As Scotland celebrates Climate Week, it is a great time for homeowners to consider ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
This can be done by making energy efficient home improvements to reduce the amount of emissions your home produces while also improving your home’s comfort.
Read on to find out more about Scotland’s Climate Week and the home improvements you can make to make your home more energy efficient.
What Is Climate Week?
ScotlaClimate Week is an annual celebration that started in 2016 where communities and organisations come together.
This year, from 23rd to 29th September, it’s a chance to celebrate and encourage climate action, and to learn more about tackling climate change by sharing ‘Stories for Change’.
What Does It Mean To Be Net Zero?
The need to take action to tackle climate change is more urgent than ever. Scotland became one of the first nations to declare a global climate emergency in April 2019. They also set an ambitious target to become ‘Net Zero’ by 2045. This is five years ahead of the rest of the UK.
But what does it mean to be Net Zero?
Net Zero means the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere and the amount we’re able to take out will add up to zero. It can be achieved by removing emissions from the atmosphere but more importantly, reducing our emissions from entering it in the first place.
Why Is It Important For Homeowners To Take Action?
According to Net Zero Scotland, “For the majority, the places where we spend most of our time are heated by fossil fuels and generate around 19% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. On top of this, many buildings in Scotland aren’t well insulated which means they require more energy to heat and bills are more expensive.”
Improving your home’s energy efficiency is one of the best ways you can reduce your carbon emissions while also benefiting you. This is because energy efficient home improvements can not only keep your home warmer but also cost you less by doing so.
Improving your home heating by making climate-friendly home improvements. It is one of the best ways you can reduce your emissions and keep you warm. There’s free advice to help you decide on what improvements are right for you.
What Energy Efficient Home Improvements Can Homeowners Make?
There are many ways homeowners can make their homes more energy efficient. Some of these include:
Double-Glazing
Double glazing is a type of window that has two panes of glass within a single frame. The panes are separated by a gap filled with gas that has a high insulation ability.
They can improve your home’s energy efficiency by slowing down the movements of heat from one side of the window to the other. This means your home will stay warmer for longer, therefore reducing the amount you are spending on your energy bills.
Insulation
Insulation is a great way to reduce your energy bills as well as your carbon emissions. It can help you keep the heat in, and the cold out.
There are many ways of insulating your home from the walls, roof and floor.
Clean Heating Systems
Heat Pumps are one of the most energy efficient heating sources to date. They are a great way to not only reduce your carbon footprint but also your energy bills.
Heat pumps work by taking heat from the ground or air surrounding a building. It then increases its temperature to heat the home. If reversed, it absorbs the heat from your home and moves it outside cooling the inside space. They are different from other heating and cooling devices. Instead of generating heat they use electricity to transfer it from space to space.
Unlike gas boilers, they run on electricity and therefore can be run off of renewable energy sources such as solar panels to become completely renewable.
Solar Panels
Solar power is a clean, green way to power your home as it is a renewable energy source. It can help you reduce your energy bills by cutting your reliance on the national grid.
Solar panels, also known as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, are renewable technologies designed to convert sunlight directly into electricity energy using photovoltaic cells in the panels.
This electricity can then be used by appliances and devices in your home that require it. Alternatively, it can be stored using a solar battery for later use. It can then be used when your panels aren’t generating electricity such as through the night.
If you are not sure what home improvements are right for you then you can get free advice from Home Energy Scotland. Home Energy Scotland are funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Savings Trust.
Is There Any Help Or Financial Incentives For Homeowners To Make Their Homes More Energy Efficient?
Home Energy Scotland – This scheme offers a variety of grants and interest-free loans to homeowners. These grants and loans are available for clean heating systems and other energy efficient improvements.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO) – This is a government energy efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions. The scheme offers free grants to those eligible for a range of energy efficient home improvements.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) – This scheme is available to homeowners and businesses that generate electricity using small-scale, low-carbon energy technologies such as solar panels. Those signed up to the scheme can receive payments from suppliers for any electricity they export to the national grid.
Working Together For A Greener Future
At Homeshield Scotland, we have been providing homeowners with ways to make their homes more energy efficient.
From our premium double glazed energy efficient windows and doors to renewables such as solar panels, heat pumps and batteries we can help you make your home more energy efficient.
Start your journey to a warmer, cheaper and greener future today! Contact us at 0800 6118 118 or click here for a free no obligation quote.
