make your home a green home
Top ten frequently asked questions about energy saving from the
Often there seems to be more questions than answers!
That is why our Energy Doctors have pulled together the top 10 most asked questions about energy saving around the home. If you have an energy saving related question that is not answered below, please call the Energy Saving Trust on the free phone number listed above.
Roll your mouse over a question to reveal the answer.
Does the home produce much CO2? Isn't most of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions produced by businesses and industry?
If you live in a new house do you need to do anything because isn’t it already energy efficient? Equally if you live in an old property is there anything you can do to make it more energy efficient?
Don’t energy saving light bulbs look ugly, come in strange shapes and only fit one type of fitting with a really limited selection?
Are energy saving light bulbs expensive?
Is cavity wall insulation expensive and how do I know if I have cavity walls?
Does cavity wall insulation cause damp?
Does cavity wall insulation involve major building work and ripping your walls down?
Is loft insulation of 4-5 inches thickness sufficient?
Will Solar thermal panels damage my roof (i.e how strong is it)?
Do you need constant sunlight for solar panels to work?
Is planning permission always needed for renewable technologies (e.g. solar panels, domestic wind turbines etc)?
Almost half of the UK’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions actually come from the energy we use every day – at home and when we travel. We know energy efficiency can deliver immediate and substantial results in saving carbon dioxide emissions but it will need everyone in the UK to play a part. For example: if everyone in the UK took up simple energy efficient measures such as turning appliances off standby and ensuring they have adequate insulation £7.5 billion could be saved from energy bills each year, resulting in a reduction of 50 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Whether you live in a new or old property there is always something you can do. Not all energy saving measures will be applicable to every home so it’s important you find the ones that best fit your situation. If your property doesn’t have cavity walls and already has the recommended level of loft insulation (270mm) then look at the behavioural measures such as turning lights off when not using a room or switching appliances off standby.
For more tips and suggestions visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.
For more tips and suggestions visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.
Lighting accounts for 10-15 per cent of the average electricity bill, so it is an important area for us all to address when making energy saving choices. Energy saving bulbs no longer come in one standard shape and size, nowadays energy saving bulbs come in a range of styles, shapes and sizes, including bayonet and screw cap fittings and dimmer bulbs. For further information on the ranges available, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/recommended
Traditional light bulbs cost less than more efficient bulbs, but they don't really save you money! An Energy Saving Recommended light bulb will cost you around £3.50 but will last up to twelve times longer than a traditional light bulb as well as saving you money on your energy bill. Energy saving light bulbs can save you up to £9 on your annual electricity bill and around £100 over the bulb’s lifetime!
For the most part, houses built before 1920 have solid walls constructed of brick or stone. After that time most houses were built with cavity walls. To find out whether your home definitely has cavity walls contact your local energy efficiency advice centre on 0800 512012 for more information.
Cavity wall insulation is one of the most cost effective measures you can install in your home to save energy, money and the environment. If you’ve established that your home has cavity walls, getting them filled will cost you in the region of £300 but there are often grants to help with a large proportion of the costs and the good news is that by having your cavity walls filled you could save up to £130 - £160 a year on your fuel bills.
Cavity wall insulation is one of the most cost effective measures you can install in your home to save energy, money and the environment. If you’ve established that your home has cavity walls, getting them filled will cost you in the region of £300 but there are often grants to help with a large proportion of the costs and the good news is that by having your cavity walls filled you could save up to £130 - £160 a year on your fuel bills.
Some people think that filling the cavity (in effect bridging the gap between the two masonry leaves of the cavity wall) must lead to a greater risk of dampness passing from the ‘wet’ outer leaf to the ‘dry’ inner leaf. In fact, this is not the case, as has been shown by a government sponsored independent study carried out in the mid 1990s.
There was no evidence from the study that filling the cavity with insulation resulted in any greater incidence of damp problems than occurred in cavity walls that had not been filled with insulation. What the study did show was that the structural condition of the walls was critical in avoiding the transfer of moisture to the inner leaf.
Any cavity wall, if not correctly built, e.g. with poorly filled mortar joints or mortar droppings on wall ties, would be likely to have problems. Good construction and continuing maintenance, such as pointing, are key factors, therefore, in determining whether a wall is suitable for cavity insulation.
Cavity wall insulation will create an even temperature in your home, helping to prevent condensation on the walls and ceilings and can also reduce the amount of heat building up inside your home during summer hot spells. We recommend that you use a professional installer from Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) as the work will be guaranteed for 25 years and a member of this Agency will be aware of building regulations and the CIGA guide to best practice.
There was no evidence from the study that filling the cavity with insulation resulted in any greater incidence of damp problems than occurred in cavity walls that had not been filled with insulation. What the study did show was that the structural condition of the walls was critical in avoiding the transfer of moisture to the inner leaf.
Any cavity wall, if not correctly built, e.g. with poorly filled mortar joints or mortar droppings on wall ties, would be likely to have problems. Good construction and continuing maintenance, such as pointing, are key factors, therefore, in determining whether a wall is suitable for cavity insulation.
Cavity wall insulation will create an even temperature in your home, helping to prevent condensation on the walls and ceilings and can also reduce the amount of heat building up inside your home during summer hot spells. We recommend that you use a professional installer from Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) as the work will be guaranteed for 25 years and a member of this Agency will be aware of building regulations and the CIGA guide to best practice.
Getting your walls insulated couldn't be easier. It can normally be applied from the outside through small holes, drilled in the wall by trained technicians. The material is then injected through the holes, filling the cavity. The holes are filled in to make as perfect a match as possible with the existing wall. It's a simple process and is normally completed within three hours, without damage or mess to your house or garden. Watch the process for yourself on our website - www.est.org.uk/myhome/insulation/cwi/installed/
Loft insulation is another good way to save energy and save up to a third of your space heating costs. The Energy Saving Trust recommends a depth of 270mm (10 inches) in order to get the maximum benefit.
To find out more about insulating you home and the grants/offers available contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.
To find out more about insulating you home and the grants/offers available contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.
Solar thermal is a well established technology used on several homes across the UK. The Energy Saving Trust would always recommend getting an accredited installer to install the technology as they will be able to ascertain the suitability of your roof, the best place to install it for best results, discuss with you the best configuration to meet your needs and ensure the technology is install to best practise standards.
Solar PV (photovoltaic) uses energy from the sun to create electricity to run appliances and lighting. PV requires only daylight - not direct sunlight - to generate electricity.
Photovoltaic systems use cells to convert solar radiation into electricity. The PV cell consists of one or two layers of a semi conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers, causing electricity to flow. The greater the intensity of the light - the greater the flow of electricity.
Photovoltaic systems use cells to convert solar radiation into electricity. The PV cell consists of one or two layers of a semi conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers, causing electricity to flow. The greater the intensity of the light - the greater the flow of electricity.
Depending on the technology type you wish to install and the age/location of your house it may be that you will require planning permission. It is best to talk to your local planning department before starting the project as there may be local issues to overcome. Providing them with details of the technology, its scale and location will ease the planning application process.
For more information on renewable energy visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
For more information on renewable energy visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
