might just require a bit more research and a few weekends dedicated to DIY work.
26 April 2008 11:47pm
All the fuel suppliers are obliged to provide discounted insulation (cost-effective option installed by their contractors, not a grant to do your own - so if you want sheep's wool or such a green option you'll have to pay for your own) with different deals for cavity wall insulation and full or top-up loft insulation. You may get a bigger discount for being a customer but you can get the deal through any of the suppliers, so it may be worth getting a free, no-obligation quote from a few of the companies. Householders over 70 should get free insulation (loft insulation dependant upon a minimum existing level) and those on certain benefits can get a grant through Warm Deal (in Scotland, similar scheme elsewhere). See the fuel suppliers' websites for more details.
Pay-back for discounted cavity wall insulation is only a few years as up to a third of your heat can disappear through your walls. An uninsulated loft can let a quarter of your heat out! Well worth the outlay!
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