How to insulate your home

As part of Energy Saving Week, surveyors in a fleet of 23 cars are going around the country taking thermal images of homes. The initiative, sponsored by the Energy Retail Association, is adopting a door-to-door approach. It offers homeowners a thermal image of their property and advice on what can be done to reduce carbon emissions and potentially save on energy costs.

This saving could prove to be considerable. In a recent survey by B&Q more than three quarters of respondents said that they would prefer to live in a period property than a modern one despite it leaking heat, CO2 and money.

If you are not fortunate enough to come across one of these cars, then B&Q has some handy hints for you - depending on the age of your property. Understanding what period your home belongs to will help you to understand what energy-efficiency measures you may need to take.

Homes built before 1919

About 20 per cent of UK homes were built before 1919. All tend to have solid-wall construction, so cavity wall insulation is not possible. But you can insulate the loft. These homes are often over-ventilated, so draught-proofing is one of the best ways to reduce heat loss. Look at windows, doors and even letterboxes and cat flaps.

Homes built 1919-44

About 19 per cent of UK homes were built in this period. Most have cavity walls and are suitable for insulation. This is one of the most cost-effective measures for energy efficiency that you can make. Again, loft insulation is relevant. Watch out for draughts through the floors, particularly around skirting boards.

Homes built 1945-64

This was the era of the “new town”. There will most likely be cavities between the outside walls, so insulation here and in the roof will reduce heating costs. A mineral wool quilt under wooden floors is best for draught-proofing these properties.

Homes built 1965-84

The 1970s popularised larger homes with mass-produced double-glazing. Many properties will have loft insulation and only some will need cavity insulation. The best way to prevent draughts in these properties is to insulate solid floors using polystyrene, phenolic foam or cork with chipboard.

Homes built since 1985

With construction regulations and vast improvement in building materials, houses are now much more energy efficient. Lofts should have insulation and cavity wall insulation will not be required. For draught-proofing remember to fit underlay beneath carpets or laminate flooring to reduce heat loss.

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UK must cut greenhouse gases by 80 per cent, says Committee

He cited the following options to cut emissions:

* Improved energy efficiency by insulation, power saving and new technology in buildings and industry.

* An increase in renewables and replacing existing fossil fuel power stations with "clean technologies" like nuclear and coal connected to carbon capture storage.

* Cutting emissions from fuel by hybrid engines, biofuels and electric cars.

* Improved efficiency in heating by combined heat and power stations, ground source heat pumps and use of biomass in boilers.

* Reducing carbon produced by heavy industry such as steel and cement through new technologies.

Lord Turner said: "We have the potential to reduce our emissions by 80 per cent or more by using energy far more efficiently, by investing in developing new energy sources and by making relatively minor lifestyle changes."

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Modify your home to lower energy bills

• Add the proper insulation. Upgrading the insulation in your attic to at least an R-38 or as high as an R-49 level is one of the most cost-effective things you can do to make your home energy efficient. If your budget is squeaky tight, ceiling insulation is most important. Remember, heat rises.

• Install a programmable thermostat. We have all forgotten to turn down the heat or turn up the air conditioning before we go to bed or leave for work.

• Turn down the temperature on your water heater. This simple tip can not only save you money, it can decrease your potential for being scalded with hot water when taking a shower or even washing your hands.

• Wash clothes in cold water. Many of today's detergents do a great job of cleaning your clothes in cold water, and can even get out those grass and dirt stains.

• Seal leaky windows and doors. One of the cheapest ways to improve your heating and cooling efficiency is to seal leaks around your home's doors and windows. Use a high-end silicone or adhesive caulk.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs are all the rage now and use one-third the electricity versus incandescent bulbs, yet last up to 13 times longer and produce less heat. Look for K6500. Its light is bright white.

• Add roof ventilation. Attics require soffit venting and ridge or pot vents.

• Add ceiling fans in every room. Ceiling fans are a great way to help you make a home more comfortable and use less energy. During the summer, ceiling fans move the air to improve the air-flow, and in the winter a fan set at slow speed can push warm air away from the ceiling and spread the heat evenly in a room. Ceiling fans are also attractive and can improve your decor.
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Energy firm Ecotricity introduces bill payments through e-banking sites with OneVu

Renewable energy supplier Ecotricity has signed up with OneVu to offer its customers a greener billing alternative which will help to reduce the number of paper invoices and statements being produced and sent across the postal system.

Under the agreement, Ecotricity's domestic customers can now use OneVu's unique service to view and pay their bills through the secure environment of their online bank, whilst contributing to an initiative that reduces carbon dioxide emissions and lessens the pressure on natural resources.

Ecotricity's main focus is building new green energy sources, and in 2007 alone, the company invested £25 million in wind energy. This figure, equating to over £550 per customer, is more than 100 times the national average when compared to other UK electricity suppliers. To achieve and increase such levels of investment, the company is committed to streamlining business process and reducing overheads by identifying and using cost-effective and responsible solutions such as the OneVu service.

The OneVu service is free for consumers to use and offers a convenient and secure access to a large and growing number of biller websites, saving the consumer time and providing a greater control of personal finances. For billers there are significant savings to be gained through the reduction in processing and postage of paper bills, a decrease in call centre costs and reduced debtor days.

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