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How to make old homes energy efficient

A recent article in The Guardian offers some advice on how to make Britain’s 5 million historic homes more energy efficient. At key point in the article is that Britain’s 5m historic houses – defined by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings as anything built before 1919 – should not be treated like new ones, and that green deal-style modern technologies were often inappropriate.

Suggestions from the team of historic advisers include:-

  • A lot of energy waste in old buildings is the result of overdue maintenance, so get the window panes fixed and clear out the gutters and drains that make walls damp and cold.
  • Do the cheap options that have the least impact on the building fabric first, eg: turning the thermostat down a degree, draught-stripping for windows and doors and a thick pair of curtains can be just as effective as more expensive measures. Floor coverings or rugs can block air infiltration and keep feet warm.
  • Think about how and when you use your building. When does it need
    to be warmer and when could it be cooler? Swap your boiler controls from a timer to a programmable thermostat and switch off what you can.
  • Historic buildings were designed to be heated one room at a time using separate open fires, which is more efficient than all at once. You can recreate this today by manually controlling thermostat valves. Programmable wi-fi radiator valves are becoming more readily available.
  • Typically, about 25% heat is lost through the roof, in comparison to 35% through the walls, 15% through the floor and 25% from windows and draughts. But the cost of insulating in the roof is usually much lower than the cost of solid wall insulation, so it is often more cost-effective to do the roof first.
  • For the big investment, focus on how you generate and distribute
    heat in your building. Ask for advice while you’re still considering your
    options.
  • Older homes deal with heat and moisture differently to more modern construction types. Look at the property as a whole system rather than considering measures individually and think about their cumulative impact on the way that the building fabric functions.
  • Consider all the simple and cheap measures first, before investing in more expensive measures such as external wall insulation – like draught excluders and heavier curtains. Think about floor coverings or rugs to block air infiltration and keep feet warm.
  • Keeping your home in a good state of repair can make a big difference, and in most cases is likely to maintain or even improve the heritage value of a home.
  • Typically, about 25% heat is lost through the roof, in comparison to 35% through the walls, 15% through the floor and 25% from windows and draughts. But the cost of insulating the roof is usually much lower than the cost of solid wall insulation, so it is often more cost-effective to do the roof first.

No or very low risk, which do not require expertise or huge amounts of money include:-

  • Know what you use and where you use it and switch off what you can.
  • Maintain the building fabric and your heating system.
  • Make sure controls and timers are set correct.
  • Replace incandescent and halogen bulbs with LED ones.
  • Install simple efficiency measures – thick curtains, draught proof strips.

Read the full article

UK government now received applications worth 50 million pounds for subsidies under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

The UK government has now received applications from householders for £50 million of vouchers from Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. As a result it it now releasing the remaining more money from a pot of at least £120 million available until the end of March 2015.

GDHIF

However, from 5 August 2014 flue gas heat recovery systems will not longer be an eligible measure for the subsidy. And from 25 July 2014 the government is reducing the subsidy for solid wall insulation from £6000 to £4000.

The latest £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 £4000 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

Please note a flue gas heat recovery system will no longer be an eligible measure for the subsidy from 5 August 2014. And from 25 July the subsidy for Solid Wall Insulation will be £4000 not £6000.

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

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

16.5 million pounds worth of vouchers now issued under UK Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

After only three weeks the UK government Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has now allocated over £16.5 million worth of vouchers to house owners and landlords for home improvement measures. This now means that the initial £50 million available could be used up within the next 3 weeks!!!

Although, this first £50 million is part of a £540 million three year package announced by the government in December 2013, it is very likely that this initial £7600 overall package offering per home will be rapidly reduced if demand continues to be high. It’s becoming very much like the feed in tariff – the early adopters will benefit the most.

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.

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