Home Energy Efficiency

Make the most of the energy you use and save hundreds of pounds a year on your bills

Both Defra and the Energy Saving Trust provide tools with which you can asses the energy use and carbon footprint of your house. Once you have done this you will be able to see the areas where energy is being wasted, and how you can cheaply and effectively make improvements.

Here are some suggestions to help you save energy and money.

Measures that cost you nothing

• Switch off lights in unoccupied rooms, even if it is only for a minute
• Switch appliances completely off when they are not in use (not on standby - the red light indicates energy is still being used)
• Turn the thermostat on your central heating down by 1C this will save you £40 a year
• Turn the thermostat on your hot water storage tank (if you have one) down to 60C
• Use the timer on your central heating so that the heating goes off 30 minutes before you leave the house and comes on again 30 minutes before you come home - this will ensure you are warm, but will be less wasteful
• Close your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in
• Try wearing some extra clothes before turning the heating on
• Use a washing up bowl instead of washing up under the running tap
• Make sure that your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before they go on and use the economy/low temperature settings where possible.
• Wash your clothes at 30C this will save £10 a year and will still clean you clothes
• Don't tumble-dry: line-dry or use a clothes horse. If drying clothes inside make sure that the room is well ventilated to prevent mould growth
• Run your fridge and freezer efficiently by keeping them well stocked and with the door open for as little time as possible. Let items completely cool before putting them in the fridge and keep them covered: the extra heat and moisture requires more energy to cool. Defrost them regularly to keep them efficient.
• Take showers instead of baths to save on hot water - you can also insulate under your bath to keep the water hot for longer when you are having long soaks.
• Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle
• When cooking, ensure the pans are on the correct ring size with the lids kept on

Measures that cost little

• Draught proof letterboxes, keyholes, doors, windows and unused chimneys
• Replace regular light bulbs with energy saving bulbs, shop around as there are often discounts available. Each bulb installed will save you around £8 per year!
• Make sure your hot water tank and pipes are insulated
• Install radiator heat reflecting foils - cheap from a DIY shop or make your own out of heavy duty aluminium foil and polystyrene tiles
• Insulate any gaps in your floor or skirting boards, or simply use a rug

Measures worth investing in

• Cavity Wall insulation: costs between £200-500 and saves approximately £120 per year
• Loft insulation of 270mm: also costs between £200-500 and saves £45-£155 per year (depending upon existing levels of insulation present)
• External insulation for solid walls: costs £4,500 and saves approximately £380 per year
• Replacing your old boiler with an efficient condensing model saves £130 per year
• Installing double or secondary glazing can save you around £110 a year, with installation costs varying depending on your house and the company you use. See the British Fenestration Rating Council for more information
• Improve the controls on your heating system
• When buying new appliances consider the energy rating - look for the energy saving recommended logo to identify the most efficient models
  

Solid Walled and Historic Properties
Nearly half of the properties in North Norfolk are solid walled. The pictures below will help you to identify what wall type you have.

Generally, houses built before 1930 will have solid walls. The Brick pattern will be alternating side-on and end-on, and the wall will be 225mm or 9" thick. You can estimate the thickness of your walls by measuring at a window or door.

Houses built after 1930 are most likely to have cavity walls. In cavity wall construction the bricks are all laid side-on, and the wall will be 300mm or 12" thick.

If you have an older, solid walled property you need to understand how your property is designed to function, as many insulation measures will not be applicable in your property. Norfolk County Council has published an advice leaflet on making old buildings energy efficient.

If you are lucky enough to own an historic property then you should take advice from one of the Council's Conservation Officers.

For more information regarding climate change and historic properties, English Heritage has an informative site on how to improve the efficiency of your home without damaging its character. The Energy Saving Trust illustrates some case studies of energy efficient historic homes.

Grants
Everyone in North Norfolk is entitled to some level of grant to help with the cost of insulation, regardless of age or income. Under the government's Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) scheme, the major electricity and gas suppliers must provide householders with subsidies for insulation. Those over 70 or in receipt of certain benefits are eligible for free insulation and money towards repairing or installing central heating.

For more information on the level of grant available to you, and for recommended local insulation installers, call the Energy Saving Trust's Act on CO2 helpline on 0800 512 012.

Renewable Energy
If you have followed the above advice to create an energy efficient home and you are still keen to reduce your electricity and gas bills you may be considering harnessing renewable energy.

Renewable energy comes from naturally unlimited sources, for example from the sun, wind or waves.

Once you have invested in the harnessing technology the energy you receive will be free. However, the initial outlay for the technology is fairly high but the energy savings you will make will on average be equal to the cost of the technology over its lifetime. The benefit to using renewable energy is that it does not come from fossil fuels and therefore does not cause the emission of the greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. It also enables you to have security of energy supply, and can even provide power if you are not connected to the national grid.

For more information on renewable energy, contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012.

Grants are available to help with the cost of certain renewable technology from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.