James is our Assets Performance Manager who sits within our Assets team who manage all of our planned works in your home. James will be sharing some useful tips on how to reduce heating costs to save money and reduce the amount of carbon your home produces.
Get in touch
For general energy saving advice please email asset.management@hafod.org.uk or visit the Energy Saving Trust website.
If you are concerned about the performance of your loft insulation, please email asset.management@hafod.org.uk to arrange your free stock condition survey or take a look at this government fact sheet.
Ask James
Do you have a question for our Assets Performance Manager?
Our Assets Performance Manager, James, is available to our customers for advice on how to reduce heating costs to save money and reduce the amount of carbon your home produces.
Have you got a question? If so, ask James here.
Dear James, I use the trickle vents in my home and they let cold air in. Do they do anything positive?
"We all like our homes to be warm and cosy, especially when it's cold outside. But it's also important to let fresh air in. Newer homes are very good at keeping heat in, which is great for your bills! But this can also trap wetness, bad smells, and stale air inside which can lead to potential problems. This is why we have small vents in our windows called trickle vents.
Trickle vents let in a little bit of fresh air all the time. They may look small, but they help keep our homes healthy. Fresh air stops wetness from building up, which can cause damp and mould. Mould can damage our homes and negatively impact health, especially for people who have breathing problems.
Good ventilation also gets rid of dust and cooking smells that can make the air dirty and cause allergies and other health issues. Using trickle vents, even in winter, helps keep the air clean and fresh.
Besides trickle vents, it's important to also open windows for a short time, even when it's cold, to let in fresh air. Use fans in the kitchen and bathroom when cooking or showering to get rid of extra wetness and smells. These simple steps, along with using trickle vents, will make the air in our homes better and help us stay healthy and comfortable.
If you have any questions about ventilation or notice any signs of damp or mould, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you keep your home in top condition."
James recently visited a customer's home alongside a Stock Condition Specialist. The customer was worried they were paying out more money to heat their property than they needed to, especially with energy bills going up from 1 January 2024.
Dear James. Why was the loft insulation being inspected, if it was the correct thickness, as there were items stored up there? Could I be losing heat from my property if the loft insulation is old?
"Great question, we need to visit all our properties at least once every five years to make sure the data we hold is correct, assess the condition of the property, looking at kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, doors and the loft insulation.
"We measure the loft insulation to ensure it meets the current building regulations (depth of at least 270mm or 27cm). If the Surveyor is not happy they will arrange for its replacement (expected to last 80-100 years).
"Did you know that storing items on top of the insulation compresses it, leading to potential heat loss. You can lose up to 25% of the heat in your home through the roof without the correct insulation."
Dear James. I'm not sure if I'm eligible for the Great British Insulation Scheme that I heard about on a money saving website. I'm not sure if I have to be a homeowner or not, or how to apply?
"Hafod properties can (if eligible) receive funding under the scheme. See if your property is eligible here. You may be able to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills if your home has an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G - check your EPC here. You also need to be in Council Tax bands A-E and can check your Council Tax band here.
"You don’t get money in your hand to buy the insulation yourself. It’s all managed by your energy company. You may be required to pay a contribution towards the cost, but this will not be known until after the initial assessment of your home and will depend on the group you fall into. The insulation available is cavity wall, solid wall insulation (internal or external), loft insulation, flat or pitched roof insulation, underfloor insulation, solid floor insulation, room-in-roof insulation.
"Applications to the £1 billion Great British Insulation Scheme are now open. According to the government, the funding could save eligible homeowners on average up to £400 a year on their energy bills. If you fall within the above EPC and Council Tax Bands then please apply here, we can't apply for you. If you are successful, please email asset.management@hafod.org.uk to request our permission for the work to go ahead."
Dear James. I am worried about how efficient my home is to heat, can you help?
"Yes, of course, our team would be happy to help, and we can in just some of the following ways. To begin with, why not take a look at the Government's database of Energy Performance Certificates.
"To understand your home better, I can arrange for a Stock Condition Survey to make sure there are no defects at your property such as cracks in walls and drafts through windows. Another colleague who may be able to put your home on the path to improved energy efficiency is Justine, our Decarbonisation Engagement Officer who amongst other things is keen to reduce the amount of carbon our homes produce and this can be done by reducing energy usage through advice and improvements.
"It may be that we recommend a free-of-charge Switchee installation. This modern smart thermostat is connected to your heating and hot water, allowing you to optimise energy use, potentially lowering bills by up to 17% and reducing energy consumption.
"The Switchee allows our Assets team to measure the heat loss rate and time to heat your home, identifying overheating or underheating. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more or arrange an appointment."