Free chance to insulate your home (From Blackpool Citizen)

Free chance to insulate your home

1:10pm Wednesday 15th April 2009

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On April 6 it became compulsory for homeowners to have a Home Information Pack (HIP) before their property is put on the market, so saving energy in the home has never been so important.

Not only is an energy efficient home a sure-fire way to score top marks on the HIP Energy Performance Certificate, it will save money too. And with several bank holidays coming up in April and May, there’s no better time for homeowners to think about making some home improvements.

As part of Project: Renovate, a campaign to encourage the nation to become more eco-friendly, Knauf Insulation is offering North West residents the chance to receive up to £1,000 worth of installed loft and cavity wall insulation. Homeowners can improve HIP ratings, reduce energy bills and shrink their carbon footprints into the bargain in one simple step.

Taking part is simple. Log on to www.knaufinsulation.co.uk and click on Project: Renovate to register interest. But don’t delay — entries must be received by Friday, April 17.

Around a third of heating energy escapes thorough the walls in a typical un-insulated house, with a further 25 per cent disappearing through the roof. Knauf Insulation is therefore offering homes an ‘insulation makeover’, including both cavity wall and loft insulation. This alone could save up to £365 a year on energy bills and a whopping 1.8 tonnes of carbon.

For those not lucky enough to be selected, there's still plenty of ways to cut down energy wastage. Here are Knauf Insulation’s top tips for saving energy in the home.

• Wrap up warm: for those who want to DIY, it’s important to choose the right kind of insulation. Products made from glasswool, such as Space Blanket or Space Combi-Roll, are made from up to 15 recycled glass bottles per roll, making them even better for the environment.

• Set your hot water to 60°C: for the majority of homes, setting the cylinder thermostat at 60°C/140°F is fine for bathing and washing, so make sure extra energy is not used to overheat this water everyday.

• Don’t overfill your kettle: only boil the amount of water you need — one cup’s worth is less than you think.

• Fix dripping taps: a dripping hot water tap can waste enough water in one week to half fill a bath, so make sure taps are fully turned off, and repair them if they start to leak.

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