Wall Insulation

Wall Insulation

There are 2 fundamental types of wall insulation, those being cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation, both of which we will cover in this article.

Although insulating your walls is a positive measure to reduce your energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) one of the biggest causes of climate change, the first place to insulate would and should be your loft space, and subsequently depending on budget, your walls, solid or cavity.

Remember heat will always flow from a warmer area to a cold one. In winter, the colder it is outside, the faster heat from your home will escape into the surrounding air, escaping heat is your winter energy bills. The better insulated your home is, the more efficient your energy usage will be in saving you money.

There are grants available for both loft Insulation and wall Insulation.

Approximately one third of your heat loss in an un-insulated home, is lost through the walls, which is a fact, yet with wall insulation of a cavity wall, this can save you up to around £110 per year on your fuel energy bills.

Cavity Wall Insulation

If your home is post 1920 onwards the chances are, that it will have external walls made up of a cavity or small gap between the inside layer and the external brickwork layer. By filling the cavity wall space with a porous material this immobilises the air within the cavity (air is still the actual insulator) preventing convection and can substantially reduce you heat loss.

Cavity wall insulation is a very quick and effective method of insulating your home and saving you money. Filling cavity walls is a professional job requiring specialist equipment for the purpose of installation by registered installers such as the National Insulation Association (NIA).

Free Wall Insulation Grants

Wall insulation, cavity and loft grants are available to completely cover the cost of cavity wall insulation and loft insulation for your home dependent upon your entitlement, although if you are not entitled to one of the full insulation grants, you can still receive a grant for up to 70% of the cost. Grants are available to private households where anyone is aged 70 and above, or anyone in receipt of certain benefits, tax credits or allowances. All other home owners and private tenants will still qualify for a partial grant.

These grants will not last for ever, with the current scheme extended through till 2012. It is estimated these grants will cease completely by 2015. Grant funding can also stop and start particularly on free schemes, so applying for grants now would appear to be the best advice for all.

Around 45% of the heat lost in an un-insulated solid walled home is through the walls. Insulating your solid walls can save you around £375 a year on your energy bills.

Cavity Brick Wall Insulation

Solid Wall Insulation

If your home was built prior to 1920, its external walls are likely to be solid rather than “cavity walls” and especially if you live in a rural community with stone walls, or a homebuilt in the Victorian era or earlier. In the UK 1 in 4 of our homes is of solid wall construction rather than cavity walls. Cavity walls are made of two layers, these being internal and external layers with a small gap or cavity between them. This cavity acts as a barrier to reduce heat flow through the solid wall.

Solid walls have no such gap incorporated when they are built and this allows more heat to pass through them, than through a cavity wall. Twice as much heat can be lost through an un-insulated solid wall as through an un-insulated cavity wall.

Any and all solid walls can be insulated from the inside or the outside.
Why Insulate you solid walls.

Solid wall insulation is an effective way to stop wasting energy and home, whilst at the same time reduce your impact on global warming. In winter a correctly insulated home keeps you warm and saves you money.

A solid wall, or walls can be insulated with internal insulation or external insulation . As with both options this can make your home warmer and more comfortable. By using wall insulation you could cut your heating costs by up to 40% simply by using less energy, although if you have draughty windows and doors this saving will not be achievable. Therefore you must look at your home as a complete entity when considering the types of insulation and where to start insulating your home.

Internal Solid Wall Insulation

The construction and installation of solid wall insulation usually takes the form of dry lining and or plastering. Other trades people may be required such as plumbers and electricians who will need to remove radiators and electrical sockets, therefore this is not usually to be attempted by the not so experienced DIY’er or handy man.

Remember any installation of dry lining within your home will reduce your room’s internal measurements on completion of the work. Any installers you approach to carry out work on your behalf ask them for;

Loft & Wall Insulation Loss

1 Certificates of competence in their respective fields of expertise.
2 Examples of previous work.
3 What products does the installer recommend insulating your walls with to achieve a good energy efficiency saving (this should be a U value of around 0.35W/m2K).
4 What measures will be undertaken to prevent condensation forming on your wall structure once it is insulated.

Should you be thinking of external wall insulation this will most definitely require a qualified and competent specialist installer, who is trained and approved by the system designers and manufactures.
I hope this article has been of some help to you ? If so please share.

To save money why not have your home wall insulation fitted.

Power Flushing Machine

Power Flushing

I will point out at the start of this article that I am a plumber and once having read this article and watched our video, that should you have any further Power Flushing questions do get in touch and we will try and answer them as best we can.

All central heating systems become clogged with sludge, small iron particles and the residues from soldering copper pipes during the installation process.  This sediment can over time block heating pipes, and thus reduce the efficient distribution of heat throughout your home. This may over time lead to higher fuel energy bills, whilst also reducing the life span of your heating system.

What is Power Flushing ?

Power Flushing is the process by which the removal of sludge, rust and other debri from a central heating system is removed using a purpose made Power Flushing machine, in conjunction with water and chemical based products to help break down the debri build ups within the heating system. The water and chemical mixture is then pumped around the system at high velocity, whilst also multi directional, to aggregate all the particle debri within the heating system prior to dumping this sludge water to an appropriate drainage point.

Power Flushing

Should your heating system show signs of any of the below, Power Flushing may help;

1 The system is slow to warm up?

2 Are some radiators completely or partially cold, with cold spots?

2 Do radiators need frequent bleeding?

3 Is the central heating water dirty and discoloured?

4 Radiators with pin holes perforations and or leakage?

5 Are there kittling noises from the boiler?

6 Do you have repeated pump failures?

7 Do you have repeated diverter valve failures?

Power Flushing Equipment

Any new heating system will start to corrode the moment it is first turned on. This is a result of the 2 primary metals found within a heating system, one being copper and the second being iron from the radiators. During the radiator manufacture lots of small iron filings are produced and remain lodged within the radiator upon installation in your home. When the two metals meet they start a process called electrolysis, this process with the constant flow of water passing through the system creates a black iron oxide/ magnetite, which will build up quickly restricting the flow of water passing through the central heating distribution pipework, putting more pressure on the heating pump, which ultimately will result in pump failure and may eventually result in a complete system breakdown all together. Black iron oxide/ magnetite, makes your boiler work harder, which in turn uses more fuel and increases global warming. The overall effect will cost you more money to run and maintain your heating system.

During the Power Flushing process a sludge removing chemical will be added to assist in removing any and all debri from the heating system.  On completion of the Power Flushing, and all radiators having been fully flushed by a competent trades person a central heating inhibitor is added. The heating inhibitor should be checked annually and will protect your heating system for life.

If you live in a hard water area I would advise the installation of a water softener on the cold water fill to your heating system after power flushing.

Power Flushing Chemicals

Blanket Loft Insulation

Grants For Loft Insulation

All homeowners / occupiers and private tenants are now eligible for grant funding of 50% – 100% towards the cost of loft insulation.

Grants for loft insulation, of around 50% and above, are available for all homeowners and private tenants no matter what your income and even 100% if you satisfy the eligibility criteria.

Where anyone is aged 70 and above Free grants are available.

Grants For Loft Insulation will not last forever and the current scheme was due to end in 2011, although a 1-year extension has been announced. It is estimated that all funding will cease by 2015. Grants available on free schemes can stop and start depending on funds availability.

Approximately 25% of the heat generated in a home is lost through the roof.  Loft insulation should be applied to reduce this loss of heat energy and save you money. Insulation should be applied to the loft area to a depth of 270mm, both between the joists and above the joist.

The existing depth of insulation installed restricts grants For Loft Insulation. Over 70’s should typically have 60mm (2.5 inches) or less to qualify for free loft insulation. If you are in receipt of benefits, the restrictions depend on the area and scheme. Partial grants require you to have 100mm (4inches) or less. All homeowners and private tenants will qualify for some assistance.

Free Grants For Loft Insulation

It is beneficial if nothing is stored in your loft area and the insulation covers the entire loft space and therefore saves you as much heat energy from escaping as possible.

Please note that, grants cannot be offered or claimed after you have insulation fitted or if you do the work yourself. An accredited insulation installer, who will offer the grant at the time, MUST carry out the installation.

The below list of criteria allows you to see if you are eligible for Free Grants For Loft Insulation. If you are NOT eligible for the Full 100% grant, you can still apply for a partial grant of 50 – 70% and under certain circumstances, more.

Free Grants For Loft Insulation

Do you receive;

1.      Attendance Allowance

2.      Child Tax Credit (annual income of £16,190 or less)

3.      Council Tax Credit (which must include a disability premium)

4.      Disability Living Allowance

5.      Disability Pension

6.      Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)

7.      Income Support (which must include a disability premium)

8.      Income based Job Seekers Allowance

9.      State Pension Credit

10.  War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance

11.  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)

12.  Working Family Tax Credit (annual income of £16,190 or less)

All grants are backed by the UK government and do not have to be repaid.

Is there a catch ? Absolutely not as Grants For Loft Insulation are provided as part of CERT (the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target). The 6 major utility companies British Gas, Eon, Npower, EDF Energy, Scottish and Southern and Scottish Power must reduce carbon emissions in domestic properties by paying for home insulation.

You can apply through your choice of insulation supply regardless of who supplies your home energy gas and electricity.

Grants For Loft Insulation will not last forever so now is the time to apply for your loft Insulation grants.

For more Energy Efficiency Advice

Save money now and apply for your Grants for loft insulation.

Wind Energy

Energy Efficiency is now becoming a must and there is now a consensus among scientists that climate change is real and that it poses an immense threat to the world we all live in. The changes of climate will impact us all and create such problems as we see in today’s news headlines, such as drought, famine, disease, flooding with regional insecurity and population displacement as we have recently seen in our newspapers and on television, in Cumbria 2009 and Australia 2011.

Here in the Uk we are currently responsible for the release of around 3% of the world’s global greenhouse gas emissions, whilst only having 1% of the world’s population.

To help lessen the effects of climate change, we must reduce the level of greenhouse gas emitted. This can be achieved by generating our energy needs from sources that emit low levels of greenhouse gases, such as renewable energy. We can also make sure that we all use energy as efficiently as possible.

Simply put Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, and all these renewable energy sources can be naturally replenished. Tapping into this natural flow of energy simply allows us to take advantage of the natural cycles of highs and lows within our world. Therefore this type of energy is truly renewable as it remains available to the same degree and is not depleted any more than it would be by using it and does not create added waste products.

The fact remains that all renewable energy sources, are the only truly sustainable energy production method, and therefore makes them clearly desirable to us all. The impetus for us all to adopt these products such as solar panels and the like has grown much stronger in recent years due to the increasing costs of our household utility bills. With energy bills set to rise into the future we will all have to look at ways to save on our energy usage.

While it is inevitable that we will need to embrace renewable energy more so in the future it will mean changing our lifestyles significantly as non-renewable sources such as heavy oil and natural gas diminish. Today oil and gas make up in excess of 50% of our supplies. Therefore we are likely to see our energy supplies coming from a greater variety of sources, whilst it is also likely to be far more costly to us all.

Therefore with the costs associated with energy going up all the time and with no realistic view that these costs will come down as we head into the future, renewable energy becomes an ever more popular option to home owners everywhere. Not withstanding the global impact we all contribute to global warming.

Legislation is already in place within the business communities so renewable energy use will become more widespread, with this legislation already placing targets for its use in certain developments.

Therefore with the possibility of future legislation from government, now maybe a great time to invest in renewable energy and save money, for your home or business.

Thermal Radiator Image Of Slug Build Up

When you are having a new A rated energy efficient boiler installed, or serviced, your qualified installer should also need to clean and flush your central heating system. It is a requirement of manufactures that a power flush is carried out on old heating systems that are being installed and connected to a new boiler. This is now a requirement under Part L of the building regulations when replacing an old boiler with a new A rated Energy Efficient condensing boiler. There are pluses and minuses to this but in our experience although the pluses out weigh the negatives.

Whilst cleaning the heating system a chemical may be required to help in the cleaning process to remove sludge from the system. In general day to day use the flow of water in a heating system is one direction and therefore deposits are left in the bottom sections of older radiators, whilst this can create cold spots over time within radiators. The use of power flushing creates multi directional flow, which changes during the process and agitates any and all debris within the heating system. Power flushing is the most thorough and effective way to cleanse an existing heating system, and hot water flushes are more effective at removing debris than cold flushing. The dirty water is then flushed to the nearest drain.

Radiator Sludge Deposits

What deposits might you find in a heating system ? Typically in the manufacture of radiators you will have iron filings, oil, grease, and sludge deposits. These deposits have a detrimental effect on the working parts of any boiler and heating system and can reduce the expected life span of any boiler. This can result in breakdowns such as heating pumps etc.

The method of flushing used can depend on your boiler installed, whether a new system install, a replacement boiler or an old existing system, as does the type of cleanser and inhibitor used.

With older radiators it is worth bearing in mind that they are like an old car that has been left in the rain constantly corroding and rusting away. Unlike a car which we may walk around and assess the corrosion, we do not have this luxury with radiators as we cannot look within them. Therefore everything is based on the installers experience. Therefore during power flushing pin holes can appear in old existing radiators and these radiators will require replacing.

Typical Power Flushing Machine

The power flushing process may also highlight any possible weak plumbing joints within the heating system. The entire process of power flushing can highlight areas of your existing heating system that may need updating or refurbishment. The over all positive results can extend the life expectancy of your new boiler and during the course of the boilers life create greater fuel efficiency.

On completion of flushing a chemical inhibitor which helps to reduce lime scale and any future corrosion should be added to the heating system on the completion of the new energy efficient boiler installation.

If your home is in a hard water area a water softener may be required to be fitted to protect the new boiler and heating system.

t is also a recommendation under part L of the Building Regulations that Thermostatic Radiator Valves are fitted to all bedroom radiators ( TRV’s ) Although this not a full requirement but I personally would advise doing this while the heating system is drained down.

Your installer should always check and stick to the manufactures instructions.

Radiator Thermal Image

A system may benefit from cleaning;

If a system is cold-spotting where the radiators do not provide uniform heat and feel cold to touch in places, although make sure the radiators are fully vented when you try this at home.

When the system pump can be heard labouring – this is due to the system pumping around a build up of sludge or lime scale. This could also result in blockages within the existing heating system.

Once the power flushing is complete the heating system has chemicals introduced to stop any further corrosion of the system. Stickers are placed on the boiler and dated to confirm the chemicals used.

Motorway Wind Turbine Lighting

The goal of becoming Energy efficient maybe the mother of invention so to speak and with the growing number of cars globally and many cities around the world lighting up the streets and highways this increases our energy usage.

With this increased carbon foot print becoming every more problematic solutions are now sort within this growing industry of renewable energy.

The basic idea is that a passing car or truck which is burning gas as it travels moves the turbine with the wind turbulence created and therefore the turbine moves and creates electrical energy to power the street lights.

This has been created by TAK Studio (United States of America) comes as one of the latest innovation in green roadways–the attractive Turbine Light and is showcased at the Greener Gadgets Design Competition.

These wind-powered lights would line up the streets and highways and illuminate when cars pass by them.  IF enough energy is generated by the passing cars, the lights will shine the path to your destination.  Problem is, and a big IF in this model.  There is the possible problem that this would promote faster driving?

It would make sense for something like this to be installed in windy cities that already generate enough energy for illumination. For all the rest, what about solar powered lights ?

The Turbine Light is an entrant in the Greener Gadgets Competition check out all the amazing entries. The Greener Gadget Conference took place in New York City on February 25th, 2010.

Principal Of Wind Turbine Lighting

So how do we bring wind power and the associated turbine producing equipment to the cities ?

This futuristic Highway Turbine was thought up by an Arizona University student.  The turbines are simply designed to pickup the air turbulence created by the passing  car and lorries which may be traveling at speeds up to 65 – 70 mph beneath the Highway Turbine.

It is estimated that each turbine could produce approximately 9.6 kwh of energy annually and that’s enough to light up a small apartment or help power the street lights on our motorways.

Good idea or not time will tell although I like it and maybe they should be painted green

Highway Wind Turbine Energy

Sears Or Willis Tower Chicago

With Energy Efficiency in mind Pioneering Pythagoras Solar Window are the first to market solar windows in an iconic Chicago skyscraper for energy efficiency, solar power generation and architectural flexibility.

Pythagoras solar announced that it has been chosen by Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, the tallest building in the western hemosphere, to collaborate on a pilot project to help deliver on the building’s renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement goals.

The initial pilot project, commenced in November last year on the south facing windows of the Willis Tower’s 56th floor, uses a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solution that has the potential to expand to a surface area allowing over two megawatts of solar power generation.

Willis Tower provides an example of how sustainable modernization endeavors are about more than reducing carbon emissions but also about re-investing in the local economy. Willis Tower is exploring innovative solutions that are directly re-investing in Chicago’s new green economy. In addition, this project will illustrate one possible best practice for how to decrease the impact of the built environment on climate change, for easy duplication in other similar structures.

“We are excited to launch this pilot with Pythagoras Solar’s leading-edge solar window solutions as a test for not only the energy savings that can be achieved, but the potential they represent to actually generate power through the sun,” said John Huston, Executive Vice President of American Landmark Properties, one of the ownership partners of Willis Tower.
“We are incredibly proud to be considered to contribute our part for the ‘greening’ of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the iconic Willis Tower,” said Gonen Fink, Co-founder and CEO Pythagoras Solar. “It is inspiring to see a team not waver in its dedication to making a true and lasting change through smart investments in the right solutions. With its combined benefits, our technology is set to provide Willis Tower with a valuable tool that will help move it toward its energy efficiency goals.”
Leveraging mass-scale solar power window installations has a direct impact on improving the energy efficiency and energy generation potential of a building’s exterior envelope and windows. Pythagoras Solar is the first company to offer a fully integrated photovoltaic glass unit (PVGU) that addresses the need for simultaneous benefits of energy efficiency and high power density, while also offering architectural design benefits to increase real estate value and advance Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZB).
About Pythagoras Solar
Founded in 2007, Pythagoras Solar is uniquely positioned at the intersection of energy efficient building materials and photovoltaics (PV). The company provides building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products that enable the architecture, engineering and construction sectors to design buildings with increased energy efficiency, renewable power generation and appealing aesthetics, thereby increasing real estate value. Pythagoras Solar will advance distributed power generation, help achieve Net Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) and have a lasting impact on green building and urban planning. Pythagoras Solar is a privately held company with operations in the United States, Israel and China. For more information on Pythagoras Solar and its ‘triple value’ BIPV, please visit www.pythagoras-solar.com.

Combination Gas Boiler

How To Fill A Combi Boiler

Energy Efficiency Advice will always stress that a correctly maintained and serviced boiler will work more efficiently and here is how to fill your combi boiler.

Watch the video here if you have ever struggled to fill your combination boiler or sealed system central heating boiler and thought that the plumber made it all look so easy ? Maybe the filling loop was fitted in some hard to get at place like under the sink and not even within eyesight of your boiler.

How maddening is all that when the plumber explains you have to fill up the boiler whilst at the same time concentrate on watching the little pressure gauge which is always the furthest point from where you are situated and you may even have your head beneath the kitchen sink.

Here is a video from our sister website Energy Efficiency Advice and hopefully this will help you now and in the future.

There are several fundamental requirements when filling your combi or sealed system boiler.

How To Fill A Combi Boiler

1. Done best with the central heating water cold you need to fill the boiler to approximately 1.2 bar pressure. If the filling loop is not in a near by proximity to the boiler, gradually fill the boiler with cold water and keep stopping to make sure you do not over fill the boiler.

2. Make sure that during the filling process you vent where required all radiators of air so the entire heating system is full of water.

3. Note if you are continuously filling your boiler on a day to day basis you may have a leak within the boiler or heating system.

4.Once the boiler pressure is back to 1.2 bar pressure you are good to go again and turn your heating on.

5. Remember it is normal for you to fill your sealed system heating or combination boiler every 4 to 6 weeks and in some cases longer time periods.

Enjoy the video from Energy Efficiency Advice.

How To Fill A Combi Boiler

I hope this video on how To Fill A Combi Boiler has been helpful to you?

Old Boiler Pilot Light Not Working

Do you need Energy Efficiency Advice on buying a new boiler?

The typical home central heating boiler accounts for around 60% of your average spend on household energy bills. A new A rated efficient boiler can make a big difference.

It does not matter if you are having a boiler installed for the first time or if you are having a replacement boiler, or even upgrading you’re old heating system. It does not make any difference if you are a Gas, Oil or LPG energy user as this article will be of interest to all.

On average if you change your old G rated boiler (for example an old gas fired back boiler) with a new high efficiency condensing boiler whilst at the same time improving your overall heating controls, you should significantly reduce your household energy bills – saving as much as £225 a year.

The current lifespan of a new modern A rated high efficiency condensing boiler is around 12 years. Fitting a new boiler and heating controls could save you a quarter of your heating bills.

If your current boiler is 15 years old or more then it is most likely to be a G rated boiler. To replace any old G rated boiler with a new efficient A rated condensing boiler will save you money although if your boiler is younger any savings will be less.

Large Floor Standing Boiler

Boiler Types.

There are 2 types of high efficiency condensing boiler; Combination (combi) and System or Open Vented.

Combination or Combi condensing boilers provide all your central heating requirements and the boiler is sized against the number of radiators/ under floor heating and the total heat requirement for the home. Whilst at the same time providing instant hot water without the need for a hot water storage cylinder.

System or Open Vented condensing boilers provide all your central heating requirements and the boiler is sized against the number or radiators/ under floor heating and the total heat requirements for your home. Although with this system type a hot water storage cylinder is required to store the required hot water.

Costs.

The cost for replacing an old boiler can vary house to house and also where in the UK you live and the availability of qualified professionals to fit the new boiler. The main variables to consider when considering the possible cost of a new boiler are, the existing type of heating system, the labour needed, whether the new boiler needs re-sitting in your home and how much remedial work is required.

Boiler Replacement Installation

As an average a new replacement gas fired boiler costs around £2,000 and these costs will vary from home to home and taking into account any geographical location. For an oil replacement boiler costs can be around £3,000.

As costs do vary considerable around the UK always get 3 quotes and if your friends and family can recommend a reputable installer this is a good first quote.

Installers.

Please remember to use a reputable and qualified installer who will be able to advise you best with a site visit to your home. Your home and life style can play a big part in the new energy efficient boiler recommended for your home and your personal needs.

Please sea below, a list of Competent Persons Scheme operators;

Gas Safe register

Electrical Contractors Association (ELECSA)

Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI although superseded by Gas Safe)

Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS)

Oil Firing Technical Association Limited (OFTEC)

National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)

National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers  (NAPIT)

Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA)

For more information please go to Energy Efficiency Advice