The best home improvements which could save you HUNDREDS as £5000 energy voucher scheme announced
FROM futuristic smart lighting to bill-slashing insulation, there are dozens of amazing home improvements up for grabs that could save your household thousands under the government's new energy voucher scheme.
Hundreds of thousands of British homeowners are set to receive vouchers to help toward energy-saving home improvements in a scheme announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday - and now we are bringing you the best ways to spend that dosh.
The chancellor said the scheme could save you a whopping £300 a year on your energy bills.
The vouchers will be worth up to £5,000 per household and up to £10,000 for the poorest households. They will fund two thirds of work done. For example, a household getting £6,000 worth of energy improvement work done could get a voucher for £4,000.
A full list of home renovation options covered by the scheme will go live in September - but there are loads of ideas to think about before then.
Smart lighting
According to , futuristic smart lighting is top of Brits' list of eco-friendly home improvements.
Clever smart lights are linked to an app on your phone or tablet, eliminating the need for wall switches.
What's more, this clever piece of tech means you'll never accidentally leave the lights on all day ever again.
Leaving the lights on can add up to a staggering £280 a year - enough for return flights to a far off destination - so smart lights are a change worth making.
Eco-friendly appliances
Also high on British homeowners' list of eco-friendly home improvements was eco-friendly appliances.
You can now nab a whole host of eco-friendly appliances for the home, from fridges to kettles, vacuum cleaners to televisions.
Fridges are responsible for a staggering 17 per cent of ALL domestic energy consumption in Britain - so installing an eco-friendly version is good for the environment AND your bank account.
simply by opting for a more energy efficient fridge freezer.
Meanwhile, switching from a dishwasher with a low energy rating to a better one can save £47 a year.
Solar panels
The look of solar panels might not be to everyone's taste, but we could be seeing a lot more of these eco-friendly energy producers in coming years.
Solar panels are still quite a pricey investment, but the cost is now 60% cheaper than they were 10 years ago.
In 2020 solar panels cost around £6,000 – £7,000 for the average sized residential home.
Installing solar panels means you'll rely much less on your energy supplier while adding thousands of pounds in value to your home.
Insulation
A properly insulated house is a MUST for homeowners looking to make big savings on their energy bills.
Semi-detached houses lose around 35% of their heat through the walls and 25% through the loft, according to .
Semi-detached or end-of-terrace homeowners could install cavity wall and floor insulation for about £4,000. They would pay £1,320 while the government would contribute £2,680 under the new government scheme.
Your heating bill would be considerably lower in a properly insulated home. more than £355 a year from adding wall cavity, loft and floor insulation.
It's been confirmed that loft, wall and door insulation will be covered by the government scheme.
Green boilers
Items like electric combi boilers will be up for grabs at slashed prices under the government's new initiative.
These gadgets don't release any gas into the atmosphere, meaning they're a far more eco-friendly alternative to older models.
These generally cost between £1,500 - £4,500 - but the government is promising to cover two-thirds of the cost.
New eco-friendly boilers tend to be more energy efficient, which means they use less fuel for the same amount of work. Replacing your boiler with an A-rated model c in a semi-detached and £570 in a detached property.
Look for green boilers with an energy rating of 90% for the best investment - you'll make significant savings on energy bills in the long run.
Double and triple-glazing
Findings show 18% of heat loss occurs through windows.
Investing in double or triple glazing is a key way to make huge savings in the long run. However, seven per cent of houses in the UK still don't have double-glazed windows.
Households looking to make the biggest savings long term should make sure they have A-rated double glazed windows. Upgrading to A-rated windows can save semi-detatched homeowners up to £110 a year, mid terrace homeowners £85 and detached homeowners £155.
Low-energy lighting
Getting your home kitted out with low-energy lighting is a two-step method.
First, you'll need to look into whether your light fittings are eco-friendly - low-energy light fittings use low energy bulbs, which use less electricity than standard fittings.
Obviously, the next step is to pick a low-energy bulb.
The less electricity you use, the lower your bills will be, making low-energy lighting an essential addition to any modern home.
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Energy-efficient doors
Is your home draught-proof?
Installing energy-efficient doors is a clever way to eliminated draughts from allowing too much cold air in and warm air out in the winter and vice versa in the summer months.
Modern exterior doors are a lot better designed to fit and insulate your house than older ones, making them an excellent investment.
Installing energy-efficient doors could save you between £25 and £50 a year by lessening the chill and stopping your household from cranking up the thermostat too often in winter.
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