Energy saving renovations: Part 3 - Insulating your home

The biggest energy user in the home is heating costs, which can be hard to sacrifice during the cold winter weather.

If you're looking to slash your power bills, the good news is you can still enjoy a cosy home by implementing a few environmentally friendly initiatives.

Draught-proofing a home is one of the easiest ways to save money when bill time rolls around - saving you up to 40 per cent according to some experts!

An effective way to identify draughts is to walk around your home with a lit candle - if the flame flickers or goes out, it’s a pretty good indication there is a draught close by.

Common areas include window frames, loft hatches, wall to ceiling joints, door seals and chimneys.

To fill gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, as well as wall to ceiling joints, use a filler which you can squirt into the space.

Because different materials contract and expand, use a filler designed for some sort of movement, such as silicon-based varieties.

For cost effective draught-proofing, why not use snakes under doors and on window ledges to block unwanted cold air out?

If you are wanting to insulate your house, but don't want to incur the heavy price tag that comes with hiring a professional, you may want to consider a DIY roof cavity insulation job.

Insulating your roof space can provide you with added warmth all year round - saving you thousands in electricity costs.

Roof cavities can be a challenging area to work in so you might find using ladders and trestles available from your local Kennards Hire will assist you with the task.