About nine out of ten homes in Exeter could
reduce their gas and electricity bills by carrying out such improvements as installing
insulation or double glazing, according to research carried out from the air.
Thermal images of the Devon city have revealed that 22 per cent of the cities homes are losing high levels of heat, effectively paying to heat the air.
These homes will be the first to receive advice on reducing energy bills by installing measures to curb heat loss, though they are not the only households that could benefit from
insulation.
Some 67 per cent of households were also found to be losing medium amounts of heat, meaning that while they did not glow red on the thermal images taken from an aeroplane, they could still save money on heating bills.
Kevin Mitchell, Exeter City Council's lead councillor for environment and leisure, said: "There are a significant number of households in the city that are paying higher fuel bills than necessary due to poor
insulation and we hope that the results of the survey will encourage them to insulate their property.
"There are a range of grants available for loft and cavity wall
insulation for people on all incomes, including, for a limited period of time, free
insulation for Exeter residents over 65 and for households on low incomes."
According to the Energy Saving Trust loft
insulation should be installed to a depth of at least 270 millimetres.
