Insulation the 'most important' energy saving step

Landlords in England, Wales and overseas hoping to increase the energy efficiency of their homes in order to reduce costs in the long run have been advised that improving insulation and installing a new boiler are two of the most effective ways in which this can be achieved.

Sam Turnbull, co-founder of DownwithCO2.co.uk, revealed these measures had been found to be both successful and simple.

"Evidence shows that insulating the loft and insulating cavity walls are important and easy steps to take," he explained.

"On top of that there is improving your boiler. It is one of the most important users of energy in the house. These options may not be as trendy as putting a wind turbine on your house but they do have the most impact."

Ensuring a home is properly insulated is also relatively cheap - and even free for those on benefits.

Mr Turnbull also recommended that landlords replace their existing light bulbs with energy-saving alternatives - especially as the latter are coming down in price.

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Energy-saving lightbulbs branded a health hazard

NEW energy-efficient lightbulbs could pose a threat to the elderly and to people with less-than-perfect eyesight, it was claimed yesterday.

The Labour peer Baroness Hollis of Heigham told the House of Lords the bulbs took much longer than standard ones to light up fully and were potentially dangerous on stairs and landings.

Lord Rooker, the environment minister, agreed there was a problem and called on manufacturers to rectify it.

However, he said technology had improved the performance of energy-saving bulbs.

"Things are improving," he said. "If the bulbs carry the energy-saving recommended logo, they will reach at least 60 per cent of their brightness in 60 seconds."

However, he admitted: "There are sometimes rooms that have no windows, such as bathrooms and cupboards, where one needs to have the light on straightaway. This is a matter that has got to be dealt with by the industry."

The minister said the number of energy-efficient lightbulbs in British homes had risen from 26 million in 2000 to 110 million last year.

And he said it was intended that Britain should lead Europe in the usage of more efficient and greener lightbulbs.

"We are working with energy suppliers, the Energy Saving Trust, retailers and manufacturers to phase out inefficient light bulbs in the UK, ahead of our European partners," Lord Rooker said
RAYMOND HAINEY
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Shocks kill three fixing insulation

Homeowners considering installing their under floor thermal insulation should heed warnings that they risk electrical shock and electrocution if they don't take appropriate precautions.

Three people have died this year stapling under floor insulation material into power cables.

Their deaths follow a similar fatality in 2005.

The practice of installing under floor insulation has become widespread among homeowners since the Government began promoting ways of making homes more energy-efficient.

And while people may know they must turn the power off while installing the insulation, they can still unwittingly create a death trap when they switch the power back on.

Evidence at a coroner's inquest in Huntly last month showed that entire sheets of newly-installed aluminium foil beneath homes could become electrified once jobs were complete, creating a death trap for anyone who went underneath the house.

Coroner Bob McDermott criticised the Government's lack of warnings over do-it-yourself insulation, asking why safety and awareness campaigns were not launched alongside those to promote energy efficiency.

Since the deaths, Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven has issued a warning advising homeowners of the dangers.

"As with any electrical work being carried out, whether in the home or at work, it is essential that any potential hazards or risks are identified and eliminated," he says.

"A cable that has been damaged by a staple can still make the aluminium foil live when the power is turned on and create the same electric shock hazard.

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Low energy LED bulbs to last 100 years

The lighting industry is working on a 'third generation' of energy-efficient light bulbs that are designed to last a lifetime.
Already in use outdoors and in some shops and galleries, the environment friendly light-emitting diode bulbs that can go without replacement for up to 100 years will be in most new homes by 2011.
According to Keven Verdun, chief executive of The Lighting Association, the LEDs will be the ultimate low-energy bulb and will become the norm.

'By 2011, all conventional bulbs will have disappeared,' he said. 'Most people will have energy-efficient bulbs known as compact fluorescent lamps.

'But CFLs are only an interim solution. The ultimate are the LEDs and they will become standard lights for most homes.'

LEDs are used mainly outdoors or in shops, but they are not common in homes because at more than £4 each, they are not economic.

The Queen has become the most public figure to use the high-tech bulbs. Since last October, the front of Buckingham Palace has been lit from dusk with 59 LED fittings. And the paintings in its picture gallery are illuminated by LEDs, which have the advantage over other lights of not emitting heat.

Though LEDs last a lifetime, the industry does not believe it is working itself out of existence. Verdun said: 'You expect a house to last a lifetime, so why not bulbs?'

The good, bad and the LED

1. Incandescent bulb (normal light bulb). Costs from 20p for a 60-watt version, lasts up to a year.
2. Compact fluorescent bulb (low-energy bulb). Costs from £1-68 for a 60-watt bulb. Lasts six to 15 years.
3. LED bulb, already used in shops and outdoors. Costs from £4.55. Lasts from 15 to 100 years.

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