Consider energy-saving measures for the home, and it’s generally wall cavity insulation, loft insulation and double-glazing that first spring to mind. Carpets though can play a major role in saving energy and mustn’t be overlooked.
Research suggests in fact that as much as 10-20% of the average home’s heat is actually lost through uninsulated cold and draughty floors, and yet insulation properties are rarely seen as a decision-making factor in buying new flooring. Colour, softness, texture – and price – have always been more important.
But in a world where energy prices and the cost of living are suddenly and dramatically increasing, the thinking is beginning to change. Carpets also need to be considered as an essential energy-saving measure. Precious warmth needs to be trapped inside the home and carpets will help you do it.
Put simply, carpet fibres are insulators i.e. they’re not very good at conducting heat. They also trap air between them, further increasing carpet’s thermal insulation properties. Combine a quality carpet with a good underlay and you will cut the energy bill.
Just like your duvets, carpets and the underlays underneath both have TOG (Thermal overall grade) ratings, a measure of their heat insulation properties. These ratings depend on the materials, thickness and ability to trap air pockets.
The higher the combined TOG rating, the more heat you will keep in the home. And as a direct consequence, less energy is released to the external environment, meaning less carbon emissions – which is not be a bad thing either.
For example, a popular 80/20 wool/nylon carpet will typically have a TOG value of between 1.5 and 2.0, while a thick 100% wool carpet might be above 2.5. In turn, high performance thermal carpet underlays can have TOG ratings even higher than 3.0.
So even if you can’t have carpets throughout the home, fitting them in selected rooms, most notably ground floor rooms where heat can escape beneath the house, or in larger more drafty rooms, will certainly have a positive impact.
And a quick bit of Googling brings up all kinds of bold statements:
- “Carpet and underlay can reduce energy bills by around £500 over 10 years…”
- “By adding underlay and carpet, you can make a huge difference to your home’s efficiency and save approximately £65 per year…”
- “It has been estimated that up to a month’s worth of heating costs can be saved in homes with carpets, accounting for a 4-6% saving on overall heating bills…”
However its impact is quantified, the right combination of quality carpet and underlay, installed by professional fitters, will ensure that heat losses in your home are minimised, that you have a cosier, warmer home, and smaller energy bills as a result.
What’s not to like? Get in touch with Avonvale Carpets, Bath.