Posted by: energyinformation | February 4, 2010

Kym Marsh ‘offers insulation grant advice’

Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has urged people to phone a helpline to check if they qualify for a home insulation grant, it has been reported.


The actress claimed she suffered “misery and upset” struggling to pay bills such as the heating bill as a single parent before finding fame.

Speaking at the Glasgow launch of the Home Heat Helpline, the soap star said: “I found it hard to heat my home and when you have small children it’s a worry.”

She noted that she probably would have been eligible for help if there had been a helpline when she was struggling to pay the bills and that it could have saved her a lot of misery.

It is estimated 48,000 households around Glasgow are missing out on possible energy savings.

Many homes are entitled to grants for insulation, which could save them around £250 a year on heating bills.

Knauf Insulation – Impartial advice on Glass mineral insulation, Rock mineral wool, Polyfoam and Floor foam in residential insulation and non-residential insulation applications

Posted by: energyinformation | February 4, 2010

Victorian housing ‘may need insulation the most’

Britain’s Victorian housing stock may be the most in need of insulation, new figures suggest.

Research conducted by the Energy Saving Trust found that typical heating bills for Victorian properties can be hundreds of pounds higher than for more modern homes that are properly insulated.

Installing suitable insulation for the older homes may, therefore, help such property owners keep tighter control of their heating bills.

Another effect of the poorer insulation in these older properties relates to their carbon footprint. Such a home could emit around five tonnes of carbon dioxide over the course of a year, while a better-insulated new-build may emit around 3.4 tonnes in the same time.

Homeowners may also be able to immediately feel the benefit of installing insulation, helping them to keep warmer during the colder months of the year.

While cavity wall insulation is not accessible to such homeowners, solid wall insulation is available to help reduce the chill inside the home.

Knauf Insulation – Impartial advice on Glass mineral insulation, Rock mineral wool, Polyfoam and Floor foam in residential insulation and non-residential insulation applications.
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Posted by: earthwool | February 4, 2010

UK ‘likely to experience more cold winters’

The UK is likely to have colder winters such as the one it has just experienced, according to the director of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC).

Andrew Leech at the NHIC suggested that people will have to pay more for their heating to energy companies during these winters.

He suggested that householders may want to supplement their energy from renewable systems to reduce the cost of these bills.

Householders can also reduce their energy bills during cold winters by improving their insulation.

Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation can dramatically reduce energy bills as it requires less energy to heat a well insulated home.

Grants are also available to homeowners to help with the cost of installing insulation.

The elderly and others considered vulnerable may not have to pay anything at all, under present schemes.

Mr Leech also commented that the public needs more education about global warming and climate change as many people are still very skeptical.

Knauf Insulation – Impartial advice on Glass mineral insulation, Rock mineral wool, Polyfoam and Floor foam in residential insulation and non-residential insulation applications.

Posted by: earthwool | January 31, 2010

Bulk Vs Foil Insulation

Insulation falls into two basic categories: bulk insulation and foil insulation.

Bulk Insulation

Bulk insulation resists the transfer of heat, by relying on pockets of trapped air or gas within its structure and its thermal resistance is consistent regardless of the direction of heat flow through it. Bulk insulation includes materials such as glass and rock mineral wool, cellulose fibre, and rigid plastic insulation boards. All products have a specific thermal resistance for a given thickness of material at a given temperature.

Foil Insulation

Reflective foil insulation mainly resists radiant heat flow due to their high reflectivity and low emissivity (ability to reflect and re-radiate heat). The thermal resistance of reflective insulation products varies with the direction of heat flow and the brightness (emmisivity) of the foil facing. Multi foil insulation products work in the same manner as reflective foil products whilst also containing several layers of a metallised component which are usually separated by a combination of wadding and foam.

Posted by: energyinformation | January 28, 2010

Poor insulation ‘Increases energy bills during Cold Snap’

Homes with poor levels of insulation may have been very expensive to heat during this month’s cold snap, it has  suggested.been

According to consultants Faithful and Gould, the freezing weather in the UK may have cost an extra £1.2 billion in wasted heat in comparison to a normal winter.

Expert Ellie Horwitch-Smith noted inefficient buildings can take a great deal to heat as outside temperatures fall.

Offices could face an extra £284 million to maintain temperatures during the cold snap, while those with poor insulation could face an additional £149 in heating costs, the consultants noted.

Installing cavity wall  and loft insulation can help to reduce heating costs during the winter months, as well as reducing carbon emissions.

The average household could save around £115 a year on their energy bills if they install cavity wall insulation, according to the Energy Saving Trust

Many people are likely to struggle to make energy efficiency changes – which could include installing insulation - because they have experienced years of cheap energy, it has been suggested.

Lesley Tudor-Snodin of National Energy Action (NEA) said the organisation is working to encourage people to be energy efficient from a young age.

It is working with school children to educate them about energy-efficiency measures.

Her comments follow the release of a report by Ofgem showing a rise in the number of people getting into debt with energy companies.

Many people will have experienced particularly high energy bills due to the cold snap earlier this month.

One way in which people can reduce their energy bills and improve their energy efficiency is installing insulation.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation can cut energy bills by around £115 a year.

Ms Tudor-Snodin also recommended people can balance out high energy use during the winter by being more energy efficient during the warmer months.

The role will see John Sinfield managing the company’s operations across the UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, as well as having a seat on the Knauf Insulation Group Management Board. John has over 20 years commercial experience in heavy side building materials in the UK and prior to his new appointment, he was Sales Director for UK and Ireland at Knauf Insulation for the last four years.

John replaces Mark Andrews, who will become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Knauf Insulation North America. Mark has been with the company for eight years and has been an instrumental force in steering the business into its market leading position along with instigating and leading the market entry into the Nordic countries.

John Sinfield comments:  “To strategically steer and lead the company through a time where insulation is recognised as a significant factor in the design of buildings provides some great opportunities for Knauf Insulation and I am looking forward to capitalising on these in my new role”.

“2010 marks an important and challenging time for the market with the step changes in Building Regulations Part L, the development of the zero carbon definition and revisions on the Code for Sustainable Homes. It is therefore crucial to continue the company’s commitment to providing energy efficient solutions for buildings and further strengthening and developing its market position.”

For more information on Knauf Insulation please visit www.knaufinsulation.co.uk

Posted by: earthwool | December 30, 2009

Homeowners ’see energy efficiency as enormously important’

 Energy efficiency is enormously important to homeowners at the moment, according to the editor of a magazine that provides ideas for home decorating.

Julia Goodwin at House Beautiful magazine added that at this year’s House Beautiful Awards, prizes were given to items that offered great value for money, style and a good investment.

She also predicted that an eco credential is likely to be a component of every winner in the future.

“We are not quite there yet, but we are moving towards it,” she said.

One of the most energy efficient steps homeowners considering home improvements can take is installing insulation.

According to the government, all homeowners are entitled to at least 50 per cent towards the cost of installing insulation.

Those considered vulnerable such as the elderly or those in fuel poverty could be entitled to an even greater grant.

The House Beautiful Awards 2009 took place on November 26th.

Ms Goodwin added that the gold award this year went to an energy efficient showerhead, Mira Showers’ Mira Eco Handset, because efficiency is so important at the moment.

Knauf Insulation – Impartial advice on Glass Mineral Wool Insulation, Rock mineral wool, Polyfoam and Floor foam in Residential Insulation and non-residential insulation applications.

Posted by: energyinformation | December 8, 2009

Energy efficiency ‘gaining importance for homeowners’

Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important to homeowners, with growing numbers installing renewable energy solutions in their homes.

This is the view of a spokesperson for British Eco Energy, an organisation that offers advice about renewable and energy saving technology.

The spokesperson added that energy efficient products are becoming more and more popular, especially as the government is focusing on sustainability.

“The government’s increasing focus on sustainable energy will effectively advertise the benefits of energy efficiency in products, something that many manufacturers will and should look to capitalise on,” he added.

Saving energy in the home can be made a lot more efficient by installing insulation.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation is one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures available to householders.

The organisation states it can save around £115 each year on heating bills.

Enough CO2 emissions to fill over 22 million double-decker buses would be saved every year if everyone in the UK who could installed cavity wall insulation, the trust notes.

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Posted by: energyinformation | December 8, 2009

Installing insulation ‘one of the most popular types of winter DIY’

One of the most popular types of DIY this winter is efficiency-improving work, according to a UK magazine for self-builders.

Jason Orme, editor of Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine, said people are looking at making changes such as adding insulation and improving heating systems.

“That is very much an issue for people over the winter,” he added.

His comments follow the release of a report by Aspect Maintenance, which revealed 70 per cent of those living in London plan to improve their home in the next year.

However, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) said they would not be undertaking property refurbishment work due to a lack of funds in the current economic climate.

Mr Orme added that there was likely to be a high number of people doing work on their homes next year because they are choosing not to move, but rather to make improvements to their properties instead.

Knauf Insulation – Impartial advice on Glass mineral insulation, Rock mineral wool, Polyfoam and Floor foam in residential insulation and non-residential insulation applications

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