Making your home more energy efficient....

 Insulate the loft and walls –
Nearly 50% of heat loss in a typical home is through the loft and walls. Loft installation is pretty easy and you could probably do it yourself. Although it is one of the most important things you can do, insulating the loft is relatively inexpensive. A standard 270mm layer could save as much as £220 a year on fuel bills, a real selling point for buyers.

You should also consider installing cavity wall insulation. It is quick and also quite cheap. Performed from the outside, it takes around 3 hours for an average house and can save up to £160 on heating costs.

Covering the outdoor or indoor walls surface in insulating material can also save up to £350 a year.

Install double glazing -
Buyers can be put off by single glazing and installing double glazing is a sound investment, adding value, reducing noise and lowering energy bills by as much as £100 a year. They can even be made to fit traditional sash windows.

Fit a condensing boiler -
If your boiler was fitted more than 15 years ago then it is probably time for a replacement and a condensing boiler should be your preferred option. They waste the least amount of energy by converting around 90% of the fuel they use into heat, compared to 78% for older boilers.

Installing heating controls -
By adding timer switches for heating and hot water, room and cylinder thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves, will improve the efficiency of the heating system even more. It can cut running costs by as much as £130 a year and ensure the room is kept at a comfortable level.

Hot water tank insulation -
Modern tanks come with insulation attached but older ones may not be insulated. A lagging jacket for your cylinder costs as little as £10 and can be fitted by yourself, but cuts heat loss by about 75%. You should also insulate exposed pipes and draught proof floors, windows and doors.