Tag: energy saving

British households could save 75 pounds a year ~ if they take control of their heating

According to Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of Energy Saving Trust, speaking during Big Energy Saving Week:

“Rightfully, millions of householders are confused by their heating controls because, let’s be honest, it is a bit of a minefield. There are plenty of myths out there and it’s no wonder people aren’t getting it right. We are urging customers to learn about the myths, check their tariff, switch suppliers and insulate their homes.”

heater-thermostat-415x260

The findings from an Ipsos MORI survey of over 2,000 UK respondents show that almost four fifths of people (78 per cent) claim to understand how to use their heating controls. However, many of these respondents turn out to be using their heating controls incorrectly. Of those who thought they understood how to operate their heating controls:

  • MYTH 1: Turn the heating up when it’s cold outside. Half (52 per cent) turn the thermostat up when it’s cold outside. A home shouldn’t need this as the thermostat is there to maintain the home temperature whatever the weather.
  • MYTH 2: Turn up the thermostat to heat the room quicker. Over a third (35 per cent) turn their room thermostat up when they want the room to heat up quicker. This does not help a room become warmer any quicker and only heats the home to a warmer temperature.
  • MYTH 3: Leave the heating on low constantly. Thirty-eight per cent think it is more energy efficient to leave the heating turned on at a low temperature constantly, rather than turn it on and off. This means these homes are heated when no-one is there to benefit and then the home is too cold when people are in the home.
  • MYTH 4: Hot water runs out if you stop feeding the tank. Nearly a third (31 per cent) leave their water heating on all the time to make sure they never run out, which could be costing far more on their energy bills than necessary.
  • MYTH 5: Keep electric storage heaters on all the time. Our research also found that few people with electric storage heaters fully understand how they work (only 38 per cent). This means that households with electric heating could be paying through the nose by not taking advantage of cheaper night rate electricity.

Source: Energy Saving Trust press release

Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has now issued over 36 million pounds of vouchers

Just five weeks into the scheme, over £36 million pounds worth of vouchers have now been issued by the UK government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. This means the first £50 million, current rates guaranteed, could be used up within the next two weeks at the current rate of uptake.

GDHIF

The new £7600 incentive offered to households is split into a number of parts; £1000 is given for installing two measures from an approved list of renovations, £100 is available towards the cost of an the initial assessment and £6000 is on offer for the expensive procedure of installing solid wall insulation. Those who’ve bought their property within 12 months of application to the scheme are also eligible for a further £500.

It is unknown at present, what the government will do once the £50 million threshold, has been reached. Although, it is understood that this £50 million is part of £120 million available during this current financial year. Government could decide to reduce the subsidy for some or all the measures or simply release more money and put it into the GDHIF pot. No doubt there will be surplus funds available from the previous Cash-back scheme that finished on 30 June 2014.

However, government needs to move quickly in order to avoid being accursed of “roller-coaster intervention” by the industry and householders – which fails to create a sustainable market that is of benefit to both householders and installers.

GDHIF cores

12 improvement measures

Click here for more details on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Or contact The 80percent Hub about having a Green Deal Assessment

Click here for the latest figures

See press release

£25 million pounds of vouchers now issued for Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

After only four weeks over £25 million pounds worth of vouchers have now been issued by the UK government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. This is over half of the initial £50 million which is part of a £540 million three year package announced by the government in December 2013.

GDHIF

At the one month milestone, 4405 households in England and Wales are already taking advantage of the new scheme which offers up to £7600 for energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, new heating systems and double glazing. With the current rates guaranteed for the first £50 million, people should act now enjoy the benefits of a warmer, greener home and lower energy bills.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, said:

“With the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund off to such an encouraging start, it’s the perfect time to make your home more energy efficient. Act now, get money for the improvements and enjoy a warmer home and lower energy bills this winter.”

The new £7600 incentive offered to households is split into a number of parts; £1000 is given for installing two measures from an approved list of renovations, £100 is available towards the cost of an the initial assessment and £6000 is on offer for the expensive procedure of installing solid wall insulation. Those who’ve bought their property within 12 months of application to the scheme are also eligible for a further £500.

GDHIF cores

12 improvement measures

Click here for more details on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Or contact The 80percent Hub about having a Green Deal Assessment

Click here for the latest figures

See press release

Making home energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority

Industry bodies have joined forces to urge government to commit to a target of upgrading the energy efficiency of existing homes at a rate of 1 million a year by 2020. In an open letter to Lord Deighton, commercial secretary to the Treasury, the heads of environmental groups, charities, membership organisations and trade associations warn that the UK’s homes are among the “coldest and draughtiest in Europe” resulting in high energy bills and “one of the worst records on fuel poverty and preventable winter deaths”. 

housing stock fit for future

A report “A housing stock fit for the future: Making home energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority” accompanies the open letter. It sets out the economic case for improving home energy efficiency.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said: “Making home energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority – and offering it significant support alongside transport, energy generation or communications projects – would not only cut households’ rocketing energy bills and help tackle climate change, but would create thousands of new jobs and strengthen the UK’s energy security”.

Benefits of home energy efficiency

Download the full report.

Read the Building4Change article

 

Warm homes the key to healthy people

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is leading a number of support agencies and groups across Bristol, England as part of a Department of Health-backed project aimed at breaking the link between cold homes and bad health.

The new Bristol City Council-backed Keep Warm in Bristol project aims to improve the health of thousands of deprived Bristol households by tackling the thermal comfort of their homes.

Read full CSE news article

More about the project