Practical and affordable home renovation can be a highly effective way to combat global warming.
That's the message from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which has launched a 'green mission to help people understand more about energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of their home.
The good news, says the FMB, is that most measures people can take are cheap.
Top comes insulation - for the roof, walls and floor. Increasing loft insulation costs just a few hundred pounds and can pay for itself in less than a year. Cavity wall insulation can reduce heating bills by up to a third, with a payback time of around 3 years. Insulating the floor costs less than £200 and pays for itself in around 4 years. Added together, for a typical 3 bedroom home, these measures can cut CO2 emissions by more than 2 tonnes and reduce energy bills by around £250 every year.
"Our message is 'insulate before you generate'," said Brian Berry, the FMB's Director of External Affairs. "It's not just new-build 'eco' homes that can be green; for a small investment efficiency improvements can be easily added to any building."
As well as insulation, the FMB suggests homeowners consider replacing ageing boilers - the latest models reduce gas consumption by more than a third - and fitting double glazing, which halves heat loss through windows.
All of these improvements have a faster payback time than micro-generation schemes, such as solar panels and wind turbines. For example, solar water heating typically costs £3,000-5,000, saves £40 annually and reduces CO2 by 350kg. A badly insulated home will quickly lose any energy created, so the FMB's advice is to insulate first.
Further detail on this energy saving advice is provided in the new "green" issue of the FMB's Essential Guide to Home Improvement.
