Energy
WHO ARE WE? We are a small group of group of people interested in helping people reduce the energy use of their homes and community buildings. Our main activity is raising awareness of how home-energy consumption can be reduced (see information below).
The main ways we are trying to achieve this are;
- leaflet distribution at key points in the community
- a regular stall at the Repair Café three times a year
- Green Homes-open days (usually autumn) and other community events.
We also have two thermal imaging cameras which can be borrowed to assess heat energy loss from your home.
A longer-term project that we are currently on the early stages of is community energy generation.
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HOW CAN WE HELP? We know that rising energy bills are a real worry for many people at the moment and we all need to use less energy. We can help!
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Easy Measures you can do today:
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draw your curtains at night
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turn lights off when not being used
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bleed your radiators
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optimise boiler and heating controls
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reduce boiler flow
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schedule heating on/off times
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turn heating thermostat down by one or two degrees Each degree will save roughly 10% on your heating bill.
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Identify drafts and leaks where you know cold air is getting in
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wash your lightly soiled laundry at 30 degrees (or the lowest temperature possible for the task)
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Know your numbers:
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check your energy bill
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display your smart meter in a prominent position - you will soon start turning off appliances when you see the £££s accumulating
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If you do not have a smart meter, get one.
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Medium Term Measures
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You can buy and fit yourself
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fit low energy (LED) lightbulbs
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Find and fix draughts from doors, windows and floors:
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draught excluders
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silicon sealants
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foam strips
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upgrade to double or tripe glazing
Thermostatic Radiator Valves: wireless valve (£35-£70), Mechanical valve (£15-£30)
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Roof and loft insulation
Installation costs are generally between £400 and £1,200 and the measure could last up to 42 years, meaning potential total savings of up to £11,340.
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Long Term Measures
Will require 3rd party to install
Photovoltaic/Solar Panels - install solar panels on your roof to save up to £580 per year. Installation costs are generally between £5,000 and £8,000 and the panels could last around 25 years, meaning potential lifetime savings of up to £14,500.
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Cavity Wall Insulation - installation costs are generally between £1,000 and £3,000 and the measure could last up to 42 years, meaning potential total savings of xx.
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Heat Pumps - replace your boiler with a heat pump with the help of a government grant. Note bigger radiators may be required.
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How Energy Efficient is Your House?
An EPC is a standard document used to assess the energy efficiently of a property, It provides an energy efficiently rating from A (most efficient) to G (lease efficient) and includes recommendations for the potential improvements. The assessment is typically based on factors like insulation, heating systems, and lighting.
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Evaluations by Professional Organisations
Invest in a comprehensive home retrofit assessment. a good retrofit assessor will spend a few hours surveying your home, talking to you about how you heat it and what priorities are. some organisations will build a baseline energy model and propose scenarios or stages to carry out the work and can support you with the detailed design or some of the elements and the suply chain.
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The information above contains general information and is not a substitute for specific advice. any cost savings are estimates only, based on information available to our volunteers. Please seek your own independent advice.
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Additional References
Advice
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Grants
Barclays (mortgage holders only)
Check your mortgage provider for info.
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Blogs
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If you would like to have a free home or business energy survey, done with a thermal camera, please let us know. This is a free service but we do appreciate donations.
If you need advice about insulation or renewable energy, then check out our friends at Manchester Carbon Co-Op here.
We have recently established an energy group - please contact us if you would like to find out more.
