Updated: Jul 27, 2022
As property owners, our homes serve many different purposes. They are the spaces in which we unwind, relax and spend quality time with friends and loved ones. What’s more, they act as places of comfort, providing an environment in which you can take time for yourself and, when necessary, block out the world for a little while.
However, all of these pleasures are dependent on your home being comfortable and liveable throughout the year. Everyone deserves a home that keeps them warm, safe, and doesn’t cost them a fortune to heat.
With the cost of living continuously increasing, affording basic amenities can make a real dent in your wallet. What’s more, many traditional methods of regulating your home’s temperature are not only ineffective but also damaging to the environment.
Fortunately, with the help of the right energy company, there are a multitude of ways that homeowners can decrease their spending, and increase the efficiency of their homes.
Here is UK Energy Management’s guide to the many ways an experienced energy company can help.
Applying For Eco Heating Grants
Firstly, when it comes to improving the heating and efficiency of a home, the initial thought in most people’s minds is the cost. Home upgrades can be expensive, and this is enough to put anyone off.
However, with the help of an energy company, individuals with lower incomes or state benefits are able to apply for an energy grant, such as the ECO4 scheme currently run by the UK government. This scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, reducing their carbon footprints while combating fuel poverty.
Under the ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation) scheme, homeowners are able to apply for government-backed home upgrades such as cavity wall and loft insulation as well as electric heaters and air source heat pumps.
A trusted energy company will be able to assist you in every stage of the ECO4 process, from your initial application and eligibility assessment to the installation.
Grants For Boilers & Electric Heating
As mentioned above, under the terms of the ECO4 scheme, certain UK homes are eligible for energy upgrades. The grant encompasses a range of efficiency improvements, from free electric heaters to boiler installation and loft insulation.
If you meet the criteria of the grant, an energy company will be able to carry out a survey and set an installation date.
The qualifying benefits of the new ECO4 grant are as follows:
– Child Tax Credits (CTC)
– Jobseekers Allowance (income-based)
– Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
– Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
– Universal Credit
– Child Benefit (depending on household income)
– Working Tax Credit
– Housing Benefit
– Pension Credit Saving Credit
Regarding eligibility, the criteria can be confusing. Another benefit of a trusted energy company is that they can walk you through the application process, providing expert knowledge of the scheme and making it a simple process for you.
Electric Heating
Moreover, another way in which an energy company will be able to help you is in the installation of electric heating. Swapping your old, inefficient heating system for a new super-energy-efficient electric storage heater. Compared to traditional electric radiators and storage heaters, newer heating technology is far more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
What’s more, with the help of UK Energy Management, you could get new high heat retention electric storage heaters installed in your home for free!
Cavity Wall Insulation
In the modern world, we are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that our consumption of fossil fuels is having on the environment. Climate change is, and should be, at the forefront of the global discussion, with governments attempting to reduce the impact their own countries have.
One means of doing this from the perspective of a homeowner is to improve the energy efficiency of your home by installing cavity wall insulation.
Essentially, cavity wall insulation involves the placement of insulating material between the two sections of our home’s outer wall. Many houses will already have cavity wall insulation, however, some older homes, such as those built before 1982, may not. If this is the case, your heating system will be working constantly to keep your home warm due to the amount of heat escaping.
Luckily, a good energy company will be able to provide extraction and installation services, improving the energy efficiency of your property and reducing the cost of heating for you. What’s more, this could all be paid for by the UK government’s ECO4 scheme.
Loft Insulation
Many people forget to consider the impact that attic spaces and lofts have on the energy efficiency and cost of their homes. However, as energy prices soar, it is important to know that another helpful service provided by energy companies is loft insulation upgrades and installation.
By taking advantage of the loft insulation installed free of charge under the ECO4 scheme, homeowners can make their properties far more cost-effective to heat; less heat is lost through the attic and extremities of the building, meaning less power is needed to keep the building at a comfortable temperature.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Another service provided by energy companies and a tested means of maximising your home’s efficiency is the installation of an air source heat pump. Put simply, an air source heat pump world by drawing heat from the air outside, and condensing it. This is then fed into pipes within a house, such as radiators and underfloor heating.
Owing to their simplistic design, air source heat pumps are typically much more cost-effective than a traditional boiler or heating system. Additionally, they produce far fewer carbon emissions and require minimal maintenance.
With the help of a certified energy company such as UK Energy Management, every stage of the installation process is simple. From the acquisition of funding to the fitting of the system, professional service is essential.
Ventilation
In addition to the multitude of ways that energy companies can help homeowners efficiently heat their properties and tackle the rocketing cost of fuel, they can also ensure that a living space is properly ventilated to maximise hygiene and minimise the development of problems such as mould, condensation and dampness.
Through the installation of an Air-Box® air valve system, an energy company will be able to ensure your home is properly ventilated, with adequate airflow. Moreover, the installation of an Air-Box® ventilation system also works to minimise heat loss, keeping heat in for 10 times longer than open windows.
Solar Panels
Finally, one of the best ways to improve the efficiency of your home whilst reducing your carbon footprint is the installation of solar panels. Harnessing solar power at your property can work to offset the rising prices of heating and electricity, producing energy for your home free of charge, even on cloudy days.
Solar panels are included as an additional measure in the ECO4 scheme. This means that as of April 2022, you could be eligible for solar installation free of charge! With the help of UK Energy Management, homeowners can find out if they are eligible for government funding quickly and easily.
UK Energy Management: Boiler Installation, Eco Funding & More
With the help of an energy company, there are a huge number of ways that you can save on bills, improve your home’s efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. Not only can a trusted energy company such as UK Energy Management assist you in the application process for government schemes such as the ECO4 grant, but they will also assist you every step of the way, right up to the final installation.
Here at UK Energy Management, we believe that everyone has the right to a warm, comfortable home. It is our goal to actively tackle fuel poverty and help to improve the quality of living up and down the country.
Our team is committed to helping our customers save money, reduce their home’s carbon footprint and improve their energy efficiency. If you think you may be eligible for energy upgrades under the ECO4 scheme, or would just like to ask us a few more questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Call us now on 0191 466 1185 or send an email to info@ukem.co.uk.
