 Be warmer in winter and save money with upgrades
Welcome to this special edition of Environment News.
As the seasons change and with the recent rise in energy prices, it's the perfect time to think about how you can make your home warmer in winter, cooler in summer and more energy efficient all year round.
This newsletter is packed with practical tips and free resources to help you reduce your energy bills and improve the insulation in your home.
From borrowing a thermal imaging camera to attending drop-in advice sessions, there are plenty of ways to get started.
Head over to our Climate Emergency hub to find out more about what you can do to become energy efficient.
 Join a drop-in advice session at your local library
Come to one of our Warm Homes drop-in sessions to speak to someone in person about:
- Saving energy in your home and DIY insulation tips
- Reducing your energy bills
- Finding out what support is available
- Thermal imaging camera loan scheme
No need to book, just drop in and say hello.
 Find out where your home is losing heat
You can now loan a thermal imaging camera from all Wokingham Borough libraries.
These cameras, which attach to Apple and Android phones, are used with a downloadable app to help you spot heat loss around windows, doors, roofs and walls.
It’s a simple way to identify areas in your home where insulation or draught-proofing could make a big difference.
This is open to all Wokingham Borough residents and you just need to have a Wokingham Borough library card. Reserve the camera as you would reserve a book, online or in person, or ask at your local library.
Click the image below to see a video of the thermal imaging cameras in action.
Watch a video showing the thermal imaging camera in action
 How to keep the heat in your home with loft insulation
Did you know that a quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. As the air inside your home warms up, it heads upwards to the roof, and an uninsulated loft gives it a clear route to escape.
Adding or topping up insulation in your loft can save hundreds on your energy bills each year.
Rolls of mineral wool are widely available and easy to lay between joists.
Tip - aim for 270mm depth for maximum efficiency.
 Save your boiler by insulating your pipes
Uninsulated hot water pipes lose heat quickly, making your boiler work harder.
Wrapping them in foam pipe sleeves is a simple DIY job that can help keep water hotter for longer and reduce energy use.
You can buy pipe insulation from most DIY stores and fit it yourself in minutes.
Tip - focus on pipes near your boiler and hot water tank first.
 Wrap up your tank to reduce energy waste
If your hot water tank feels warm to the touch, it’s losing heat.
A tank jacket helps trap that heat, keeping water hotter for longer and cutting down on energy waste. Jackets are inexpensive and easy to fit, just wrap and secure.
Tip - look for jackets at least 80mm thick for best results.
 Reduce draughts to reduce your bills
Draughts around doors, windows, letterboxes and chimneys can make your home feel colder and cost more to heat.
Draught-proofing strips, brushes and sealants are quick fixes that make a big difference to keeping the heat inside your home.
Tip - borrow a thermal imaging camera to spot where air is coming in.
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