Warm and Green
Faced with soaring gas and electricity prices, and motivated by residents’ desire to be eco-friendly, over one quarter of homeowners across North London have carried out energy and fuel saving home improvements.
If we consider that, since 2003, British Gas' gas prices have risen by 91.1% and electricity by 81%, it is little wonder homeowners are seeking out advice on options relating to energy efficiency home improvements. The Stoke Newington office of architectyourhome is frequently asked for expert advice from residents wanting to make changes to their home affordably, with not only a focus on extra living space but also advice on how to make their homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. N16 asked them how we keep warm and green this winter?
1. Deal with the draughts in your home. Draught proofing external doors and windows is the quickest and cheapest way to cut your heating bills and save money. Draught strips for sash windows and external doors are available from all DIY stores for as little as £2.99.
2. Keeping doors shut when the heating is on is another obvious saving. The staircase often acts like a chimney, sucking heat out of rooms, and open doors will allow heat to escape to the top of your house. But do make sure rooms are ventilated – moist, stale air is unhealthy and the main contributor to black mould on window frames and behind cupboards. This is often mistaken for rising damp.
3. Consider fitting trickle ventilators (now compulsory in new buildings and extensions) to allow controlled ventilation when needed. These can be closed to keep warm air in.
4. Fitting zone controls and thermostatic radiator valves means you will not have to heat the rooms you are not using, giving another saving for your heating costs.
5. At least 25% more heat is lost through roofs than any other part of the building, so probably the most cost-effective way of saving heat in an old house is to insulate the roof. The simplest way of doing it is by rolling out insulation quilts in the loft above the ceiling below.
6. Double, or even triple glazing is a very cost-effective investment to keep your house comfortably heated all year round. If most of your windows face south, the greenhouse effect can give you passive solar gain, and make a significant impact on your heating bills during winter, although you will need to shade the windows in the summer to prevent heat build-up from the mid-day sun.
7. Walls, like roofs, can be another source of great heat loss. If you have cavity walls, insulation can be pumped into the cavity. It takes less than a day to install and the good news on the cost front is that grants are currently available in some cases. Grants may also available for walls, loft insulation and other environmental improvements. The grant may cover up to 50% of the cost of this work. Please refer to 'Useful Local contacts' (below).
Useful Local Contacts:
To understand your eligibility for a government grant to assist environmental conscious home improvements contact:
http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/gid/.
For all your questions on local re-cycling visit: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/ew-recycling-general-information-851.htm.
For more information on insulation products, visit:
www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk
Hackney Environment forum offers up general advice on local green issues, campaigns, etc:
http://www.hackneyenvironment.org.uk/
architectyourhome (Stoke Newington) home renovation architects:
www.architect-yourhome.com or free phone 0800 849 8505
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