MARKET
EXPERT COMMENT
water is metered, it will also save you money on your water bill.This could save up to £40 a year. SWITCH TO ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT BULBS Traditional, or incandescent, light bulbs are very inefficient. By switching to energy- efficient bulbs, such as LEDs, you can save money on your energy bills while keeping your rooms well lit. LED light bulbs also last longer than traditional bulbs, saving on maintenance costs. The amount of light, or colour of the light, white to yellow, is not linked to a bulb’s energy usage, so you can get the same light at a much lower energy cost. Switching could save you up to £40 a year.
energy assessment tool but that more than 80% of those that did found it useful.Which? suggests more should be done to make this information easier to find. Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy explains, “We have previously called for a public engagement campaign to raise awareness of the heat pump and insulation support available, so it’s good to see the Government increasing heat pump grants and launching a ‘Welcome Home Energy Efficiency’ campaign.” Concha warns that, as many aspects of housing are devolved, different approaches are being taken by the Governments in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. “In particular, Scotland has Home Energy Scotland, a relatively well-developed information and advice service and Wales has the Nest advice service.” which.co.uk
There is an urgent need for governments to develop a joined up, comprehensive plan that addresses the barriers that prevent consumers from improving the insulation of their homes. The plan should include a more proactive approach to public engagement and providing information and advice, but in order to have impact and avoid the risk of consumer harm, it must also address the lack of qualified and reliable installers and provide appropriate financial support for those that need it − especially those who are living in fuel poverty.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy
CHECK YOUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY ONLINE
MYTHS AROUND ENERGY USE
Visit gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency to see how energy efficient your home is and to see if you are eligible for any help. The site will give you estimated costs of how to improve energy efficiency, estimate how much you can save on bills and tell you the next steps if you want to make any improvements. Grants may be available for insulating your home under the Great British Insulation Scheme. You need to enter details such as address, age of the property, insulation and glazing details. Call 0800 098 7950 weekdays 8am to 6pm, or Saturdays 9am to 12 noon for more advice. If you live in Scotland, you might be able to get an interest-free loan or a grant to make your home more energy efficient. If you live in Northern Ireland, you might be able to get a grant to replace your boiler. BOILER UPGRADE SCHEME Department for Energy Security & Net Zero runs the BUS scheme which was introduced in England and Wales to help with the cost of installing a heat pump via a grant. Last October the grant went up by 50% enabling those eligible to receive an upfront grant of £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler which burns organic materials such as wood pellets.The Government is trying to encourage homeowners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient low carbon heating systems.The scheme has been extended until 2028, giving people more time to take advantage of the opportunity. Which? research found that a lack of awareness of energy efficiency home heating improvements and the high cost of heat pumps is currently holding consumers back from leading more sustainable lives. It found that only one in five, 21%, found and used the Government’s online home
There are still plenty of myths and misinformation on how to cut energy use. Andy Kerr, founder of boiler installation expert BOXT, explains that measures such as turning up the thermostat to heat rooms more quickly, painting radiators black and the idea that most heating is lost through windows are all myths, “This assertion is entirely inaccurate. Uninsulated walls can account for as much as 35% of heat loss, while windows contribute to only 10% of heat loss.” Instead, he advises using a smart thermostat system so that you can control heating via your phone and installing thermostatic radiator valves in each room, allowing you to regulate the temperature of individual radiators. boxt.co.uk SMALL MEASURES CAN RESULT IN BIG SAVINGS There are plenty of small measures to take around the home which can cut energy use and save you cash. Jess Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating suggests turning down your thermostat by one degree as 18°C “should be comfortable enough” and to regularly bleed radiators. She advises placing draught excluders between doors and windows to block any gaps as this will leave the room feeling warmer for longer, “This stops cold air from entering the room you are in as long as the doors are left closed too, and the Energy Saving Trust predict this saves as much as £45 a year.” Don’t block radiators with furniture, is another useful tip, “Blocking radiators with articles such as a sofa, armchair or table, will make a room feel colder and means a boiler has to work harder. Leave at least 20cm to better distribute heat.Think about redesigning your rooms for winter to get the most out of heating.” bestheating.com
EXPERT COMMENT
Switching your boiler on only when hot water is needed is not only more cost-effective but also energy efficient. Employ a timer to heat your water for an hour or two daily, just before your usual usage time and schedule an annual boiler service to maintain peak efficiency. Checking your boiler thermostat is also worthwhile as setting it to maximum can significantly inflate your heating bills. To strike a favourable balance between warmth and efficiency, consider setting it to 65 degrees.
Andy Kerr, Founder, BOXT
EXPERT COMMENT
Check and replace loft and wall insulation. A quarter of the heat lost from a home is through poorly insulated roof spaces. If your house is old, it may have just 100mm of loft insulation depth, but change this to the recommended amount, 220-270mm, and save as much as £200 on energy bills. Once done this lasts for decades so can be worth thousands over time.
Jess Steele, Heating Technology Expert, BestHeating.com
First Time Buyer February/March 2024 101
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online