LFO/ldo/09.09.09                                                                                      BEST 1/2

ENERGY SAVING MEASURES WORK BEST AS A PACKAGE

Your energy bill is probably the largest regular bill you have to pay – second only to the mortgage. Therefore every householder needs to consider whether every aspect of energy saving has been covered.

            Have you got a modern condensing boiler, a room thermostat in the main living room and controls on radiators; supported by wall and loft insulation and draught proofing; and boosted by proven micro-generation equipment, such as solar panels? Working as a complete package, your heating bill could be reduced by 50%.

            Saving energy starts with your central heating boiler and equipment, which needs to be working to maximum efficiency in order to avoid fuel wastage, and unnecessarily high fuel bills.

Householders should really be aiming to obtain a boiler to the SEDBUK A rated standard. These are condensing boilers available in many types, such as combination boilers, standard wall mounted boilers and free standing boilers. The latter should be run in conjunction with a fully pumped system. They should have foam lagged cylinders incorporated to ensure that the minimum of heat is lost from the cylinder. All radiators need thermostatic valves, except in the main living room. Here a room thermostat should monitor the required temperature, and thus control the boiler.

If you need a modern new system or an upgrade, consult the experts. The Grant Aided Heating Installers Network (GAIN) comprises heating installers who have attained high technical and professional standards. They need to be technically competent in order to undertake government and other grant work, which they do. Under GAIN criteria, they are also committed to attaining a quality award. Whether you are eligible for a grant or not, heating installations are highly skilled work and should be the responsibility of experts. Many GAIN members also offer insulation and install solar panels and wind turbines, the latter items being subject to grants from the government DTI Low Carbon Building Programme to help provide hot water and electricity.

For heating and insulation, Warm Front is the government grant available in England, which provides a package of energy efficiency and heating measures for homeowners or those who privately rent their home, provided they meet the Warm Front eligibility criteria. Other schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland.

Energy suppliers provide grants under the Government’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme. Suppliers must encourage and assist their customers to make energy savings, through installing measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation and energy efficient boilers, appliances and light bulbs. As well as cutting greenhouse gas emission, CERT is also designed to cut fuel poverty: at least 40 per cent of the energy savings must be focussed on low-income households. Offers can be taken up from any of the energy companies, regardless of who supplies the gas and electricity.

Depending on the individual local authority, grants and offers for homeowners or private tenants to install heating improvements according to their income, are available. Your local GAIN member will advise you regarding the grants they can access in your area.       

The Grant Aided Heating Installers Network currently has contractor members throughout England and Wales, with grant scheme managers also covering the rest of the UK. Contact GAIN for your nearest installer at P O Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH; tel: 01428 654011; fax: 01428 651401; e-mail: gainassociation@aol.com; web: www.gainassociation.org.uk.

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For further information contact Gillian or Leonie on 01428 654011.

DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES:

 

	Images File Names:	Credits: In using these images, please credit:
	7_Ground_source_heat_pump,_water_tank_and_underfloor.ai	'Ground source heat pump: illustration Fernox'.
	Greenskies_solar_panels_from_Worcester_Bosch_Group1.jpg	‘Greenskies solar panels: illustration Worcester Bosch'.
	239030_pg_myson.jpg	‘Radiator: illustration Plumb Center’.
	Solar_house	‘Solar thermal installation’: illustration Fernox'.
	VT117(NO_RED_BUTTON)-_TRV-lo_res	‘Thermostatic radiator valve’: illustration Honeywell Control Systems'.
	ecoTEC plus 937 with VRC 430	‘Vaillant EcoTec boiler’.