ENERGY SAVING MEASURES
1. Cavity Wall Insulation
In most brick or masonry construction properties built after the 1930s the external walls are made of two layers with a small air gap or 'cavity' between them. Filling the gap between these two walls with an insulating material will significantly reduce the amount of heat which escapes through the walls. In an un-insulated home about a third of heat is lost through the walls. Cavity wall insulation is quick, clean and relatively inexpensive to install. It's injected into the cavity from the outside, taking between two and three hours to install in a three bedroom semi-detached house.
| Costs & Savings: Cavity Wall Insulation | |
|---|---|
| Typical installed cost: | Up to £500 depending on the size of the property |
| Typical carbon saving1: | 1,000 kg / p.a. |
| Typical energy bill reduction1: | £130-£160 p.a. |
Grants:
There are numerous grants available, which differ from location to location and in the levels of contribution. When we survey your property we will help you find out if you qualify for a grant or any other special offers.
Planning Permission:
Planning permission is not required for cavity wall insulations.
Next Steps:
If you are interested in Cavity Wall Insulation, Ecofirst will pass your details to a company called Miller Pattison who have a nationwide network of cavity wall insulation installers. Miller Pattison will then call you to arrange a convenient time to come and carry out a free survey. Once they have surveyed your property they will be able to issue you with a detailed quotation. All Miller Pattison cavity wall installations carry the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) guarantee.
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2. Loft Insulation
To meet current Building Regulations you should have a layer of loft insulation that is at least 270mm deep. If you have less than this (or non at all) you could be losing up to a third of the heat you generate.
There are various different types of insulation but by far the most common is rolls of mineral wool. Sheep's wool insulation, also supplied in rolls, is a sustainable alternative to mineral wool and has the added benefits of being durable, safe and easy to handle and capable of controlling condensation.
In order to achieve the 270mm target you will probably need to lay the insulation in two layers of, one laid between the ceiling joists and another laid above and in a perpendicular direction to the first.
| Costs & Savings: Loft Insulation | |
|---|---|
| Typical installed cost: | Depends on the size of the loft and the material used: £350 to £500 for Mineral Wool £800 to £1550 for Sheep's Wool |
| Typical carbon saving:1 | 1,000 kg / p.a. when increasing from 0 to 270mm 250 kg / p.a. when increasing from 50 to 270mm |
| Typical energy bill reduction:1 | £110 p.a. when increasing from 0 to 270mm £30 p.a. when increasing from 50 to 270mm |
Grants:
There are numerous grants available, which differ from location to location and in the levels of contribution. When we survey your property we will help you find out if you qualify for a grant or any other special offers.
Planning Permission:
Planning permission is not required for loft insulations.
Further information:
Download our Sheep's Wool Insulation Factsheet
Download our Sheep's Wool 100mm Specification Sheet
Download our Sheep's Wool 140mm Specification Sheet
Next Steps:
If you are interested in Sheep's Wool Insulation, Ecofirst offer a full supply and installation service for mineral wool and sheep's wool or a supply only service for DIY installation on sheep's wool.
Supply and Installation Service − Mineral Wool or Sheep's Wool
Ecofirst will pass your details to a company called Miller Pattison who have a nationwide network of loft insulation installers. Miller Pattison will then call you to arrange a convenient time to come and carry out a free survey. Once they have surveyed your property they will be able to issue you with a full quotation.
Supply − Sheep's Wool only
Ecofirst can supply Sheep's Wool Insulation for DIY installation. Sheep's Wool is sold in bales with each bale containing 2 x 600mm or 3 x 400mm wide rolls giving an overall coverage of 9.6 m2. There are two thicknesses available, 100m and 140mm, with 2 x 140mm layers exceeding the 270mm requirement.
The price of sheep's wool depends on the quantity of bales ordered, see table below.
| Cost: Sheep's Wool Insulation | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The Co-operative Bank Offer Price (£) (excluding VAT & Delivery) | |||||||
| LIST | TRADE | TRADE 1 | TRADE 2 | |||||
| per bale | per m2 | per bale | per m2 | per bale | per m2 | per bale | per m2 | |
| 100mm Sheep's Wool Insulation (9.6 m2) - 2 x 600mm wide rolls |
66.62 | 9.94 | 59.96 | 6.25 | 56.96 | 5.93 | 55.29 | 5.76 |
| 140mm Sheep's Wool Insulation (9.6 m2) - 3 x 400mm wide rolls |
78.26 | 8.15 | 70.43 | 7.34 | 66.91 | 6.97 | 64.96 | 6.77 |
| 140mm Sheep's Wool Insulation (9.6 m2) - 2 x 600mm wide rolls |
78.26 | 8.15 | 70.43 | 7.34 | 66.91 | 6.97 | 64.96 | 6.77 |
| Sheep's Wool Discount Level | |
|---|---|
| Price level | Quantity of bales |
| List | 0-20 |
| Trade | 21-50 |
| Trade 1 | 51-100 |
| Trade 2 | 101+ |
Delivery costs will depend upon where you are in the country and the quantity of bales ordered.
If you know the amount of insulation you require simply call Ecofirst on 0845 257 5064 and place an order. If you are unsure as to the amount you need we can estimate this for you if you can provide us with the following information:
- The size of the loft
- The spacing of the ceiling joists
- Whether there is any insulation there currently and if so, what type and what depth.
- Whether the loft is currently used for storage and whether this a facility you want to retain
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3. Radiator Reflector Panels
The efficiency of radiators which are against external walls can be increased by fitting purpose made reflectors. Without Radiator Reflectors Panels a significant amount of heat emitted from the radiator will be absorbed by the wall rather than contributing to heating the room. With Radiator Reflector Panels installed over 90% of the infra-red heat normally absorbed by the wall behind the radiators is reflected back into the room.
There is very rarely any need to remove the radiators to fit the panels and they come complete with comprehensive fitting instructions and a fixing kit. Each Radiator Reflector Panel is 530mm high x 600mm wide and a standard sized radiator will typically need two panels.
| Costs & Savings: Radiator Reflector Panels | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost: | Item | Standard Price | The Co-operative Bank Offer Price | |
| Radiator Reflectors Pack of 2 | £21.50 | £21.09 | ||
| Radiator Reflectors Pack of 6 | £39.50 | £38.19 | ||
| Radiator Reflectors Pack of 8 | £44.50 | £42.93 | ||
| Radiator Reflectors Pack of 10 | £49.50 | £47.69 | ||
| Prices include VAT and delivery | ||||
| Potential energy bill reduction:1 | Up to 20% | |||
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4. Draught Proofing
Draughtproofing is an easy, cost-effective way to reduce energy consumption. There are several types of materials available - from brushes, foams and sealants to strips and shaped rubber or plastic. Most materials are available from DIY stores. Check the quality of the products. It will affect their performance and durability. They should conform to the standard BS 7386.
Top5. Double, Triple or Secondary Glazing
If you don't already have double-glazing in your home, it's definitely worth thinking about. By trapping air between two panes of glass, double-glazing creates an insulating barrier that reduces heat loss, noise and condensation and adding double-glazing to a property can reduce the heat lost through the windows by half. Double-glazed windows come in a variety of styles but it's worth checking any restrictions on your house due to age and location. Performance can also vary and all new double or indeed triple glazed windows are given an A-G energy efficiency rating by the British Fenestration Ratings Council. If you're on a budget, or if you wish to retain your existing window frames, fitting secondary glazing could be the answer. It's less expensive than replacement double-glazing but will still cut heat loss and draughts.
Top6. Insulating Hot Water Pipes and Tanks
Insulating hot water tanks and pipes will help prevent significant heat loss and reduce the energy consumed in providing your heating and domestic hot water. Fitting a British Standard "jacket" to an un-insulated hot water cylinder will cut heat loss by around 75% and save you money. Even if you have a jacket fitted to your cylinder check that at least 75mm (3") thick and if not consider replacing it with a new heat saving one. Both pipe insulation and hot water tank jackets can be found in any good DIY store and are cheap and easy to fit.
Top7. Replacing the Boiler
The advanced heat recovery technology used in most modern boilers enables them to convert a much higher percentage of the fuel they consume into useful heat than older models, so if a your boiler is over 15 years old it may well be worth replacing it. All new boilers are rated according to how much of the fuel they consume is converted to heat, as a percentage. This rating is called SEDBUK - Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK. SEDBUK ratings are from A to G, A-rated boilers being more than 90% efficient. Only 'A' or 'B' rated boilers - having efficiencies above 86% - carry the energy saving recommended logo.
Top8. Heating Controls
Heating controls will pay for themselves in under five years. The more control, the greater the savings on energy and money - as much as 17% on the average heating bill. Installing heating controls, including a thermostat and automatic timer switches for heating and hot water will improve the efficiency of the heating system
Top9. Purchasing Energy Efficient Appliances
Modern energy efficient appliances use much less power than older models. A modern energy efficient washing machine uses less than half the energy of an older (pre 1995) model and cuts water consumption considerably. An energy efficient fridge freezer needs as little as a third of the energy to do the same job as an old appliance. By law, all refrigeration and laundry appliances, dishwashers, electric ovens and light bulbs must be rated according to their energy efficiency with the most efficient carrying an A rating (extended up to A++ for some appliances) and the least energy efficient carrying a G rating. The most efficient products also carry the energy saving recommended logo.
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