Stay safe and warm for less
Architect and TV presenter George Clarke gives LISA SALMON his tips for heating and protecting homes, while keeping costs down
ARCHITECT and TV presenter George Clarke is an expert on creating stunning and sustainable homes. But there’s so much more to a dream home than it just being green and good-looking, he insists.
We should never forget the fundamentals of homes – they need to be warm, comfortable, and safe.
George, the presenter of shows including George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces and Old House New Home, says: “It’s all about saving energy and reducing bills at the moment, and part of that is being sustainable for the planet. But there’s also something that people don’t talk about enough, and that’s being comfortable and warm and protected in your house.”
Here are George’s tips for keeping sustainably warm and safe in your home – and saving money where you can...
INSULATION IS KEY
“Make sure your loft’s really well insulated, and get rid of draughts,” advises George. “I still go into people’s houses and cannot believe how draughty some of them are – they haven’t put draught excluders on doors or keyholes. On a windy day, the wind that comes through a keyhole is unbelievable.”
As well as getting rid of gaps around windows and doors, and insulating the loft, George says wall insulation is definitely worth considering too.
He says his company installs a lot of dry lining, where internal surfaces are clad with plasterboard to provide an extra layer of insulation.
REPLACE YOUR BOILER WITH A HEAT PUMP
George has changed his gas boiler for an air source heat pump, which he describes as “phenomenal”. But he’s making no claims they’re an affordable option – although over the long-term, the heat pumps can save a lot of money on bills, and they’ re far more environmentally friendly than standard boilers.
“If you want to replace a gas boiler it’s going to cost you a couple of grand, but when you put an air source heat pump in, you’re changing a lot of the system, and the average cost is £6,000-£8,000, depending on the size of your house.”
“If you’ve had a standard gas boiler in your house for 12-15 years, it’s probably very inefficient and needs to be taken out and upgraded,” he says. “But I would suggest, if anyone can afford it, do not replace your gas boiler with another gas boiler, and if you can, put in an air source heat pump.”
MAKE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY – AND MONEY-SAVING CHANGES
“Change your lifestyle and the way you live in your house a little bit,” suggests George. “Things like turning your boiler down by one or two degrees.”
He says boiling a kettle is one of the most energy-consuming things in the house, and advises: “If you want one cup of tea, just boil one cup of water in the kettle.” He suggests trying to use less water at home, too, and points out: “Showers use a huge amount less water than baths. That’s going to make a difference.”
CAMERA SECURITY
As well as keeping warm and cosy in your home, George stresses how important it is to feel safe. He’s had security cameras installed at his house.
He says standard security lights are also a good idea, and timer switches on lights. “These are good, low-cost things you can do,” he says. “And you just cannot beat really good locks. At the end of the day, if someone really wants to get in, they’ll get in. You’ve just got to make it as difficult as possible for them.” ■ George has partnered with smart-home security brand Arlo (arlo.com/en-gb) to help homeowners keep their properties secure through DIY connected security cameras.