Energy saving electricity

The number one reason for losing power into the ether is poor thermal insulation.

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The better the insulation around your home or business, the lower your fuel bills.

Energy efficiency has been attacked on all fronts recently, and is the subject on an EU directive, our homes are likely to be measured in efficiency values, this will probably start with the introduction of the home information pack.

The cheapest, and most cost effective energy saving is good old loft insulation. One quarter, or 25% of all lost heat goes through the roof.

Loft insulation is really cheap, a typical DIY installation would cost around £150 although a contractor would only be around £100 dearer. With all the awkwardness and safety implications, we would recommend using a specialist contractor for around £250.

Glass mineral wool is the favourite choice, because of its flexibility, although styrene based insulation is also used widely, a more flexible material for awkward areas is small particles of mineral wool or cellulose fibre, these can be blown into position.

If your loft was insulated some years ago, then you may be surprised to find that your present loft insulation is well and truly out of date, 25 years ago, the norm for glass wool insulation was 100mm, or 4" thick, todays requirements have pushed that figure up to an amazing 270mm, or 11", and you can also expect that figure to rise.

Insulation values are measured in the extremely annoying and confusing U-value, these U-values are written in the document Part L, the current new build regulations for the UK. There are dedicated online services that can calculate your U-values, but here is a brief run down for the most hardy of DIYers.

(U-value is the inverse of R-value. To calculate R, divide 1 by U. (1÷ U 0.25 = R 4.0) To calculate U, divide 1 by R.) Good luck!

Saving electricity by means of better thermal insulation is a the top of the list, in fact around 50% of our generated electricity is wasted. All we really need to know is that the lower the U-value, the better the insulation and better energy savings can be achieved.

Other notable areas for consideration are your cavities, these are the spaces between the walls in your home, all new buildings have cavity wall insulation built in, but if your building is 15 years or more old, then you may find that you have no insulation in your walls. It can be very difficult for the novice to locate cavity wall insulation, so use a specialist.

Double glazing is an excellent insulator, the effects are felt instantly, mainly because single glazed windows create draughts and a good IGU (insulative glazed unit) can really block those draughts.

Just like the other examples, technology has advanced, and if you double glazing is more than 10 years old, then you may have a much poorer U-value. This is due to the introduction of low-e glass technology. Low-e glass has a metallic coating on the surface, this practically doubles the insulative properties of a unit.

Our advice is to wait until your double glazed unit fails, this is when the seal is broken and your glass mists up inside. Failed units should be replaced, and specify low-e glass, although all new units are supposed to be low-e by law, make sure your unit carries the correct sticker, this also states which side goes to the inside.

Modern homes are insulated under floor, although much heat is lost through floors, the cost and upheaval makes this unpractical for existing buildings.

Practical insulation is the starting point for energy saving and in turn, saving electricity.