With the recent cold snap a taste of the winter to come, Actis is reminding builders of the cost savings and health benefits they can generate for householders by ensuring their homes are well-insulated
With many of the population reaching for their heating controls last week, those properties built or renovated under the ‘fabric first’ principle will see their occupants enjoying smaller bills than those faced by their less well-insulated neighbours.
Actis technical manager Harsha Mistry explained: “Energy efficiency standards should always be based on reducing the need for energy first and in particular limiting the heat loss through thermal elements – that is through achieving excellent U-values, reducing thermal bridging and improving airtightness – the fabric first principle.”
The Actis Hybrid range of insulation and membranes and its two-in-one Eolis HC provide ideal fabric first solutions for the forthcoming Future Homes Standard.
“The flexible nature of the products means they can be bent round corners and moulded into gaps to help eliminate thermal bridging. Because they are flexible and straightforward to install, the margin for error is very small, making the risk of thermal bridging very slight,” said Harsha.
While bad weather, such as that experienced across the UK last week, is going to hit many people in the pocket as they switch on their heating, for some sections of the population, sadly, it can also signal potential health problems.
Elderly, frail people can be at risk when temperatures plummet
Living in cold, damp homes can exacerbate respiratory and circulatory conditions, with the cold even sometimes leading to falls among people struggling to move around in low temperatures.
The weather alert service, which saw yellow and amber warnings issued this week, is run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office. It warns the public and the NHS when high or low temperatures pose a potential risk to health.
Yellow alerts are issued when the weather is only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, while amber alerts signify situations which could potentially put the whole population at risk, with, for example, increased demand on GPs and ambulances.
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