If you want to improve the energy performance of your home, whether it is to reduce energy bills, or carbon emissions, or to make it more comfortable, there is a range of tried and tested technologies that can be applied.
Sustainable energy improvements to properties typically fall into two categories – ‘energy efficiency’, and ‘renewable heat and power’.
Here is a full list of measures which are typically recommended and currently available:
Energy efficiency household-energy-improvements
Insulation
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Hard to treat cavity wall insulation
- External wall insulation
- Internal wall insulation (including sloping ceiling and roof room insulation)
- Flat roof insulation
- Under-floor insulation
- Hot water cylinder insulation
- Draught-proofing
Heating systems
- Efficient gas, oil and electric fuelled heating systems, and boiler replacements
- Heating controls – thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), programmers, room thermostats, zoning systems
- Flue gas heat recovery devices
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
Windows and doors
- Double or triple glazing
- Window refurbishment – such as secondary glazing and draught-proofing
- High performance external doors
Lighting systems, fittings and controls
Renewable heat and power
Technologies include:
- Solar photovoltiacs
- Solar water heating
- Air, ground and water source heat pumps
- Biomass boilers and room heaters
- Micro-combined heat and power
- Micro-hydro
- Wind turbines
Other linked services may include:
- Thermal imaging (to identify cold spots)
- Air tightness testing (to identify and quantify areas of ventilation heat loss)
- Wood fuel supplies
