Heating and insulation

The government is considering various changes to encourage us to move away from gas and improve the energy efficiency of our homes. They are planning to make gas more expensive than electricity, and they want to encourage banks to give lower mortgage rates for more energy-efficient homes, among other measures.

Finding a greener home

Whether you are looking to buy or rent, it is good to understand Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which gives every property an over grade from A to G.. 

Read about Energy Performance Certificates and how to find your own homes energy rating.

For homeowners - Advice on insulating your home

A popular term in the heating industry is “Fabric first”, this refers to the importance of checking your buildings insulation and overall heat efficiency before fitting a new heating system. I have included information on the most popular home insulation options.

Some of the most cost-effective measures are draft proofing, cavity wall insulation (if you have cavity walls), attic insulation and double (or triple) glazing.

Ditching the gas boiler and fitting a heat pump 

Heat pumps are a low carbon heating system, and the main alternative to fossil fuel-based heating is available today. I knew very little about them, so I spent a month reading every post on a heat pump forum to find out more! 

I have included information on how heat pumps work and whether they might be suitable for your home. 

I’ve also looked at the government schemes designed to encourage you to get one. The schemes are getting less generous from April next year - but with all those future measures the government is considering, a heat pump may still be a good financial investment if your home is suitable.

From all the heat pump posts I’ve read, I can confidently say most people are very happy with their heat pump. However, they aren’t suitable for all properties, and it is essential to find a reliable installer - I strongly recommend getting quotes from MCS certified companies. 

Many of the problems people have with heat pumps relate to poor installations often by companies claiming government money and doing as cheap an install as possible. So, as a general rule,  if anyone offers to fit you a heat pump '"for free" - run the other way!