Insulation – combating the misery of energy price rises

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Insulation – combating the misery of energy price rises
Five out of six energy suppliers have now confirmed significant price increases for both gas and electricity. Percentage rises have been reported to be as much as 17% in some areas, so there is no better time than the present to find ways of reducing those ever increasing bills. There is one measure that can be taken by the majority of households that will certainly alleviate the pressure of continued fuel price rises; the installation of effective insulation such as solid and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and loft and roof insulation. The National Insulation Association (NIA) urges householders to look into having insulation installed without delay. The physical measure of insulating the house correctly is a one-off exercise which once done can be forgotten about, with lower fuel bills enjoyed immediately - not to mention the positive effect it will have on one’s carbon footprint. Too often this obvious step is forgotten, especially by the media who highlight to the public methods such as wrapping up warm, turning the thermostat down a degree or two, or even boiling less water in a kettle. These behavioural measures can be short-lived and their effectiveness soon wears off whereas the effectiveness and benefits of installing insulation is a permanent solution. In addition, some people shy away from insulation not realising how cost-effective this can be, often paying for itself within a few years. What’s more there are many grants currently available to householders which can greatly subsidise the cost of insulation and in some cases it can be provided FREE of charge. For further advice on the benefits of insulation and to find your nearest approved installer contact the NIA. The Association has a full body of bonafide members covering the United Kingdom all of which are bound by their strict Code of Professional Practice. This ensures that the work will be carried out safely and professionally using only approved and accredited products. Members of the public should visit the NIA website as their first step to reduce energy bills and enjoy a warmer home: www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk

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2 Vimy Court • Vimy Road • Leighton Buzzard • Beds • LU7 1FG Telephone: 01525 383313 • Fax: 01525 854918 Email: info@nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk • Website: www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk

7304 Media Sheet Insulation – combating the misery of energy price rises 1

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NOTES TO EDITORS The National Insulation Association represents over 95% of the UK’s home insulation industry,
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including installers and manufacturers. The NIA and its members are committed to providing a high quality, value for money service to householders, housing managers and developers. The NIA are here to help you with expert opinions and comments on any matter that concerns the insulation of homes and businesses. For further information and images call Helen at the NIA press office on 01327 701 702 or email NIA@evolution-pr.co.uk. All NIA installers carry out work which meets the stringent standards of the British Board of Ágrement, and all of our members abide by our Code of Professional Practice. Work is covered by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency’s (CIGA) independent 25-year guarantee. • More than 40% of all the heat lost in a home is through the walls or loft space. • Cavity Wall Insulation is the most cost-effective way of improving comfort levels and reducing energy use in the home. Average savings of around £90 per year can be made on a typical home’s energy bills. The installation is clean, safe and only takes a couple of hours. It’s estimated that over 9 million UK homes have cavity walls which have not been insulated. Collectively, they are wasting around £950 million every year through the energy being lost through their walls. This still leaves • Roughly one in three British households which could have their comfort levels increased and their fuel bills reduced. • Increasing the thickness of existing loft insulation in the 13 million homes with 100mm or less of loft insulation to thicknesses required for modern new dwellings (270mm) would reduce each of their individual energy costs by around 25%. • In 2003, space heating accounted for around 53% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. Over 40% of the Government’s projected carbon savings for the household sector are expected to come from insulation. • This corresponds to around 200MtC over the lifetime of the measures, nearly 15% of the annual household emissions. To find a local NIA approved installer in your area, access information on the benefits of insulation or find details of grants available please visit our website :www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk The biggest carbon challenge in the UK is to significantly tackle the real “energy wasters”, the existing housing stock.

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N A T I O N A L I N S U L A T I O N A S S O C I A T I O N

2 Vimy Court • Vimy Road • Leighton Buzzard • Beds • LU7 1FG Telephone: 01525 383313 • Fax: 01525 854918 Email: info@nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk • Website: www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk

7304 Media Sheet Insulation – combating the misery of energy price rises 2

17/3/08 09:33:09