The energy performance certificate is required by European law and rates the efficiency of the property.

The EPC rates the home for energy efficiency from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient).

The average rating in the UK is D but potential buyer and tenants have been advised to look for homes rated C and above.

This encourages home owners wishing to sell or rent their property to invest in energy effecient measures such as insualation.

Installing both Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation can save around £265 per year on energy bills, paying for itself in less than two years and reducing carbon emmissions dramactically.

(Source: NIA)

Over 40% of CO2 emissions in the UK come directly from what individuals do, i.e using electricity, heating homes.

The great thing about reducing your carbon footprint is that simple changes make a big difference:

• Turning off lights
• Switching appliances off at the mains
• Turning your thermostat down by one degree

This not only reduces your carbon footprint but will reduce your fuel bills too!

If every home can install 270mm of loft insulation it would save £3.8 million tones of CO2, that’s the same as the annual emissions for around 650,000 homes

As much as a third of the heat you pay for could be escaping through your roof. Most loft insulation materials work by preventing the movement of heated air through the material. The Government says that you cut your energy bill by up to 20% through effectively insulating your loft.

Everyone can make a difference by taking action today!

Boroscoping a cavity wall

Not many estate agents or private landlords are aware, but you can claim up to £1500 per property to improve the loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation completely free of charge to all of your properties.

How does it work?
There is currently grant funding available for all properties to have their loft and cavity wall insulation done*. A fixed contribution of between £149 and £199 is applicable to each property. However the entire fixed contribution can be claimed back through the landlords self assessment.

You can read further details at the Direct Government Website

We are offering all landlords and estate agents free, no obligation surveys to assess if any of their properties qualify for free loft and cavity wall insulation.

To arrange an appointment, contact Alex on 0800 378 274 or alternatively visit www.karnheathltd.com

*Terms and Conditions Apply: Current loft insulation needs to be 4” or less and there must be an unfilled cavity in the property. Properties built prior to 1920’s are unlikely to have a cavity wall.

Happy Loft Insulation Customer

Karnheath Ltd like to check with their customers from time to time what they thought of upgrading their home with energy saving measures like loft and cavity wall insulation.
Dave Mastaglio from Camperdown in Newcastle upon Tyne spared a few minutes to tell us what he thought.

Karnheath:
Why did you first enquire into loft and cavity wall insulation?
Dave:
After spending 5 freezing winters without insulation, I found out you could get grants, so I called Karnheath Ltd to find out more.
Karnheath:
Did you wait long for a surveyor to call to check the current insulation you had?
Dave:
Nope, the survey was pretty much done the next day.
Karnheath:
Which insulation measure did you opt for?
Dave:
Loft insulation, I would have liked to have had the cavity walls done but unfortunately I live in a solid wall property.
Karnheath:
Were you eligible for a grant for the work?
Dave:
Apparently my energy supplier was eligible to pay most of the costs despite not receiving any benefits.
Karnheath:
How soon was the work booked in from survey?
Dave:
The next week I think
Karnheath:
Was there any issues with regards to getting the work done?
Dave:
Nope, none
Karnheath:
Have you noticed a considerable difference in your home with regards to retaining heat or anything else?
Dave:
Well I’ve not been cold this year!
Karnheath:
Would you recommend loft or cavity wall insulation to others?
Dave:
Definitely

Save Money - Save Energy

Did you know that the current building regulation for loft insulation is 270mm of quilt? That’s 11inches of insulation to bring your home up to date.

Most homes, that haven’t been insulated in over 10 years will have the incorrect amount of loft insulation. If you have 4 inches or less currently in your loft (i.e. below the joists) you can qualify for a 50-70% grant to have it topped up, helping you keep your home warm as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

For more information or to book a FREE survey, call freephone 0800 378 274 now.

Salix Finance

The Government along with the Carbon Trust and Salix Finance still have approximately £20 million pounds of interest free loans available to public sector organisations to take advantage of energy efficiency technologies such as building insulation.

The scheme is running until the 31^st December, 2009 and is supporting public sector organisations reduce their energy bills as well as their carbon emissions output.

Minimum loan applications are £5000 with no upper limit, provided the project can be complete within 9 months. Loans will be repayable from the beginning of March 2011 over 4 years in 8 equal instalments.

Public sector organisations that have already taken advantage of this scheme include Universities, Local Authorities and the NHS Trust.

For further information or to apply for an interest free loan, please visit http://www.salixfinance.co.uk/loans.html or contact a member of staff at Karnheath on 0800 378274.

BBC Radio Four

BBC Radio Four aired a programme yesterday discussing the Governments CERT programme to reduce carbon emissions. Neil Marshall from the National Insulation Association reiterated that more insulation work must be done underneath the CERT programme in order to achieve government targets of 6 million homes by 2011. To listen to the programme in full visit the BBC Radio Four Website

Instafibre Consortium

Karnheath’s insulation manufacturer Instafibre have launched a new video presented by well known journalist and broadcaster John Craven (OBE). This video demonstrates the benefits of insulating your cavity walls helping reduce your energy bills as well as reducing the CO2 emissions from your home that contribute to global warming.