CASH SAVING BEATS ECO CONCERNS AS MAIN REASON TO GREEN YOUR HOME

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1 Press Release CASH SAVING BEATS ECO CONCERNS AS MAIN REASON TO GREEN YOUR HOME Saving money is now our main motivation for carrying out green home improvements ahead of concerns for the environment. One in four of us say we re thinking about carrying out energy-efficient measures, but our reasons are as much to do with keeping costs down as saving the planet. According to research by Pilkington Building Products, more than a third (36 per cent) of householders say soaring bills are making them plump for innovative measures. But only 26 per cent cite saving the environment for future generations as their main reason for home greening. Helping the Government meet its targets to reduce the country s carbon footprint was judged to be even less important with just two per cent of those quizzed saying making a contribution would encourage them to adopt an eco-friendly measure. The survey, conducted as part of the MOT Your Home campaign by Pilkington Building Products, also revealed nearly half of us have made energy-efficient upgrades in the last year, with 20 per cent planning more green projects in future. On the flipside, almost one in five 18 per cent say they have never made an energy-efficient upgrade and don t plan to any time soon. Homeowners in Sheffield, Edinburgh and Cardiff are the most proactive, while surprisingly, those living in Brighton home to Britain s first Green Party MP - are least receptive, with a quarter admitting they didn t consider eco-efficiency a priority at all. Interestingly, more than half of homeowners say they would be happy to pay more for an energy-efficient property in future, with one in five (18 per cent) saying they d only consider paying up to 1,000 extra and one in ten (10 per cent) claiming they would shell out 5,000. Young people, those between 25 and 34, are the age group most likely to pay over the odds with Liverpudlians the regional homeowners most at ease with considering a green property (61 per cent).

2 The research also found that gender plays a part in our green thinking too, with men more likely than women 29 per cent to say they had done all they could to make their home green. Females are more likely to want to make changes, but at a time that suited them (19 per cent). Men claim money saving is the key incentive for being green, whereas women are more inclined to want to save the environment for future generations. Older people those aged 55+ are more likely to have already made green upgrades so felt unwilling to carry our more, while more than a third of year olds admit they aren t interested in trying to save energy. As architect and TV presenter, George Clarke, explains, making small changes can make all the difference when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of your home and maintaining those green measures already installed is just as important. As he says: It s encouraging to see that many of us have taken steps to make our homes greener and that people are actively thinking about how to make their homes more environmentally friendly which will help save money in the long run. But, when it comes to making upgrades, it can be hard to know where to start. Some projects might involve an initial outlay but then reap the benefits in the long run, such as upgrading from single glazing to energy-efficient double glazing like Pilkington energikare. And others like simply switching to energy-efficient light bulbs throughout the house can be straightforward to implement and be activated quickly and cheaply. It s important to research carefully to ensure you choose the most effective measures for your home. For example, installing solar panels is a great way to help generate energy for your home, and any energy you don t use can now be sold back to the national grid as part of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. However, solar panels are not suitable for all homes as it depends on the roof profile and which way it faces roofs that face south or south east are perfect to capture the most solar energy. You will also need to check if your home is in a conservation area, as installing solar panels could be restricted.

3 I d also recommend an annual check-up of green measures already installed, to ensure they are still efficient and working properly, think of it as an MOT for your home. George has these 15 top tips for green living: Top 5 tips to improve your home s energy efficiency without breaking the bank Energy-efficient light bulbs Fitting just one energy saving light bulb can save you on average 2.50 a year - and by swapping all the light bulbs in your home for energy-efficient ones, you could save around 37 per year*. Energy-efficient bulbs will produce the same amount of light as a standard light bulb but will use a fraction of the electricity. Turn down the thermostat Invest in a digital room thermostat and timer, this will automatically reduce the heating while you are asleep or out at work. As much as 10 percent can be saved on heating bills by turning the thermostat back by just a few degrees. Eliminate draughts and Insulate Inspect your home for draughts that will let the cold air in. Particularly feel for air coming in around doors, windows and electrical sockets. If you find any draughts, seal them! Make sure your loft is well insulated, the loft is a common source of draughts and the cold air quickly finds a way to circulate through the home. Insulation is relatively easy to install and it could save you up to 150 a year. Insulation jacket for your hot water tank Keep your hot water cylinder warm by wrapping an insulator blanket around it as this will reduce the rate at which it loses heat. Also try adding insulation to internal exposed pipes in the airing cupboard and around the cylinder, as this will also help conserve the heat. Turn off at the switch don t leave electrical appliances on standby This means that the appliance is still using electricity and therefore wasting energy. It has been estimated that more than 740m of electricity is wasted every year in the UK by things being left on standby** the equivalent of more than two power stations' output. So make sure you switch off at the main power source ensuring you save both energy and money.

4 *Information from the Energy Saving Trust **A survey by the Energy Saving Trust Top 5 must-have measures to improve your home s energy efficiency Loft and wall insulation Without proper insulation in your home, a quarter of your valuable energy could be lost through the roof. The loft is a common source of draughts and the cold air quickly finds a way to circulate through the home. A well insulated house keeps heat inside and is an effective way to save energy and money in the home. Insulation is relatively easy to install and it could save you up to 150 a year*. Energy-efficient boiler Installing a new boiler is an expensive addition to your home, however, the savings you can make in the long term can help recover the cost within 3-5 years. Modern high efficiency condensing boilers convert over 88 per cent of their fuel into heat compared to 78 per cent for conventional boilers. Using a high efficiency condensing boiler with heating controls could save you between 190 and 240 a year or around one third of your heating bills straight away.* Energy-efficient windows One way to become energy-efficient is to make the most of the sun s free energy that floods in through your windows all year round by installing double glazing. Pilkington energikare energy-efficient double glazing uses advanced glazing technology to allow more heat (energy) from the sun through the window, known as solar gain, while reducing the amount of heat escaping by keeping it on the inside. Pilkington energikare glass can reduce as much as 75 per cent of energy lost through windows, and can help people to save up to 20 per cent on heating bills, compared to single glazing*. This offsets the normal central heating used to heat the home and could save more than 7,000 in fuel bills over the lifetime of the windows**. Energy-efficient heating When it comes to heating your home efficiently and wasting as little fuel as possible, installing heating controls is just as essential as the fitting of an energy-efficient boiler. Using heating controls will keep your rooms at a comfortable temperature, allowing you to decide when heating comes on and off and at what temperature it is set at; all this means your fuel bill could be cut by up to 17 per cent*. Update appliances to triple A rated Always look for the European Union Energy label when buying white goods. A-rated goods tend to be similarly priced to others, but they will save you a great deal of money over the lifetime of the appliance, as well as being energy-efficient. An A-rated

5 energy saving fridge-freezer will use over 60 per cent less energy than older ones, saving you up to 35 a year; an A-rated dishwasher will use around 40 per cent less energy than an old machine, saving you up to 13 per year.* * Information from the Energy Saving Trust ** Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) energy saving calculator for a mains gas, detached house Top five big projects: Ground source heat pumps Ground source heat pumps extract heat from the ground using pipes buried in your garden. Underneath the surface, the ground stays at a fairly constant temperature, so a heat pump can be used all year round. Although this an expensive project which requires uprooting your garden, it can lower your carbon emissions, lower fuel bills and requires little maintenance once installed. Solar panels Solar panels work by capturing the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into energy which can be used in the home to power lighting and household appliances. The average cost of installing solar panels is 12,000, but the long term savings can be considerable, with an average system producing 40 per cent of a households electricity*. You might also be eligible to sell back your excess electricity to the grid, so could even make money! Underfloor heating The use of underfloor heating typically allows room temperatures to be reduced by 1-2 C when compared with radiators, while still providing the same level of comfort. Each 1 C reduction in room temperature reduces fuel consumption by 6 per cent. This means it is cheaper to run and gives the house a reduced carbon footprint*. Rainwater recycling system Recycling rain water reduces your home s reliance on mains water which in turn could significantly reduce your water bill. Rainwater is captured from roofs and travels to a storage tank via normal guttering and down-pipes. The water is then filtered and a pump delivers the water to an area of the house on demand; for example a dishwasher, toilet or washing machine. Wind turbine Wind turbines harness the power of the wind and use it to generate electricity. Small systems known as "microwind" or "small-wind" turbines can produce electricity to help power the lights and electrical appliances in a typical home. Wind turbines use large blades to catch the wind. When the

6 wind blows the blades are forced round, driving a turbine which generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity produced. *Information from the Energy Savings Trust For more information on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home, visit or call ENDS Notes to editors * Research: The research for Pilkington Building Products was carried out online by Opinion Matters in May 2011 amongst a sample resulting in 1,556 UK Adults. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998). Pilkington energikare Pilkington energikare energy-efficient insulating glass units use advanced glazing technology and work in two ways; the outer pane of glass allows more heat (energy) from the sun in through the window, known as solar gain, and the inner pane of Pilkington K Glass low-emissivity glass reduces the amount of net heat lost through the window by keeping it on the inside. Pilkington energikare glass can reduce 75 per cent of energy lost through windows, and can help people to save up to 20 per cent on heating bills, compared to single glazing**. This offsets the normal central heating used to heat the home and could save more than 7,000 in fuel bills over the lifetime of the windows**. It is suitable for a wide range of properties and once the insulating glass unitis incorporated into the majority of modern frames (timber or Pvcu), it will achieve a minimum BFRC Window Energy Rating of C. Pilkington energikare is sold through approved registered window companies across the country. NSG Group The NSG Group, which acquired Pilkington in 2006, has manufacturing operations in 29 countries and sales in 130 countries, employing some 29,300 people worldwide. It manufactures a range of innovative glass products for commercial and residential use including Pilkington energikare energy-efficient glass and Pilkington Activ self-cleaning glass, as well as Pilkington Texture decorative patterned glass and Pilkington Cervoglass specifically designed for conservatory roofs.

7 The NSG Group is fully committed to sustainability, developing products that address climate change and has policies in place as a business to improve its energy usage and resource management. Log on to learn more at More information can be found online at or call