The recession is leading to a surge in demand for products that help householders reduce their heating bills and make homes less draughty, according to one of the UK’s leading eco-retailers.
Nigel Berman, founder of www.nigelsecostore.com , says a smart gadget which helps radiators work more efficiently is the company’s best seller.
He said: “Radiator boosters use a small fan to capture heat lost out of the back of the radiator, circulating it better into the room, and can reduce room heating time and bills by up to 10% - all for a running cost of about 30p a year. They are adjustable, have a built in thermostat and could save an average household from £70 to £140 per year. Products like letter-box eco flaps are also selling well.
“We've found that an increasing number of people are thinking about energy saving and how they can reduce household bills, by investing in innovative products. The added bonus is that these products also have a positive benefit on the environment and cut back on waste.”
As the cold weather sets in, here are four tips from Nigel that will help people stay warmer this winter and reduce their carbon footprint:
1. Insulate, insulate, insulate - even if your heating is super efficient, if heat is leaking out of your house the heating won't work as well as it should and you'll be wasting loads of money. Approximately 25 per cent of heat in a typical home is lost through the roof - so ensure your loft insulation meets latest standards ie 27cm thick, replacing the old standard of 5cm thick, which is what many people have.
Also, about 10 per cent of your heat is lost through windows. If you haven't got double glazing and can't afford it, use window insulation film which you stick over the windows. It's cheap and does work!
2. Stop draughts - about 15 per cent of heat is lost through ventilation and draughts.
A letterbox ecoflap will stop draughts through your letterbox.
Door draft excluders which slide under your internal doors can also stop draughts and keep warm air in your living areas. They are easy to fit without any screws or drilling and just slide under the door. They work with all current door sizes.
Stop cold draughts coming down the chimney with a chimney pillow, also known as a chimney balloon. It is a simple, cost-effective way to stop chimney draughts, reduce noise and heat loss. Easy to install and remove, a chimney pillow is an inflatable bag made from a special laminate that makes them airtight, tear-resistant and long-lasting. They have been specially designed to stop cold draughts, and to be easily positioned, while allowing a little ventilation up the chimney. They are completely safe and shrivel up if heated by accident.
3. Give your radiators some TLC
Air in your radiators can reduce radiator heat and efficiency, so make sure your rads are bled regularly. An automatic radiator bleeder is easy to fit and means you'll never have to think about it again.
Your radiators can be helped with a radiator booster, or radiator reflector panels. Fitting radiator reflectors stops heat being wasted on heating the wall, and they help circulate hot air better into the room - so your rooms will heat up quicker, and you can turn the thermostat down. Each degree turned down can save 10 per cent on your bills.
4. Lower your thermostat
Wear woolly jumpers! Wearing an extra layer means you can turn the heating down. Lowering your thermostat by just 1C can save up to 10% on heating bills and reduce the greenhouse gases your household produces by up to a tonne.
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