Warmer homes lead to lower heating bills, healthier living conditions and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Ensuring our homes run efficiently gives the following benefits:
- Lower heating bills
- Thermal comfort
- Reduces damp and mould
- Healthier living conditions
- Lengthens the life of buildings
- Helps tackle climate change
Creating warmer homes
Many of the UK’s older buildings are poorly insulated or have no insulation because there was no requirement to fit any insulation until 1965. Simple low cost measures include
- Fitting draught excluder to window & door frames
- Adjust radiators so living room is warmer & others are cooler
- Reduce central heating temperature for longer
- Change to greener energy supplier
- Landlords upgrade at tenants request
Advice & Schemes Available
- Winter Watch is run by Reading Borough Council and a number of number of local voluntary and health services to make sure you do not suffer from cold in your home during the winter months. Winter Watch is available to Reading residents who are on a low income and either over 60, have very young children, have a disability or health concerns, have never lived independently, or struggle financially. For more information go to: Winter Watch
- Citizens Advice gives advice on energy costs and grants. Email: energy@citizensadvicereading.org or Call: 0808 278 7819
- Sustainable Warmth Grant – Reading Borough Council has secured funding from central government to help local residents on a low income make their homes warmer and help reduce their heating bills. The funding available will provide a range of energy efficiency improvements that can be retrofitted to your home. For more information go to: https://www.reading.gov.uk/sustainablewarmth/
- Green Mortgages are available to upgrade the insulation by generally offering a lower rate of interest or cash back, helping the borrower, the condition of the asset and the environment.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/green-mortgages/
Further Information
In April 2021, the RCAN Energy Theme team presented a webinar series on the importance of creating warmer homes; the sessions covered measures that are available to reduce heat loss in the home including actions which require little or no investment as well as advice, help and grants which are currently available. Want to find out more? Check out the latest information from the RCAN Energy Theme team here.
The topics covered include:
- Identifying the benefits of warmer homes
- Reducing draughts and increasing radiator output
- DIY warmth check
- Options for increasing insulation
- How to create a warmer home
- Heat pumps
With a few simple changes, you can reduce your environmental impact and improve the comfort of your home. For more Energy saving tips click here
