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Home is where the (modern) hearth is...
Paul R Taylor6/ 1/2006
With power prices set to soar this year, Paul R Taylor looks at keeping warm this winter in style.
THE average household bill for electricity and gas is expected
to rise by at least £100, according to some experts.
December was the coldest in more than a decade with temperatures
dropping as low as -12C in Aviemore in Scotland and cold snaps
across the country. More freezing conditions are expected over the
next couple of months and while this may conjure romantic images of
curling up in front of a roaring log fire, in reality in the
majority of properties it will be the central heating system
working overtime.
There are several simple ways to reduce the amount of fuel needed
to heat your home, saving money on bills and helping to reduce
global warming at the same time.
Replacing an ageing central heating system with a new boiler and
underfloor heating will cost thousands of pounds but could reduce
annual bills by up to 50 per cent. Simple measures such as turning
down the thermostat by 1C or switching energy suppliers can take
minutes but will make a real difference to bills and government
grants are available for loft and cavity wall insulation.
John McNulty, owner of A1 Services on Barlow Moor Road, said: "Most
houses have central heating systems that are more than 30 years
old, so one of the easiest ways to save money in the long run is to
have a new system installed.
"A high-efficiency condensing boiler will cost about £2,200 to
install and could save up to 50 per cent on heating bills.
"Underfloor heating is growing in popularity but it's only really
for new builds or large extensions as you have to tear apart the
house to install it.
"Power flushing is cheaper than a new system and can also help.
Central heating radiators can become partially blocked by sludge
and corrosion deposits, so forcing water through at high velocity
cleans the system and makes it more efficient."
Underfloor heating systems, where warm water is circulated in pipes
under the carpet or wooden panels, can be up to 25 per cent cheaper
to operate than the standard radiator system but are more expensive
to install. Heating pads, insulation and thermostat for an average
16-sq-metre bedroom will cost about £550 to put in. Different types
of fuel can be used to heat the water that travels through the
pipes, including oil, gas, a condensing boiler or even solar
panels.
But even the most energy efficient system will struggle to save you
money if your property is not properly insulated.
Paula Darwish is an energy efficiency officer for the Manchester
Energy Group, set up by Manchester Council and the Energy Saving
Trust to give people free impartial advice on energy
efficiency.
Paula said: "There are 70 per cent discounts available for cavity
wall insulation and loft insulation for some residents of
Manchester, depending on their circumstances.
"The over 60s for example can apply for grants regardless of their
income and they're also available for people in receipt of certain
benefits. We also target specific areas of Manchester, so grants
are available in the renewal areas.
"If we can't help someone who calls us directly then we'll pass
them on to other organisations that can help and we also give
general advice about saving energy.
"Simple tips such as putting up thick curtains and closing them
every night, installing energy efficient light bulbs or turning
down the thermostat by 1C can make a difference." One of the
simplest and most cost-effective ways to reduce bills is by
switching utility suppliers About 15 million people have now
switched supplier and people are now changing at a rate of 160,000
a week.
New websites, such as uswitch.com, make it easy to compare prices
on a range of services including gas, electricity, home phone and
broadband providers.
Manchester Energy Group: 0800 512012 or
www.uswitch.com
CHUNKY and funky or sleek and stylish - radiators are no longer
those sad, slightly yellowed objects that take up valuable wall
space.
Instead, contemporary radiators or "heating sculptures" can be the
focal point of a room. They range in price from £100 to £5,000 and
there are hundreds of styles on the market.
B&Q stocks 170 different designs, from classical to cutting
edge, with the distinctive Ecstasy radiator the pick of the bunch
and a snip at £4,999.
Mike Keenan, department supervisor at B&Q's Stretford store,
said: "The sales of designer radiators are quite good, but you find
people tend to splash out on a designer heated towel rails in the
bathroom rather than in other rooms.
"The radiators range in price from £100 all the way to £5,000 but
the more expensive ones are designed to be showpieces of the room
they are in."
But Mike Daly, manager of Manchester's Plumb Centre, said the high
prices of designer radiators mean many householders still opt for
the traditional style.
"There are hundreds of radiators on the market but we only stock
one kind because very few people will pay the extra for designer
ones, which can cost hundreds of pounds.
"We probably sell only one designer radiator a year, and that's by
special order."
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