As you’d maybe expect, insulation goes back a fair few years. From Ancient Egyptians who used thick bricks to keep their homes cool in unforgiving heat, to Ancient Greeks and Romans who were the first to make use of cavity walls to keep their buildings both warm and cool; as knowledge and technology has developed, so has insulation.

That said, despite its early employment cavity wall insulation didn’t ‘take off’ around the world until relatively recent times because people used materials such as mud, cloth and as the Industrial Revolution hit its stride; asbestos. Of course, in the 1970s asbestos was proven to have a number of less than desirable qualities meaning that other insulation methods and materials were needed.

Types of Insulation

Insulation methods used now in UK and throughout the world are quite varied. Not all are particularly environmentally friendly or entirely energy efficient. At a most basic level cavity wall insulation is widely accepted as the best starting point and it is the material inserted into the cavity itself that provokes most disagreement. Options vary from the widely used glass fibre or rock wool to less common materials such as cellulose and polyurethane.

One material rapidly gaining in popularity is expanded polystyrene (or EPS for short). Used in the insulation of roofs, floors and walls, EPS is fast becoming a frequently chosen option for builders and planners due to a number of inherent positive characteristics. It’s easy to understand its popularity as the material is strong, offers good value, has high insulation values and excellent sustainability credentials.

The Future of Insulation

So, what’s next? Construction is at last starting to incorporate a scientific approach to development to see if cheaper and better materials and methods can be found that could revolutionise building in a similar way to recent car production advances. Relativley simple changes can have large effefcts and companies are starting to invest large amounts of money in new insulation concepts. One such example of a new forward thinking insulation technology is the Jablite Dynamic Cavity.

This technology uses dynamic air flow to recycle heat that would be lost to the air back inside a building and can lower energy use by up to 25%. Installation is simple and it can be fitted in existing cavity walls and designs making it easy to implement. In addition to saving homeowners money on their heating bills, the Dynamic Cavity has received A+ environmental accreditation in the BRE Green Guide meaning it’s environmental credentials are good too. Ultimately, making a home more energy efficient, however you do it, will help ensure there is a healthy planet for future generations to enjoy in centuries to come.

British Winters are cold and damp and this means we increasingly rely on central heating to keep us cosy. However central heating is expensive and not very green so what other ways can we remain warm and be a bit greener?

There are lots of alternative ways to heat your home however for some strange reason not many poeple know about them.

Infrared Heater

Inverter Heatpumps
These devices porvide air conditioning and heating so they work wonders in rooms which get really hot in summer too. They can produce savings of up to 70% on the costs of conventional heating systems. They do this primarily by transfering heat around rather than generating it from electricity or oil. However get expert advice before buying as the choice fo pump for your local climate is essential to get the systems to run effectivley and efficently. You can also get lots of different air filters for these units to remove dust and allergens from your home.

Reducing Damp
Wet air takes a great deal more energy to heat – the hotter the air the more water is attracted and the more expensive it is to heat your home. So a great partner to any heating system is a dehumidifying one. Small solar panels can be fitted to your home that heat air and push this hot dry air into your home and suck out the cold damp air. These systems work when you are not there so are great to keep holiday homes and rental properties air and damp free. They are really easy to fit and they do not even need and electrical connection.

Be A Better User
Every year I dread Christmas partly because we, as the youngest in our families, have to travel round everyone else’s house rather than host anything in our own. Living out of a case is not something I enjoy but even worse is being subjected to everyones central heating. It seems that we all feel the need to walk round in shorts and tshirts in deepest darkest Winter rather jeans, socks and jumpers. The quantity of energy needed to maintain these temperatures is very high – especially as most of the British piblic seem to want to heat every room in the house even the ones they never use. So the best, easiest and cheapest way to go green and reduce your heating bill is to turn the flaming thermostat down and put on another layer!

Reducing our carbon footprint and our fuel bills is high on the agenda for every home and business.  For businesses there is a wealth of information, often free, about how to reduce energy and acheive Energy Compliance. However there is less available for the home owner. So for those of you who want some simple tips – here are some measures you can do right now.

Save Energy

• Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £55 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
• Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
• If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
• Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).
• A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!
• Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £65 over its lifetime if you’re replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
• Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and we’ll give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £300 a year on your household energy bills.

Source: The Energy Saving Trust  http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk