Homeowners have been warned to avoid employing doorstep traders offering cheap insulation.Government organisation Consumer Direct has advised Brits to be on their guard this summer.Figures from the group show that complaints regarding cold callers offering home maintenance services traditionally rise during the summer months.Last year, the number of complaints received...

A new cavity wall insulation scheme has been launched to encourage social landlords to make environmentally-friendly home improvements.The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is encouraging landlords to take advantage of the Social Housing Energy Savings Programme (SHESP). Under the proposals, social landlords will be provided with funding to fit cavity...

The Mayor of London has given his backing to a new scheme in the capital which will see homes across the city benefit from added insulation.Boris Johnson pledged £3 million for the creation of ten low-carbon zones in London.Speaking at the May Day Summit on Climate Change, the mayor said...

Energy companies should help customers by providing cavity wall and loft insulation, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.The association has called on providers to do more than just distribute energy-saving light bulbs.Sending bulbs saves customers just £3, with the LGA suggesting that cavity wall and loft insulation would help...

Free cavity wall insulation is currently being offered to homeowners in one part of Worcestershire.Wyre Forest District Council has launched a new scheme to provide grants to the over-60s to fund cavity wall and loft insulation projects.Operated on a first-come, first-served basis, the initiative is part of the Wyre 60...

UK homeowners are backing the government's 'Great British Refurb' initiative, which includes proposals to make homes more energy efficient using microgeneration. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), seven million homes will be given a 'whole-house' upgrade by 2020 while every home will receive this by 2030....

Insulation and other efficiency improvements are being handed out to Nottingham households to improve their thermal efficiency.As part of the Nottingham WarmZone scheme residents over 65 are being offered free cavity wall insulation to help them reduce their heat leakage and energy costs.Over 750 homes in Aspley and Bilborough, the...

Helping households make the most of loans for insulation and microgeneration is part of a council in the south of England's plan to help boost energy efficiency.Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has published its Sustainable Energy Strategy for consultation.It aims to reduce energy costs for residents by helping them use...

Failing to take steps such as installing insulation or double glazing in order to increase domestic energy efficiency levels should be made a criminal offence, one expert has argued. According to the latest official estimates, UK private homes currently produce five times as much carbon emissions than industrial premises. And...

An insulation project has installed 6,300 of energy efficiency measures and exceeded its target.Northumberland Warm zone set out to install 5,000 insulation measures, to help boost energy efficiency of homes in the areas.However, its advisors, who help households take advantage of grants on offer to improve domestic energy efficiency have...

Insulation has helped residents in one village save a total of £180,000 in energy bills.The community of Fintry in Scotland has set up a development fund tasked with helping cut villager's emissions.As well as managing the village's wind turbine, it has helped secure insulation for about half of the 300...