Energy-saving home improvements

Home insulation

If your home is not insulated properly, you might qualify for a grant to help you keep your property warm. See grants for home upgrades for more information.

There are some simple ways you can stop draughts coming into your home.

1. Fit a brush or PVC seal to front and back doors, and seal windows (but leave some ventilation if you have an open or gas fire or a boiler with a flue)
2. Use brush seals or spring flaps to draught proof letter boxes, and block keyholes with cover plates
3. Fit a heavy curtain over the front door
4. Make sure your curtains do not cover your radiators
5. Fill gaps under skirting boards with newspaper, beading or sealant and put rugs over bare floorboards

Energy and heat systems

There are many ways to heat your home and the best option for you will depend on your individual circumstances and your property.

Solar panels

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells which convert solar energy from the sun into electricity for your home. When your solar PV array is generating electricity but there is no use for it at that time, this excess electricity can either be sold to the electricity grid or stored (using a battery or hot water tank) for your own use later. Solar panels can even generate electricity on a cloudy day and are a very effective way to make your home more environmentally friendly because the energy generated is carbon-free.

Increasingly, because of an improvement in technology and fall in cost, people install batteries alongside their solar PV. Batteries have the effect of saving the electricity generated by the panels which would otherwise be exported to the grid; allowing it to be used at times when the sun isn’t shining. Batteries also allow, for households on multi-rate tariff electricity, to store power at night at cheap rates and off-set more expensive daytime rates.

If your property has an energy-efficiency rating of E, F or G, you might be eligible for funding for solar panels. Read more about grants for home upgrades.

If you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels, consider using Solar Together’s group-buying scheme to get the best available deals for installation. Solar Together opens for applications in various stages throughout the year.