How to make your home more energy efficient

Improving the energy efficiency of your home can mean either making changes to the building, or simply changing your behaviour to save energy. Energy Performance Certificates will give you advice on both of these areas.

 

Ways to improve your energy efficiency rating

If you are thinking of getting an Energy Assessment on your property and want to ensure that you get the best possible rating, there are things you can do now:

 

 

Fit energy saving light bulbs - Your Local Energy Assessor will count the number of fixed light fittings in your property and work out the percentage of those with low energy bulbs.

 

Fit a hot water tank jacket - The thickness of your hot water jacket will be measured during your assessment

 

Fit or top up your Loft insulation - Fitting insulation that is at least 250mm thick could cut heat loss around 30 per cent.

 

Install Cavity wall insulation - If you have unfilled cavity walls, installing insulation could cut heat loss by over 30 per cent.

In terms of saving energy and reducing your carbon emissions, cavity wall insulation has the greatest effect in relation to the financial outlet.

If you are unaware of whether you have or could have cavity wall insulation installed simply contact a local cavity wall insulation installer.  They can be found in the yellow pages and on yell.com under 'Insulation Installers'.  Many of these installers offer grants towards the cost of any work they do and when they visit your home to check whether you need cavity wall insulation they could also check your loft insulation at the same time.