Eco Projects 10 Ways To Make Your Home Warmer

Date Published:

20/10/2009

Renovating your home? If you’re having work done, it’s worth investing in the various ways to make it more energy efficient, better insulated and, as a result, warmer. Here’s what to ask your builder and what to get done.

1 Having A Loft Conversion?

If you’re having an extension or loft conversion ask your builder to check your loft insulation. Did you know that loft insulation could cost only £250 to install with a government subsidy and could save you up to £205 per year? That means it pays for itself in one to two years. As they’re already on site, installing it then instead of coming back will save you money on labour costs, too. If you have less than 270mm insulation, you need a top up.

2 Draught Proof Your Windows

This easy-to-install measure is cheap and could save around £30 per year. All you need is a tube of flexible filler or some draught-proofing strips from the DIY store. Look for draughts around windows and doors, light fittings and loft hatches.

3 Pull Up Your Floorboards

If your builder’s pulling up floorboards or re-laying floors, it would be a great time to install underfloor insulation. This sits underneath the floorboards and makes sure rooms stay warm in winter and are less draughty. It will cost around £90 for materials, and you could save around £50 a year depending on how many rooms it can be installed in.

4 Insulate Your Walls

If your builder’s fitting a new kitchen or bathroom in an older house, it would be a good time to request some internal wall insulation. Older properties can be hard to heat and adding internal wall insulation will add to your comfort and reduce your bills by around £500 per year. If you’re undertaking major renovations to the inside of your house, it is the perfect opportunity to install internal wall insulation and save yourself between £1,000 to £3,000 of the installation cost as you won’t have to pay twice for scaffolding and other associated costs.

For More Information

Fitting Insulation
Insulation Shopping List
For free, impartial advice and information about grants, go to The Energy Saving Trust