Aug 11 2009
Insulating the average domestic loft properly could save up to £150 on fuel bills and cut carbon emissions by 800kg per home per year. In fact, if all UK households topped up their loft insulation to 270mm, around £520m would be saved each year!*
For this reason, npower has teamed up with national builders merchant Build Center and insulation manufacturer Rockwool to launch a new ‘DIY scheme’ and drive home the message to householders that insulating is a simple way to save money and help the environment at the same time.
The DIY insulation scheme – created using Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) funding – enables DIY renovators to purchase 2 for 1** priced Rockwool loft insulation and have it delivered direct to their door for free by their local Build Center. This is a strictly audited, accountable and controlled system, with the three companies working in close partnership to administer the scheme.
Homeowners who purchase Rockwool insulation from Build Center (part of Wolseley UK) as part of the DIY scheme will also receive an installation guide and safety kit to ensure they are able to install the insulation correctly and safely.
The new insulation scheme is one of the many ways in which CERT funds are being used, primarily to benefit individual homeowners and the environment. Given the nature of the funding, the scheme is not open to non-residential or non-domestic properties, any new build project, nor to installers.
Commenting on the scheme, David Adams, Market Development Director from Rockwool said: “The complexity of setting up CERT-funded schemes to meet Ofgem’s stringent guidelines is a significant challenge and it has taken many months for us at Rockwool, along with our partners at npower and Wolseley, to develop this new scheme.
“However, we believe the result is an excellent example of how a manufacturer and a builders' merchant can work together to create a compelling offer whilst correctly meeting Ofgem’s regulations.
“Given the widespread desire amongst consumers to reduce energy costs and ‘green’ their homes, we expect this scheme to be very popular and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Steve Ashmore, managing director of Wolseley UK’s Heavyside division (which includes Build Center) added: “The scheme provides customers with a simple, cost effective way of reducing their household carbon emissions – addressing the financial and environmental costs of poorly insulated homes.
“Given the Government’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, it is exactly this kind of scheme which will help spread the message about the simple changes that we can all make.”
Chris Pateman from the Builders Merchants Federation said: “The CERT insulation scheme has been in danger of losing credibility over the last year by forcing people to buy materials exclusively from DIY retail outlets, who often cannot offer the variety, delivery or advice that builders merchants can. It’s pleasing to see Rockwool and npower have been able to help redress this distortion. This scheme plays to the merchant industry’s strengths, not only in terms of delivery but in capturing a high level of sales audit information. We hope this initiative will be a forerunner of many more innovative routes for the merchant trade to play its full role in providing cost-efficient and fit-for-purpose energy improvements to the nation’s existing housing stock.”
As part of a marketing campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of insulation amongst the general public, a new TV commercial featuring Wallace and Gromit launched at the end of July