Forum Topic

Green Homes Grant: Make Energy Improvements to Your Home

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes-grant-schemeMany of our homes could do with double glazing or extra insulation.  There are some grants available but not for long.  Have a look to see whether you could make use of them to reduce your energy use and make your home more comfortable this winter.https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/green-homes-grant/

Philippa Bond ● 1658d21 Comments

King Edward 1 in 1306 ordered that seacoal was no longer to be burned as it caused so much pollution.  Pollution changes.  In 1952 it was smog.  We now have more clean air legislation.  We have pollution now from transport - from the fuel burned in so many internal combustion engines and from tyres and brake pads.  It is years now since the Environment Agency stopped the leaves from streets being sent for composting as they are so polluted and the run off from roads and pollutes our rivers.  Sewers overflow and backup when there is not enough space in them and not enough land to soak up water.  Land holds more than in rivers and lakes here.  Concreting and using non-porous surfacing on gardens exacerbates this when we have sudden and very heavy rainfall.

Philippa Bond ● 1644d

Condensation and mould spores are a far bigger health risk than people imagine. Far worse than pollution which is in British urban and industrialised areas massively lower than it was 60 years ago.  These can affect any home if the construction materials and methods are not understood.Many 'home improvements' are completely negated by the design and age of a building and many older council homes which were well built originally have been dogged by one size fits all upgrade programs which have solved one problem from but created a host of others.Not helped by the decades of dodgy contracts farmed out and a complete lack of quality and overseeing .

Raymond Havelock ● 1646d

I did the same in my back kitchen and it does work as a temporary measure.For anyone thinking of cavity wall insulation, I would think twice if I were you.The 2 brick walls that make up the skin of your house have a gap between them for a good reason.Without ventilation between them (the gap) water can seep along the metal spurs linking the walls at various points and can get into the internal wall and cause damp and condensation on walls.The technology of the substance they use to do the filling may have improved, but nature's laws have not changed as far as I am aware.

Keith Iddon ● 1646d

In a rented maisonette and we put a film across single glazed window panes which we then had to pass a hairdryer over so that it had no creases and became taught and clear. That was an improvement.  My father put bubble wrap over the panels in the front door.  Hanging a rug or thick curtain over the door in winter worked well.  He also made his own secondary glazing for the long kitchen windows.My brother put some secondary glazing in on a stair landing window where the heat from the kitchen/living area rose up the stairs and caused a lot of condensation.

Philippa Bond ● 1646d

And here's what is happening with solar energy in Ealing.  They are now a lot better and a lot cheaper.http://ealingnewsextra.co.uk/features/fantastic-solar/

Philippa Bond ● 1647d

I had secondary glazing fitted inside the crittle wndows (still good as new since 1935 and much more secure than timber frames), and it's very efficient at keeping in the warm and keeping out cold and noise.In fact secondary glazing has been shown to be better than double glazing at keeping out noise, and as I live just about on the flight path that's handy.It was also 40% of the installation costs for double glazing,much less time consuming and messy too.

Keith Iddon ● 1647d

http://ealingnewsextra.co.uk/features/consulting-on-ealings-climate-emergency-strategy/

Philippa Bond ● 1647d

Kicked down the road and lobbied against for the last 30 years:https://theconversation.com/ipcc-the-dirty-tricks-climate-scientists-faced-in-three-decades-since-first-report-145126

Philippa Bond ● 1648d

https://theconversation.com/five-ways-to-kickstart-a-green-recovery-141115We should be moving forward to a greener economy not trying to hanging on to the status quo for dear life.  The more we learn about it the easier it will be. 

Philippa Bond ● 1649d

Green Homes Grant 'a flop' with as few as one in six homeowners who apply able to find installers.....is what Martin Lewis' website says.

Sarah Vickers ● 1650d

Here is another article on the difficulty of getting the Govt approved contractors to quote:www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-8850305/amp/Is-green-home-scheme-waste-energy.html

Philippa Bond ● 1652d

My mother lined all the curtains as did her mother.Only problem. The track and hanging means need to be really strong, otherwise it brings the coving, ceiling or chunks of the wall down.But in the 60s and 70s, it was normal to have heavy winter curtains, down to the floor to keep the drafts, damp and cold out.The problem was when central heating was installed. The radiators went under the windows but pull the curtains and all the heat is enclosed between the windows and curtains.  So parents built a wider ledge and shortened the curtains. Did not look as nice but really worked.Simple things. Always been there but it's not trendy or cool.

Raymond Havelock ● 1652d

You can also get interlining to go between the main fabric and the lining. Doesn't cost more than the lining per metre and is like a fleecy blanket only fire-safe and meant for the job Also, seal draughts, get door stops, thicker underlay downstairs,....

Kala Mitty Jayne ● 1653d

Here are some low-tech solutions from 2013.  I wonder if any of those have changed?:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24757144My sister lined her curtains with fleece blankets but they are of course flammable - but maybe most are.  I just bought some washable thermal ones from Dunelm to line mine with which made a difference.I don't think any new buildings are being fitted with gas boilers any more, are they?

Philippa Bond ● 1653d

"A new condensing boiler is unfortunately unlikely to last as long."Spot on. If it works, no need to, and don't throw it out.My old, easy to understand boiler is 35 years old and soldiers on under all conditions. Yes, it may not be V efficient and burn more fuel, but I only have it serviced about every 5 years, that's all it really needs. Jeremy Clarkson could fire a shotgun at the bloody thing and it'd keep going.Compare that to a new fangled boiler which might be more efficient, but they don't last anywhere near as long and always seem to be causing problems plus must be serviced every year which negates any "efficiency savings".CH Engineers are always recommending I change it but when I explain the above they always give a knowing grin.

Rosco White ● 1653d

Raymond, I'm sorry I was too forthright and I think we all appreciate your approach.  I certainly do.  I deliberately posted the Martin Lewis piece with the Govt one because you need to treat all promotions with caution.  They may or may not suit.  Govt has ideals and certainly often doesn't seem to have enough real technical experts or they would have sorted out the building regs ages ago.  You always need to find builders you can trust..I also think that a lot of low tech solutions are very valuable and am always interested in those.The question may be which of the changes is most valuable to you monetarily or comfort-wise or will you be waiting until you are forced to do something eg if you can no longer get parts for your boiler - as happened to us.  A new condensing boiler is unfortunately unlikely to last as long.  I would really like there to be more buildings to visit and hear about where you can experience the changes that can be made to increase comfort and energy efficiency - without causing condensation and rotting of timbers. 

Philippa Bond ● 1653d

I am cynical and that's come from experience.I'm not proud of the fact that more often than not my cynicism is borne out.Nothing makes me more happy than to be completely wrong. I wish it was more often, but it isn't.

Raymond Havelock ● 1657d

You should read all of the link you posted, Theres more than I knew about there.So tried the eligibility. Even with a 22 year old boiler and no floor insulation and 30 year old lousy double glazing, did not qualify and the estimates they show are twice the estimates I have already got to make those changes.We still can't afford any of it, it won't come near payback even if we live to 87.

Raymond Havelock ● 1657d

Raymond is very cynical.  It seems that the problems that people are having is that they can't find enough registered Trustmarked companies to get the alternative quotations from.  It is worth looking at the comments on the Martin Lewis website.There have been problems in the past with cavity wall insulation.  Not everything is offered in this deal.  I presume they have been more careful.

Philippa Bond ● 1657d

Raymond is right. It's a charter for cowboys. Avoid like the plague.

David Marshall ● 1657d

These work out way more expensive than if you source it yourself.The contribution costs are very high and it can be done privately for far less.But most houses when assessed are to complex and don't qualify.A lot of concerns over the quality of work and of the products used as well.It's a bit of a con. Great idea but not properly executed.

Raymond Havelock ● 1657d