Wickes: Green home improvement ‘is affordable’


Want to take on a environmentally-friendly home improvement project? The cost may not be as high as you expect, according to one high-street DIY chain.

Wickes is publicising research from the Energy Saving Trust that showed Britons could increase the energy-efficiency of their houses for less than £3,000.

Michael Holmes, editor-in-chief of home improvement magazine Real Homes, said there are many ways people can make their properties more environmentally friendly without breaking the bank.

“Simple and inexpensive measures can make a difference in both the quality of a homeowner’s life but also in the greater community. Demand for eco-home products is on the rise and people are increasingly knowledgeable about energy-efficiency in the house.”

Holmes said that roof insulation can save up to 15-20 per cent on heating a property while using leftover materials to lag plumbing and water tanks prevents even more warmth from being lost.

He added that measures like these could see homeowners making back the money they spend on green home improvement within two to three years.

• You can check out Wickes’ insulation products here and read its Good Idea leaflet on the subject here.