Energy - efficiency advice and assessment
FREE energy efficiency advice is available from the Greater
Manchester Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre
(GMESTAC) to help residents improve home energy
efficiency and reduce fuel bills.
Greater Manchester Energy Saving Trust Advice
Centre
By completing a short simple survey, you will be sent a printed
document with specific recommendations for your home along with
information regarding any grants currently available. The report
will give you typical cost of installation and likely savings to be
made.
The service is impartial; if you wish to undertake some of
the recommended work the GMESTAC maintains a list of approved
energy efficiency contractors and they offer a free home energy
check. You may qualify for a grant or discounted price for the
measures but please note that retrospective claims can't be
made, so check before you start.
You really do not have anything to lose and you may make some
worthwhile savings on your energy costs.
In addition, for this winter, the
Department of Health has developed a Cold Weather Health Warning
scheme in partnership with the Met Office to be piloted in the
North West region this winter.
Cold Weather
Alert
Top tips
Big improvements to energy efficiency in your home can be made
quickly and cheaply by eliminating unnecessary heat loss by using
draught proofing materials such as draught proofing strips and
temporary “plastic film” secondary glazing products. They can
improve internal temperature levels and lower your energy bills. To
really make a difference consider a combination of measures such as
insulating your roof space with at least 270mm of insulation quilt,
insulate external cavity walls and draught proof doors and windows
where you can. There are many companies offering this service with
appropriate accreditation. You may even qualify for a grant from
the Government's "Warm Front Grant".
Warm Front grant - provides
a package of energy efficiency and heating measures
Reducing your space and water heating costs can be grouped
into three general categories:
No cost
- If you have a room thermostat, turn it down by one
or two degrees. This can make up to a 10% saving on your
heating bill over a period of a year without a noticeable change in
room temperature.
- Close the curtains to your living room and bedrooms as soon as
it gets dark to reduce heat loss through the windows. Heavy or
lined curtains are best. Annual savings are approximately £15.
- Ensure that your curtains do not lie over the top of the
radiators. Heat rises up into the space between them and the window
and some of this heat will be lost through the glass.
- Do not overfill kettles and remember to put lids onto pans when
heating water.
- Keep doors to unheated rooms closed so that at least one living
room is warm.
Low cost
- Fit shelf deflectors above radiators and reflectors panels
behind the radiators to throw heat forward into the room.
- Fit compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in rooms instead of
standard bulbs. Although these lamps are more expensive to buy
initially they last approximately 8-10 times longer than a normal
bulb and some even quote a 12 year life! Typically, a 20 watt CFL
has the light output of a 100 Watt incandescent bulb and they use
60-80% less electricity. CFLs are also ideal for outside security
lights which are left on over night (they are not suitable for
movement detector type security lighting or for
dimmer switches).
- Do not forget to switch off lights when you leave a room
and remember, if you leave the TV and video on
standby they will use electricity.
- Check that your hot water cylinder, where applicable, has a
good thick jacket and that it is well fitting. Heat loss from an
uninsulated hot water cylinder can be substantial. A good
insulation jacket is relatively cheap and quickly pays for itself
in energy saved.
- Fit temperature controls to radiators (TRVs) and save up to £40
a year.
- Fit simple draught excluders to doors and windows. It can save
you up to £25 a year. Note: Do
not block ventilation specifically provided for fuel burning
appliances such as gas fires, boilers etc as this can create a risk
from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ideas with a pay-back period usually less than five
years
- Insulate your loft with at least 270mm of insulation.
- Cavity insulate your walls where applicable. Up to 35% of all
heat lost is through the walls. Savings are generally between
£75-£150 a year. You may qualify for a grant toward the cost of
these measures – ring your local Energy Saving Trust Advice
Centre (GMESTAC).
- A heating boiler more than 15 years old will be much less
efficient than a modern one, typically only 60% efficient. When the
time comes to replace it a high efficiency modern design, typically
90% efficient or higher, could save up to 30% on your heating
bill. A saving of £100-£200 a year. Buy an "A" class energy rated
boiler if you can!
- If you fit timers and thermostats to your central heating and
hot water system you can save up to £85 a year through better
control.
More energy conservation measures
If you have taken all the above tips into consideration and want
to further conserve energy or are making additions or alterations
to your property you may need to consider double glazed windows and
doors.