Energy Saving

cost of living

7 Appliances Can Help Beat The Cost of Living Crisis

The ever rising cost of living is continuing to affect the masses. Household energy prices, fuel costs and the price of essential items are all drastically increasing, leading to stretched budgets and struggling households. It’s important that we continue to implement energy-saving solutions in order to combat the energy bills rising and reduce our carbon emissions.  From boilers to fridge freezers and double glazed windows, there are many energy saving solutions, appliances or features for each household. It is predicted that the cost of living crisis will become more of an issue as we approach autumn. This is when the colder weather will return, and homeowners will have no choice but to turn up their heating.  According to news, Energy company bosses have called for more necessary action to be taken prior to the autumn/winter months with to potentially ease the cost of living crisis.  It is expected that the number of customers will be forced into debt, because it is likely that their energy costs will rise by a huge 50%. The rise of energy bills will also be likely to cause anxiety and mental health amount particular homeowners, which is a crisis in itself that needs to be addressed. The government have mentioned a few potential solutions that could help homeowners to reduce the burden on energy bills, such as removing VAT on gas and electricity, extending energy grant schemes and providing low-income households with discounts.  Whether these strategies will counteract the effects of inflation, we cannot predict. However, there are some changes that we can make now towards an eco-friendly home and lifestyle that will ultimately contribute towards lower energy bills. Contents • The Boiler• Fridge/Freezer• Dishwasher• Oven• Washing Machine• Home HeatingOther tips include:• The Boiler One way to drastically reduce your overall cost of living is by replacing your boiler. Old housing often comes with separate un-insulated tanks for heating your water.   They can take up heaps of energy and lead to energy bills rising. When you are house hunting or looking for a new boiler, understand the different types of boilers and identify which will save you the most money.  Combi boilers are generally the most energy efficient with the most efficient heating set up for your home, but be sure to consider the advantages of other boiler types. • Fridge/Freezer The fridge freezer is the second most energy consuming appliance within the home, meaning that your cost of living will increase massively. This is simply because they must stay plugged in all the time.  The only way to reduce this cost is by replacing your fridge/freezer with a higher energy rating to reduce your monthly energy prices. This may be an investment now, but will save you heaps in the long term. • Dishwasher A dishwasher does save on water consumption. However, because it is an appliance which is used so much within a family household, the energy consumption is still incredibly high.  You will notice your energy bills rising. This is because a family will use a lot of dishes each day, increasing the cost of living.  If you reduce the amount of dishes that you use, this will reduce your energy consumption by almost half and this will reflect bills positively on your monthly for both energy and water.  It’s important to also consider that a dishwasher isn’t an essential. Banish the dishwasher or completely opt for traditional hand washing up instead! This will save you lots of energy and money on utility bills. • Oven If you love baking or if you enjoy regular foiled meals, you will find that you are using your oven quite a lot. Your oven has the potential to use about £9.36 of electricity within a month.  This may not seem like a huge amount compared to other bills, but imagine the difference that this could make annually to your cost of living expenditure.  It may seem like a simple solution, but you can easily reduce your oven’s energy bills rising by putting two dishes into the oven at a time.  Consider batch cooking or reheat your food in a microwave as this will use much less energy than an oven. • Washing Machine Did you know that washing machines use double the energy that kettles do? All you need to do to stop energy bills rising is to wash your clothes at a lower temperature to help drive your cost of living energy prices down.  AAs low as 30 degrees should be enough to kill the bacteria. Remember to use the sunny seasons of spring and summer to hang your clothes out to dry. Making use of natural sources is the best way to save on your energy bills. • Home Heating If you really want to beat the UK energy crisis, reduce your cost of living and drastically reduce your energy bills, then the best way to do it is to reduce your home’s heating.  Work on changing your habits with the help of a smart metre, then consider switching to renewable energy and replace your boiler. Another cost-effective way to reduce your energy consumption is the installation of energy-efficient double glazing for windows and doors.  Thermally efficient windows and doors will help to maximise heat retention and reduce heat loss, effectively helping you to make the most of the energy you have. This means that you won’t need to turn up your heating even more.  If you’re running low on money at the moment but still think that energy efficient home improvements would be the best solution for you, there is no need to worry!  We have extensive funding options for you and your home, meaning that you could be eligible for a free double glazing window and door installation! The appliances which are mentioned above require lots of energy to work properly. However, the main source of energy consumption is your home’s heating system.  This is exactly why choosing an A Rated energy efficient boiler and considering the installation of double

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eco-home development

The Rise Of The Eco-Home Development

The eco-home development is a key feature within the new infrastructure plan of West Yorkshire. The new green, eco-home development scheme will help towards the government’s plans to reach 0% carbon emissions by 2030. The eco-home development Yorkshire will be designed to reduce carbon and increase warmth within homes.  Standard appliances will be replaced with eco-friendly solutions to help transform the daily habits of homeowners and contribute towards the mitigation of global climate change for good. Some of the environmentally friendly additions will include: a new heat pump to replace the gas boiler and solar thermal panels.  The houses for sale and to rent will also have a new roof; window and door. They will all be designed and manufactured with energy efficient properties such as double or triple glazing, insulating materials and uPVC frames. Once the work is complete, energy use and performance of the new greener technologies will be evaluated and monitored to ensure that they are positively impacting the measurements of energy usage.  This project is due to significantly contribute towards the efforts towards reducing global climate change. The eco-home development will demonstrate that existing housing can be redesigned to use renewable energy as opposed to fossil fuels. By adding effective insulation, the total carbon emission usage will reach zero.  The eco-home development Yorkshire covers key areas including Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford and Leeds. According to Councillor Will Simpson, “This project demonstrates how West Yorkshire is committed to meeting carbon neutral targets for 2038.”  The evaluation of this new project and its effectiveness will help to determine how successful energy-saving solutions are in domestic carbon footprint. This could potentially lead to further eco-friendly developments. The eco-home development Yorkshire plan is not only designed to reduce carbon footprint, but it will also hugely improve the quality of the lives of the residents.  By making homes more energy efficient with a higher thermal value, homeowners will be much warmer whilst reducing their heating bills. This could potentially contribute to a happier and more comfortable community with low carbon emissions. The eco-home development is purposefully designed to respect the environment. It is made from non-toxic materials and providing energy efficiency and sustainability through the construction stages and also within the home. Contents Eco-home development features are introduced through:Types Of Eco-Friendly Properties KentCumbriaCornwall EdinburghHampshireEco-home development features are introduced through: It vital that the houses for sale and to rent match the surroundings from the moment that the design is first realised. It should fit in with the eco-friendly infrastructure that surrounds it. The selected materials should be natural, recyclable and non-pollutant. In other words, they should not cause any disruption to the surrounding environment. The electrical appliances should reduce energy consumption within the home. The objective of an eco-home development is to produce the amount of pollutants, reduce any losses of energy and ultimately help the homeowner to save money. Aside from the key benefits there are so many different types of sustainable housing in West Yorkshire, including bio-climatic, passive and wooden houses for sale and to rent. Types Of Eco-Friendly Properties Bio-Climatic Housing is built using all natural resources from the environment. Where the house is located is an essential factor as natural elements can help contribute to its function.   For example the windows may be placed to face the sun and therefore invite natural light, or positioning the house so that tree would provide shade to certain rooms in the home. Passive Housing uses very low energy. This is because nearly all of the energy which is used in the home is through the sun’s energy. However, this is only possible if the home is insulated well enough. Wooden Housing is respectful to the environment as it is created with natural and sustainable materials. Wooding house heavily visits the concept of sustainable architecture, utilising recycling and renewable materials. Tiny Housing is small, eco-friendly wooden houses which are built on to a trailer. As they are of a smaller size, they use less of everything. It costs less to build and requires less harmful materials to construct. A high energy efficiency rating is one of the most desirable features in a property. New builds are incredibly sufficient in providing exceptional thermal efficiency, with 84% of new builds falling into the highest two bands for energy efficiency. However, just two houses within the same amount of older properties do the same.  All eco-friendly homes do not only exceed the current building requirements, but they are also ready for the future – as they incorporate sustainable materials, solar panels which concert sunlight into electricity and also low carbon heating systems as opposed to gas boilers. There are many stand-out eco-friendly homes around the world that were designed to reinforce energy efficiency and sustainability solutions. Kent Kent is home to many eco-friendly developments, and they are situated near the coastal town of Broadstairs. These homes were built in off-site factories using sustainable materials to reduce eco-consumption and waste.  The property includes many energy-saving features such as solar panels and heat pumps – these properties are only available through shared ownership. Cumbria There are many eco-friendly home improvement projects in Cumbria. All of the homes will be fully powered by renewable recycled energy sources.  It has been confirmed they will be equipped with the standard energy efficiency appliances such as heat pumps and solar panels.  The properties will also have infrared heating panels hanging from the ceilings to generate heat as opposed to radiators. Cornwall West Carclaze Garden Village is a lakeside community with a recognised approach to eco-friendly properties.  All of the buildings will have incredibly modern car charging points, heat recovery systems and most importantly there will be an onsite solar farm to generate clean energy.  The county is hoping to massively contribute to the government 0% carbon emissions goal by 2030. Each of the properties will be sold at budgeted prices to help increase the affordability for homeowners. Edinburgh Edinburgh is home to an impressive eco-friendly infrastructure with a design which

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energy saving

Energy Saving Solutions For Low Income Households

The ever-rising cost of energy bills is affecting certain households more than you might think. It’s important to assess the health, environmental and economic effect on communities such as ‘low income’ who may be left behind.  There are many ways to start energy saving and overcome particular barriers and help these groups to establish energy saving solutions needed to meet the energy efficiency guidelines.  Low-income households are of course deeply impacted by the rising cost of energy prices bills and inflation.  The ‘energy burden’ is much higher for them, as the cost of energy prices will leave them with much less disposable income, meaning the burden is much higher. The level of ‘energy burden’ will also depend of location. Across the nation low-income households spend 3x more money on energy prices than households with high levels of income. How Is Are Low-Income Non Energy Efficient Homes Identified? There are several measurement scales to define middle to low income households. A household’s status is often used to determine the amount of funding they will receive.  This is because there simply shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach. Each funding scheme should be catered towards particular needs, for example the cost of living may differ slightly between different areas. Many factors could contribute to the level of energy burden. In other words, homeowners may feel the need to turn up their heating for a whole host of different reasons. Their homes may be lacking insulation, meaning that heat is able to escape easily through the walls and roof. Good insulation helps to contain the heat and energy which has already been generated, almost like recycling it -reducing the need to turn your radiators up. Another factor could be old and inefficient double glazed windows and doors. If windows and doors haven’t been replaced in a while, they could be lacking in thermal efficiency. The seals of the double glazed windows could be broken, therefore allowing heat to escape. Also if you notice decay, rot or mould festering in between the glass of your window, this could cause a decline in thermal efficiency. Low income families may face difficulty accessing technologies which could ultimately make energy saving more affordable. 48% of middle-income household have adapted to such technologies since 2010. It is often that an energy efficient home is required to effectively lower utility bills; however an energy efficient home and energy saving, double glazed windows and doors can leads to all type of other benefits.  Some of these advantages include indoor air quality, comfort and safety. It is proven that all of these attributes will positively affect your health and wellbeing. Affordable Energy Saving Solutions Luckily, there are many energy saving solutions that do not cost a thing! Turn down the thermostat by one 1 degree C. Do not over fill the kettle when boiling the water. Turning electrical items off rather than leaving them on standby. Turn the light off when not using them. These may seem like simple changes for an energy efficient home. However these energy saving solutions can make a huge difference!  By adapting these habits over a year, you could easily save around 2,150 kWh of energy, which equals to a saving of a huge £150! There are many other energy saving options, but these could set you back up to £50. It is highly likely that you will gain your return on investment. The following energy saving measures would help any household increase the energy savings and create an energy efficient home. Receiving funding for the installation of new, energy saving double glazed windows and doors. Reflective radiator panels will help to make the most of small amounts of heat. Replace light bulbs with energy saving LED light bulbs. Although low income household are considered the most vulnerable to the rising cost of inflation, this can still affect everyone. Did you know that the consumer price index increased by 6.2% across 12 months leading up to February 2022.  This is up 5% from the previous period. The continuous rise of inflation is putting all households on a budget. Energy saving isn’t the only increasing price, the price of fuel and the rate of VAT is also going to increase. Aside from reducing your energy prices, adapting to an energy saving household is incredibly important to help mitigate the effects of global climate change for good.

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modern conservatory

Expert guide to an energy efficient modern conservatory

An expertly designed modern conservatory is an amazing way to become more energy efficient. Your home will become much more comfortable, whilst saving you money on utility bills and reducing your carbon emissions. With so many energy-saving/environmental benefits and conservatory funding available, there really is no reason not to consider a conservatory extension for your home! The key reason as to why a modern conservatory can help with energy efficiency is because it creates a buffer zone between the indoor and outdoor areas.  With a conservatory, you can afford to let the heat escape through less thermally efficient walls, as the heat will simply transfer through to the conservatory – creating another warm room on colder days. The stored heat within the modern conservatory can be used to heat up another room at another time. The buffer effect is caused by a modern conservatory is a beneficial way to save on your energy bill. Contents Thermal Efficiency Conservatory Ideas How Green Is A Modern Conservatory?Embrace The Natural Light In Your Conservatory Conservatory Ideas To Maximise Thermal EfficiencySomething To Consider…Conservatory Roof Replacement Grants Thermal Efficiency Conservatory Ideas Not ever modern conservatory is thermally efficient; it simply depends on how they are designed.  There are certain conservatory ideas to consider when increasing the thermal values of your home and new modern conservatory. Add some high quality double glazed doors between your home and the conservatory to achieve maximum security and thermal efficiency. Low emissivity coatings added to the inside of double glazed windows can decrease any heat which is lost from internal heating systems. Particularly useful for conservatories which are north facing. Solar control layers can help to control the level of the suns energy which is transferred into the conservatory, helping to regulate the temperature of the room. There are many thermostats which will allow you to control the conservatories temperature, separately to the other rooms in the house. Natural ventilation is incredibly popular and much more environmentally friendly than the standard air conditioning systems. How Green Is A Modern Conservatory? The materials which are used to manufacture a conservatory are used recycled materials, and are therefore recyclable if the conservatory is ever broken down. Some of the materials which are recyclable are the following: Aluminium: Aluminium is often the material used for the conservatory itself or its structural elements. uPVC: This material is used for the side frames of the conservatory to maximise strength and thermal efficiency. Timber: Timber can be fully recycled, but only if it is naturally sourced. Glass: The glass used within the windows in 100% recyclable Embrace The Natural Light In Your Conservatory Due to their big open windows, conservatories are known to encourage the natural light to the living space.  This could potentially reduce your electricity bills and therefore reduce your energy usage as you will be less likely to switch on the lights. Conservatory Ideas To Maximise Thermal Efficiency There are many conservatory ideas to consider, but the best way to increase the energy efficiency of your conservatory is by simply by insulating it more efficiently.  The polycarbonate within the conservatory roof could be allowing heat to escape, and the only way to do this is by adding insulation within the walls of your conservatory.  If you have experience with Do It Yourself projects, you could even consider adding the conservatory roof insulation yourself. Choosing a glass conservatory roof will really help to maximise thermal efficiency. Something To Consider… You may notice that your conservatory is quite cold during the winter, but this may not be related to the lack of thermal efficiency.  Be sure to check that all of the windows are closed properly, and that all draughts are sealed. Conservatory Roof Replacement Grants Here at ‘Apply For Grants’, we understand that a tired, old conservatory roofs can be the difference between whether your extra room is thermally efficient or not.  Luckily, there are many conservatory roof replacement grants available – don’t hesitate and check your eligibility today! There are also many government grants available for energy efficiency. Our conservatory roof replacement grants cover all shapes, sizes and materials. So whatever your preference is, we have a range of options specifically tailored to your needs. A conservatory can help with energy efficient due to the ‘buffer zone’ that it creates, capturing the heat which is lost through the walls of your home.  However, there are many ways to drastically improve the thermal efficiency of your conservatory such as the installation of double glazed doors or choosing natural ventilation system over standard air conditioning.

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solar panel

5% Vat Scrapped On Solar Panel Technology, Insulation, Heating Systems!

Apart from most famous solar panel, there are many ways to create an energy efficient home, reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills. According to the Energy Savings Trust a huge 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions are generated just from our homes!  There are many small, easy changes that we can make to reduce our energy consumption, such as reducing the time we spend in the shower, hanging our clothes out as opposed to using the tumble dryer or turning our televisions off rather than leaving on standby.  However, new energy saving appliances can be expensive. Solar panel technology, insulation; heat pumps; thermal energy stores; micro-combined heat; energy efficient kitchen items are just a few of the solutions available for saving energy within the home.  By changing our lifestyles and adapting to energy-efficient habits, we can help to mitigate the devastating effects of global climate change once and for all. The UK government are continuously providing grants for windows and doors and introducing new schemes to help transform the way we live. The UK government have set a target reach 0% carbon emissions, this means that we will be required to reduce the energy usage within our home over the next 30 years!  If we’re going to reach this target, we have no choice to act now. In 2021 the government famously introduced the ‘Green Homes Grant’, one of the grants for windows and doors to cover the cost of energy efficient home improvements such as a low carbon heat pump, under floor insulation, a bio mass boiler and cavity wall insulation.  This scheme has now been scrapped due to the long delays with the grants for windows and doors, which was most likely an effect of the pandemic. Currently, there are no home improvement government grants available, but there are many businesses which are willing to provide contributions for eligible homeowners. The government recently announced reduced tax on eco- efficient items such as a solar panel and a heat pump from 5% to zero from April 2022. The VAT relief will be reduced on all energy efficient home improvement items.  The key purpose of this scheme is to reduce carbon emissions, however the government is aware that energy costs within the home are rising and that the installation of energy efficient appliances will make a huge difference to residential bills.  This generous 5% or below reduction of VAT is an effect of the new freedoms caused by BREXIT. The scheme is set to be extremely accessible due to additional technologies and the removal of most eligibility checks and conditions for the grants for windows.  That is not all, the government is also set to increase the offering further by providing a zero rate on the installation of ESM’s. This means that a family home could save up to £1,000 on solar panels, followed by an annual reduction of utility bills. Contents Products Available In The SchemeSolar Panel TechnologyHeat PumpsInsulationProducts Available In The Scheme Solar Panel Technology The installation of solar panel technology can be expensive at first, but they are incredibly popular solution when maximising the energy efficiency within your home.  A solar panel will convert energy from the sun into electricity. A reduced electric bill; insurance against energy rising costs; energy independence; an eco-friendly affordable power source are just some of the advantages of solar panel technology. Heat Pumps A heat pump is just as eco-friendly as solar panel technology. Eco-friendly appliances as it transforms low temperature heat into high temperature heat through a small amount of electricity and pressure techniques.  A heat pump captures the heat from the outside and transfers it into your home. The heat pump is powered by electricity, however the amount of heat which is generated is much more than the amount of electricity which is needed to generate the heat.  The installation of a heat pump offers low running costs, low maintenance, reduced carbon footprint and a long life span. Insulation Insulation is an energy efficient home solution used to protect your home. The primary purpose is to effectively stop heat from escaping or entering a property. Many homeowners choose cavity wall insulation, which can be placed between the walls of your home by a qualified professional.  The benefits of installation can be experienced almost instantaneously – some of the advantages include reduction of energy costs, prevention of moisture and a huge enhancement of your home’s thermal performance. Be sure to take advantage 5% reduction of VAT on materials to help you save energy in 2022.  Need more help with your home renovation? We are providing generous home improvement grants and contributions for eligible homeowners, check how much you could receive today! APPLY FOR GRANTS NOW

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How To Reduce Your Day To Day Carbon Footprint

Carbon dioxide is very bad for the atmosphere, yet we all continue to produce so much of it. It’s a well-known fact that CO2 is a natural gas that both humans and animals create as they breathe, and this can’t be helped. Aside from this, it is also referred to as a greenhouse gas. This is a type of gas which takes in energy and sends it back out again within the thermal infrared range of the earth.  If the CO2 levels on earth are too high, this is when the heat is forced to radiate back out, causing a greenhouse gas. The greenhouse gases have many environmental effects on the earth. They can contribute towards the effects of climate change by stopping the heat from escaping the earth.  Greenhouse gases can also have an impact on health, including respiratory illnesses which could be caused from pollution. If the greenhouse gases continue to build, they will continue to cause bad weather conditions, a disruption to the food supply chain, increased sea line levels and wildfires. Luckily, there are so many ways to reduce our carbon footprint. How much CO2 is produced by humans? Research illustrates that in 2018, CO2 production was at an all-time high of 36.2 gigatonnes! Not sure what a gigatonne is? This is the equivalent weight of one hundred million African elephants! The impact that CO2 can have on your home is quite clear, but there are many ways to reduce our carbon footprint within our everyday life…We need to stop and think carbon neutral. Let’s take a look! Improve The Efficiency Of Your Home’s Insulation If your standard heating system isn’t working properly, the heat from your radiators could be leaving your home too quickly, meaning you could be forced to turn up your heating even higher. There are so many ways in which you can improve the insulation of your home.  The easiest way to insulate your property and reduce your carbon footprint is by finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint. You can do this by sealing your old double glazing windows and doors to ensure they are not letting out the heat.  Alternatively, replacing your old double glazing windows and doors with energy-efficient, double glazing windows and doors for maximum heat retention and reduce heat loss is an effective way to reduce our carbon footprint and think carbon neutral. Use A Heat Pump Reduce the overall amount of gas that you use in your home by changing to a ground source heat pump. These systems don’t use any generated gas. Instead they use natural heat to generate the energy needed.  Any appliances which generate energy from natural resources are incredibly effective when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint. Generate Your Own Electricity Solar panels can be expensive, but by having them fitted you will instantaneously feel the benefits of electricity generated through natural light. Normal electricity is generated through the burning of fossil fuels, and this releases harmful CO2 footprint into the atmosphere.  Solar panels provide you with reusable electricity for your home, allowing you to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that you produce. Hang Your Clothes Out To Dry Think carbon neutral by making small changes within your everyday life can be extremely beneficial when reducing your every carbon footprint. Changing your daily habits such as hanging your clothes out to dry rather than putting them in the dryer, or washing your clothes at a lower temperature can all make a difference to your energy usage. Change Your Light Bulbs The standard style of light bulb is still used in many homes. However, LED light bulbs are the most energy efficient option of all light bulbs, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.   LED light bulbs operate at 90% energy efficiency, whereas the standard light bulb operates at 20%. They will also last much longer, meaning they are very cost effective as they won’t need to constantly be replaced. Invest In A Smart Metre If you knew how much energy you were using on a day to day basis, you may stop and think about the energy you are using. This is exactly what a smart metre does. A smart metre will provide you with energy measurements in real time.  The government continues to encourage the installation of a smart metre as an attempt to help homeowners reconsider before using so much energy in their daily routines. It’s time to think carbon neutral and stop wasting energy. Unplug Your Devices When you have finished using an electrical appliance – it is important to switch off the electricity, and then unplug the device. This is simply to cut down on your carbon footprint, and this proves that you can do this even by changing the way to charge your phone!

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Tips For A Green Home Renovation

With the devastating effects of global warming and our energy bills consistently increasing, as a homeowner may be wondering about the green home renovation options available. Implementing eco-friendly home renovation improvements will ultimately reduce your energy bills and reduce your carbon emissions, potentially mitigating the effects of climate change. Tank less Water Heater One of the key home renovation improvements to help reduce your energy consumption is by adding a tankless water heater. A tankless water heater won’t continuously heat water when you aren’t using it, but instead will heat it on demand – heating the water up in seconds as and when you need it. Aside from cutting your energy consumption by half, your water will never run low in your new green home. They last much longer, retain water and take up less space in landfill. Sustainable Flooring The flooring in your home can be incredibly eco-friendly. The three most common choices are green bamboo, natural flooring and wood flooring. Green bamboo flooring is very durable and is available in a variety of colours. It is incredibly renewable as it continues to grow and does not need replanting. This is an incredibly home renovation cost effective solution. Another sustainable style of flooring is natural flooring. This is manufactured from linseed oil, which is taken from pine trees. An advantage of natural flooring is that is does not absorb water but it is biodegradable. Particular types of wood flooring are also very sustainable. For example white tigerwood is taken from replanted forests. Tiger wood is very resilient and it is also fast growing, therefore it is a much more sustainable home renovation alternative to Ipe wood. Solar Roof Panels Solar roof panels use energy from the sun to generate electricity. Although they can be an expensive installation for your home renovation at first, the money they will save you in the long term is more than worth it. The installation of solar panels will help reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Many benefits also come to those who spend their money and have solar panels fitted – excess electricity that is collected from your panels can go to an electricity company, and they will credit you for your contributions. Dual Paned Windows Energy efficient, double glazed windows are good for providing effective home insulation. The gap between each panel is filled with argon gas to maximise thermal efficiency, keeping the heat in during the winter and the warmth out when the temperature is high in your new green home throughout the summer. Double glazed windows are perfect additions to your home renovation are many styles such as uPVC, wood and aluminium. Use a Programmable Thermostat Your will use much less energy if you install a programmable thermostat. It will allow you to schedule when you require your new green home to be warm or cold, meaning you will have more control over the energy that you use when you’re in or out of the house. Use Eco-Friendly Paint If you’re considering freshening up your home with a new lick of paint, then be sure to choose the eco-friendly option. Low –VOC paint does not contain any organic compounds and will not contribute to air pollution or cause breathing problems like an average paint could. There are so many way to make green home improvements and contribute towards mitigating the effects of global climate change for good. 

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9 Cheap Ways To Heat A House

Luckily for you, we have put together 9 tips to help you save money on your heating bills. After the long cold winter of 2021/2022, you may find yourself thinking of ways to prepare for the next one. Many of us felt the effects of snowfall, freezing temperatures and heavy rain. With heating prices going up, there’s no surprise that homeowners struggled to stay warm and comfortable during the coldest time of year. 1. Bleed Your Radiators Cheap heating is easy to achieve if you know how. Bleeding your radiators is a quick and simple task, which you can do yourself with no extra cost. Make sure you turn the heating off before you start. Then place the flat head into the bleed valve. Simply turn it anticlockwise to open the valve and then back the other way to close it again. It’s important to hold an old cloth underneath the bleed valve to open it and catch any water that escapes. Bleeding your radiators is one of the cheap ways to heat a house can help you to improve the energy efficiency of your home heating and ultimately save you money! 2. Don’t Block Radiators Another one of the cheap ways to heat a house is to avoid blocking the radiator. Because a radiator is fixed to a wall, it can be tempting to make the most of your space and place furniture in front of it. Anything which is placed in front of a radiator will stop the heat from circulating around the room. This can trick you into think you’re home isn’t warm enough, and as a result you could feel the need to turn up your home heating system. 3. Close Your Curtains Closing your curtains will act as barrier between the cold air that could possibly be coming in through your windows and entering your home. Closing your curtains is a temporary fix for replacing your old windows with new thermally efficient ones. Another one of the cheap ways to heat is house is by closing your curtains and tucking them behind your radiator so they aren’t blocking the heat from your radiator. 4. Save On Your Energy Bills There are many cheap ways to heat a house and solutions to saving your energy bills and increase the energy efficiency of your home heating. One of the main ways to do this is by cutting the costs of your electric and gas appliances. For example, taking shorter showers or turning the television off rather than leaving it on standby will make a huge difference.  Another way to save on your energy bills is by simply switching to the cheapest energy company. This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s surprising how many homeowners will just stick with the same energy company despite rising prices, because the hassle of switching seems too much. Have a look around, gather a few quotes and you will be saving hundreds in no time. 5. Buy An Extra Rug Or Two A new, cosy rug would usually be considered an extra design element to your living room or bedroom, but during the colder months they are often used as one of the cheap ways to heat a house and extra layer of insulation to help keep the cold air at bay. They are incredibly useful for creating a warmer space and helping you save some cash. 6. Keep Your Pipes Protected There are many cheap ways to heat a house. For example, pipes may sometimes be prone to freezing in the cold weather. To prevent this and potentially reduce heat loss from the hot water pipes, you can cover them with foam. This should help to stop them from freezing, allowing you prevent the problem from happening and save money. 7. Clean Your Radiators Next time your heating is on, feel around for cold spots at the bottom of your radiators. This could be causing a build-up of sludge in the system. This stops the hot water from circulating properly, and could potentially stop the heaters from working. Be sure to check for these cold spots and give your radiators a good clean to ensure they are working at their best. 8. Check Your Loft Insulation Did you know that around a quarter of home heating is lost through poor insulated spaces? So it’s important to check the depth of your loft insulation, the recommended depth is around 200mm. 9. Invest In A New Boiler The average life expectancy of a new boiler is between 10 and 15 years, so if your boiler is older than this, you may be experiencing problems with it and it could be time to get a new one. Even if your boiler is well maintained, replacing your boiler now because issues become worse will save you lots of money in home heating for the long term. There are many grants for new boilers available, check your eligibility today! We hope that our home heating tips can help you to achieve low energy bills and a thermally efficient home!

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Is It Worth Triple Glazed Window?

A step up from the extremely beneficial double glazing, triple glazed window consist of three panels of glass rather than two. Each of the glass units are filled with an extremely energy efficient argon gas to help insulated the home and provide maximum thermal efficiency. Combine triple glazing with an aluminium or uPVC frame and your home will instantly improve in security, thermal efficiency and weather resistance. Many homeowners are happy with the satisfactory results of double glazing, which is why we ask, is the extra cost of triple glazed windows worth it? Will the increased benefits over double glazing, positively affect your heating bills, energy efficiency and home security? Are Triple Glazed Windows Better Than Double Glazing? The only way to measure the difference in energy performance between double glazed windows and triple glazed windows is by measuring the U value, just as we do with walls, floors and roofs. The U Value measures the transfer of heat through a structure, the higher-insulated a doors or window is, the lower the U Value will be. The triple glazing has a drastically reduced U Value, providing extreme thermal and energy efficiency. Double glazing should now have a U value no worse than 1.6. Triple glaze windows should have a U Value of no more than 0.8, however some suppliers are able to achieve 0.5. Just by seeing these U value figures, it is easy to recognise how much more effective triple glazed windows when it comes to maximising heat retention and reducing heat loss. There have been many manufacturing improvements in glazing; these are used to the maximum when manufacturing triple glazing. Wider spaces between the glass panels allowing for more argon gas to be inserted Glass with extra coatings such as low emissivity to stop the heat from escaping Designed out cold bridges to prevents draughts How Much Do Triple Glazed Windows Cost? Triple glazed windows are known to be more expensive than double glazing, due to the extra layer of glass. Due to the difference between U value measurements, research illustrates that you can expect to improve your homes energy efficiency by 5%, meaning that you will most likely save money on your heating bills and reduce your carbon emissions. Translate these measurements into money and you can expect to save £20 and £40 a year depending on the size of your house. It won’t matter how much your triple glazed windows cost because the increase in energy performance is so noticeable that you can expect to make back triple glazed windows cost through your reduced energy bills. Benefits Of Triple Glazed Windows There are many benefits of triple glazed windows. They are mostly in relation to how comfortable your home is. One of the key benefits are increased thermal comfort levels, this is due to the extra panel of glass added which will heat your home that little bit better. For example, in a room which is heated to 21°, a double glazing window will be at 16° whereas a triple glaze windows would be 18°. This demonstrates the increased difference of thermal values. Noise Reduction Another major benefit is noise reduction. Let’s look at the comparison between double and triple glazed windows. Double glazing can achieve can achieve a performance of Rw32, whereas triple glazing can bring this into the low 40’s. This simply means that triple glaze windows and doors will drown out the exterior noise, creating the difference between an interrupted or a good night sleep. Less Condensation Triple glaze windows will drastically reduce the risk of condensation. The lower the U values are, the more thermally efficient your windows will be, and this will ultimately help reducing internal condensation. This is simply because the warm air is kept inside and the cold air is kept outside, meaning they are less likely to combines and cause unwanted condensation to occur. Despite this, it’s important to note that the key cause of condensation is humidity inside rooms with no ventilation. For example, this could be a room with a tumble dryer and no windows. Some of the disadvantages are that triple glaze windows can be slightly more expensive than double glazing. Also, due to the heavily frames they must be installed correctly to ensure maximum performance.

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