Residents can carry out a range of energy saving measures on their property which will result in environmental and financial savings. Measures which can be carried out by residents of ground look, mid floor and top floor flats are outlined below.
FLOOR INSULATION:
Ground floor flats loose the most heat. One of the cheapest methods of floor insulation is to place mineral wool insulation between the joists under floorboard. The installation costs can be heavy but assistance on floor insulation is available. This will largely depend on the circumstances of the person asking for assistance.
LOFT INSULATION:
Research has revealed that almost quarter of a heat in a home is lost due to an UN-insulated roof. Loft insulation is one of the quickest ways of saving energy. The current standard for loft insulation is 270-300 mm. if your loft is UN-insulated then you should seriously consider it getting done. However if it is done but is not in accordance with the current standard then you should consider meeting up with this standard. In Scotland a number of grants are also available for loft insulation. In most cases it is around 130 but in some cases, depending on age and income, it can go up to covering all costs.
DOUBLE AND SECONDARY GLAZING:
Around 18% of heat can be lost because of UN-insulated windows. Double and secondary glazing helps in preventing heat loss through window glazing. It involves an addition window and frame being fixed inside the main window. The costs of this process vary depending on the size and type of window. This process is a cost effective energy efficient measure which can reduce heat loss, condensation and droughts. Moreover the process is also an effective sound insulation.
CONTROLLING CENTRAL HEATING:
The central heating systems should have a timer to control the heating and hot water switches. These should be placed close to the boiler. There should be a room thermostat which regulates the temperature of the property. This should be set between 18oC to 21oC. Moreover there should be thermostatic radiator valves which control the temperature of individual radiators.
ELECTRIC STORAGE HEATING:
These heaters operate on off peak electricity and are cheaper then other forms of electricity. These heaters use electricity supplied at a cheaper rate. Their heat is stored in heat retaining blocks which then release heat into the home. The modern fan assisted storage heaters are more efficient.
LOW ENERGY LIGHTS:
These LED lights are now easily available in the markets in all shapes and colors. These are three times more efficient then low energy bulbs and last up to 50,000 hours.