Live webchat with domestic energy expert Charlotte Lawrance, Mon 12 January, 1-2pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Charlotte's visiting MN to answer your questions about how to save money on your home's energy bills. As usual, if you can't make the chat but have questions you'd like to ask, please post them here. Charlotte has two children under six and a third on the way, plus four dogs, so she'll need a cup of tea and a sit down! Join us on Monday.

[CharlotteLawrance]

Robinpud, I wish I had the answers to your questions. Where your tumble dryer is concerned what energy rating is it? ? if you bought it recently it should have been sold with a certificate similar to the EPC for white goods. Anything we can do to save energy and therefore save money has got to be a good thing ? I always make sure that any appliance I am not using is turned off at the mains not just sitting on standby etc.

[CharlotteLawrance]

Morning ilovetochat there are two options available:

1. internal insulation ? this is where dry lining is applied to a solid wall construction and the internal face of the wall is lined with a damp proof membrane (this would stop the wallpaper peeling off!) and plasterboard. The plasterboard can be fixed to the solid walls by wooden battens or plaster dabs. The walls often receive exta insulation as part of this damp proofing process.
2. External insulation, unlike dry lining this insulation system is applied to the exterior of a wall. It is more expensive but it has certain advantages over dry lining. For one, dry lining does reduce the internal room space , which is significant in smaller houses. External instulation may also provide weather protection to the external facade of the property and provide an attractive decorative finish.

Where grants are concerned you would have to ask your Local County Council to see what was available. From my experience it is more cost affective to have external insulation than internal insulation.

[CharlotteLawrance]

Lucykate you were asking about cavity wall insulation and how long it lasts............
There are several types of insulation: Bonded Bead, glass wool, rock wool and urea formaldehyde foam. All have a similar insulation value. Cavity wall insulation is supposed to, according to the British Board of Agrement, last the life of the building so it should not require topping up. It may be worth contacting the CIGA to see if there is a guarantee for the work ? any guarantee should last 25 years.
You mention that the house is double glazed but do not say anything with regards to the loft insulation ? insulating the loft to a depth of 270mm is recommended and is a low cost measure to reduce your energy loss and save you money.
Replacing your boiler is obviously a higher cost measure to reduce energy loss and reduce your bills ? but if you replace your current boiler with a Band A condensing combination boiler you should see a reduction in your heating costs.