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Certain areas of the UK face higher fuel poverty rates than others, and a recent study by Which? outlines the places throughout the country that are in highest need for insulation upgrades.

The study, which rated the areas most in need of upgrades on a scale of 1-10, found that the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humberside were in most desperate need for home energy improvements.

The top constituencies are:

• Pendle, Lancashire
• Birmingham Hodge Hill, Warwickshire
• Louth and Horncastle, Lincolnshire
• Burnley, Lancashire
• Scarborough and Whitby, North Yorkshire

These locations have been rated most in need based on factors like socio-economic indicators, health of the local population, and data on housing stock. This is what Which? has labelled the ‘Priority Places for Insulation Index.’

Get help receiving home energy improvements

Arktek assists homeowners throughout these areas with help securing ECO4 funding for home energy improvements – did you know that if you qualify to receive certain benefits, you can also qualify for free installation of different types of insulation, first time central heating, and boiler upgrades?

With consumers facing energy bills that have doubled in the last two years and a cold winter ahead, it’s vital that homeowners take advantage of funding for home energy improvements, like insulation, which can dramatically reduce energy bills and help keep your property warmer.

Learn about the different types of home energy improvements available:

Solid Wall Insulation

You could be losing around 45% of the heat in your home through uninsulated solid walls. Solid wall insulation can be installed internally and involves insulating walls from the inside of the property by building a frame which is then filled with mineral wool insulation and boarded.

Cavity wall insulation

You could be losing roughly 35% of the heat from your property through uninsulated cavity walls. Cavity wall insulation helps retain heat during the winter and also helps keep your home cool in summer.

Loft insulation

A typical gas-heated home loses an estimated 25% of its heat through an insulated loft or room in roof.  Room-and-roof insulation and loft insulation are both covered through the ECO4 funding scheme.

Underfloor insulation

Around 15% of the heat in a room can be lost through uninsulated floors.

Boiler upgrades

You may be eligible to receive funding to have a gas boiler installed if your property does not currently have a central heating system.

We can also advise on further energy improvements, like air source heat pumps, solar panels, first time central heating, EPCs, smart thermostats, and more.

We are proud to be able to assist with the ECO4 funding process to install insulation and home energy improvements in homes throughout the North East and in areas of need. Simply contact us to get the process started.

 Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 and LA Flex funded measures to help you save on energy bills. Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.

Insulation is commonly known for keeping your home warmer by retaining heat within your property, but did you know that it can also help keep your home cooler in the summer?

Hear from the team at Arktek with our ideas for how insulation can help maintain a more stable temperature in your property and learn about the best type of insulation to keep your house cool in the warmer months:

How does insulation affect the temperature of your home?

The temperature within your home is affected by both internal and external factors, which are often referred to as ‘internal gains’ and ‘external gains.’ Internal gains include any heat that is generated from within the home, for example from heating systems or appliances like the tumble dryer. External gains happen when the sun hits the roof and walls of the property, heating it up from the outside.

Insulation is mandatory for retaining internal gains, but it can also help reduce external gains in the summer months. The added barrier of insulation can prevent heat from the sun permeating inside your home.

Which type of insulation will help keep my property cool?

Roofs tend to be darker than other external walls, and since heat rises, more heat is typically absorbed in homes that have multiple levels and a loft or attic. This makes the top floors of the house hotter in summer months if not protected by an insulated barrier, meaning that loft insulation is the most effective method of insulating your home to benefit from cooler rooms in the summer. It will help prevent the heat from the sun from permeating your home and keep the loft cooler – which is often the hottest room in the summer!  

The barrier has a dual purpose and can also save you a significant amount of money on heating expenses in the winter by retaining heat. A typical British property can lose up to one quarter of its heat through an uninsulated loft or room in roof, so loft insulation is a smart investment that will pay for itself many times over, for decades.

You may also be eligible for funding for the cost and installation of loft insulation – simply get in touch with our team who can advise you on government schemes that provide funding for home energy improvements.

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 and LA Flex funded measures to help you save on energy bills.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.

Arktek is partnering with local authorities in the North East, Yorkshire and Wales to secure funding for home energy improvements under the LA Flex scheme.

Learn about the LA Flex scheme, which helps UK households reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint by offering free energy saving measures to households who require them.

What is LA Flex and who can qualify for funding?

LA Flex stands for Local Authority Flexible Criteria. It is an extension of the Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme that subsidises the cost of installing energy saving measures. The scheme provides customers who are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit under the ECO4 scheme with the chance to receive funding towards the cost of ECO4 measures.

The funding covers numerous types of insulation, such as loft insulation and underfloor insulation, as well as heating installations such as air source heat pumps. It is available for owner occupied households and private rented sector properties.

To qualify, the individual must:

• live in an area governed by a local authority who has published an ECO4 Flex Statement of Intent
• have personal circumstances that fall into one of the LA Flex qualifying routes

In brief, the routes include households that are considered energy inefficient and that meet one of the following requirements:

• have occupants who are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home, for example, if an individual has a severe and/or long-term health condition
• have a combined household income of under £31,000
• receive a Council Tax Reduction
• receive free school meals due to low income
• are on a debt repayment plan to their energy supplier
• have been referred to their local authority for support by their energy supplier or Citizens Advice because they have been identified as struggling to pay their energy bills

The requirements to qualify for ECO Flex very depending on your local authority, but if you fall into one of the above categories, simply get in touch with the experienced team at Arktek who can help advise on your eligibility.    

If you think you may be eligible for LA Flex funding, contact the team at Arktek to find out if we work with your local authority. We can help you determine if you qualify, assist with the entire application process, and then install the energy improvement measures to help you heat your home more effectively.

Support for Local Authorities with LA Flex Eligibility

If you represent a Local Authority that is interested in ECO and would like to drive referrals through the Flexible Eligibility route, Arktek can help.

As an ECO-accredited, pre-approved partner, Arktek Group Limited can help residents in your local area become more energy efficient and reduce their heating bills.

Get in touch to discuss the possibility of working together under LA Flex.

Arktek Group Limited is a rapidly growing building services company based in the North East. We are looking for two experienced Internal Wall Lining (IWI) and Room In Roof Insulation installers to add to our team working within the North East, North West & Yorkshire area.

Here is some key information you’ll want to know right away:

· This is a full-time permanent role

· Company Vehicle

· Company Phone

· Company Pension

· 28 days holiday including bank holidays

· All tools and materials supplied

Key responsibilities include;

· Boarding

· Plastering

· Finishing – including skirting boards and architrave

· Submitting all relevant site information in a timely manner. Including taking and uploading photographs

Essential criteria include;

· Previous experience and knowledge of installing Insulation Measures

· Plastering experience – minimum of 1 year

· A willingness to learn new skills.

· Reliable, punctual and presentable

· Effective communication skills

· Must be willing to travel/work away – Accommodation and meal allowance supplied

· Full clean UK driving licence

Salary

· Starting from £30,000 – £35,000 dependant on experience

· Bonus schemes

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus scheme

Experience:

• Plastering: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: On the road

Apply online.

Arktek Group Limited is a rapidly growing energy company based in the North East of England.

We are looking for a well-rounded, experienced individual to join our small but efficient team as an Administrator to help with all aspects of the day to day processes.

Key duties will include;

– Provide excellent customer service to our customers via telephone and email communication.

– Data entry and management of customer accounts.

– Organising and sending installer and assessor diaries.

– Assisting in the preparation of quotations for a range of company services.

– Working closely with various departments and external partners.

– Logging and following the company’s complaints procedure to ensure a quick resolution to customer issues.

The ideal candidate will;

– Have excellent attention to detail – demonstration of accuracy is essential.

– Be confident and efficient when handling a variety of different responsibilities.

– Possess excellent IT skills – particularly Microsoft Office.

– Be a team player, willing to “get stuck in.”

– Be experienced in working in a faced paced environment.

– Be able to adapt to change and open to learning new processes.

Previous administration experience is essential, however, full training will be provided.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £19,000.00-£20,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Apply now.

New research has revealed that the majority of British homeowners are unaware of what their home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is and that most do not understand the importance of finding out what the rating is. Learn about the implications from the study and discover the benefits of improving your EPC rating:

All domestic buildings in the UK must have a valid EPC, which is a document that outlines how efficient your home’s energy usage is. On an EPC, each property is rated from A – ‘very efficient’ – to G – ‘inefficient’ and is given an energy score between 1-92+. The report also offers details about actions you can take improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Yet, a new study by the Mortgage Advice Bureau has found that 64% of people are currently unaware of their EPC rating. This could suggest that a large number of homeowners may be unaware of shortfalls in the way their home is using energy and could be missing out on opportunities to improve their energy efficiency.

The research also found that a third of respondents who knew their EPC rating had investigated it after hearing about friends or family members reducing their energy bills after making improvements to their home’s EPC rating. And 27% of people who were aware of their EPC said they had looked it up in order to implement changes to improve the rating.

Why should you find out your EPC rating?

The government’s Heating and Buildings Strategy target is for all UK properties to have a minimum EPC rating of a grade C by 2035. It will also require landlords to raise their EPC to a C or higher by 2023.

There are many reasons why the government has set these targets – learn about the benefits of improving your EPC:

Reduce your energy bills

Making changes to your property that help improve your EPC rating can drastically reduce your energy bills. Your EPC certificate will outline recommendations for improving your energy rating specific to your property, including actions like:

• having different types of insulation installed, such as underfloor insulation, loft insulation, and cavity wall insulation
• getting a more energy-efficient boiler

Reduce your carbon footprint

Do you know that buildings create almost a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions? By improving your EPC, you can help reduce your carbon footprint and help preserve the planet.

Lower mortgage payments

You could become eligible for green mortgage deals with lower interest rates if you achieve a higher EPC rating.

Increase the value of your property

Demand is high for homes that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly, so increasing your EPC rating could also help make your property more valuable.

How do I improve my EPC rating?

According to the study, one fifth of people did not know which changes would make their home more energy efficient. Although the certificate can offer recommendations, it’s difficult for the average person to know which options will make the most significant impact. This is where we can help!

Arktek is a property services company who are experts in determining the most efficient energy-saving measures for your home. We specialise in the installation of heating systems and various types of insulation and can offer many services to help increase your EPC rating.

We can also assist with the process of receiving government funding and ECO4 grants for those who are eligible!

Get in touch to learn how we can help improve your EPC rating and to find out if you are eligible for funding towards energy-saving improvements to your property.   

We’d like to thank everyone we had the pleasure of working with in 2022 and thank you to all our customers who took the time to leave reviews for us!

Here, we highlight a few of our favourite customer testimonials that we’ve received this year:  

“We’ve had our cavity walls insulated by Arktek and they have been a pleasure to deal with from the first phone call. Friendly and helpful staff on the phones and similarly friendly, polite and tidy installers. We had a delay to our install date due to a broken van, but great communication ahead of time and never had to chase them.”

-Rob, West Yorkshire

“Really pleased with this company, very professional. We had a boiler installation and underfloor insulation installed as part of the Eco scheme. Mark and colleagues were really professional and we were really pleased with the boiler installation. All engineers arrived on time, with courtesy calls from Arktek before every visit. I would really recommend.”

-Thomas

“Good availability for the survey and survey cost of £25 was taken off final quote. Quick and professional job.”

Suspended timber floor insulation in Newcastle

“Both admin staff and the workers were very helpful. It’s when something goes wrong you find out how good people are. A couple of panels came loose, but they attended promptly to put matters right with no quibble, just the same sunny attitude they’d had at the beginning, going above and beyond to be helpful. Work is good, customer service is good, and it’s a good price.”

Roof insulation in Newcastle

We wish you a very happy holiday period and thank you for your continued support and feedback this past year! We close for the Christmas period on Friday 23rd December 2022 at 4pm and we reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2023 at 9am.

Arktek installs room in roof insulation, gas fired boilers, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, underfloor insulation and smart thermostats. We also carry out EPCs, home improvements/renovations and landlord services such as gas safety checks.

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 and LA Flex funded measures to help you save on energy bills.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.

Get better control of your home’s heating systems with a smart thermostat

Smart thermostats are devices which help you monitor how the temperature changes in your home and can allow you to control your heating from anywhere! Learn more about how smart thermostats work and how they can help you save money on energy bills:

Smart thermostats allow you to adjust your heating schedule based on factors such as outside temperature and desired room temperature in order to maximise the efficiency of your central heating system.

The devices can allow you to:

• adjust the temperature setting from your mobile phone or tablet
• set timers
• adjust the hot water settings
• automatically turn the heating off when you leave the house or allow you to do it from your mobile
• see trends and patterns about your energy use

Some even learn your habits and automatically adjust your schedule so that it is optimised to heat your house more effectively.

Which smart thermostat should I choose?

Smart thermostats vary in shape and size and are made by a variety of manufacturers. Most work with electric, gas, LPG or oil boilers, including ones with hot water tanks.

Smart thermostats are comprised of two parts; the thermostat which detects your room temperature and adjusts the heating as well as the receiver which is wired to the boiler and allows the thermostat to communicate wirelessly with the boiler.

The Smart Thermostats we install include:

·         Hive Active Heating

·         Nest

·         Worcester Bosch EasyControl

·         Ideal Halo

·         Honeywell T3R*

·         Neomitis RT7+*

 

*Please note these models do not connect to your smartphone via the internet.

Arktek engineers can advise on the best smart thermostat for your house and can also help you determine if you are eligible for funding toward the purchase and installation of a smart thermostat.

Funding for smart thermostats

If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be eligible for funding towards the cost of installing a Smart Thermostat under the ECO4 scheme.

Eligibility criteria for Smart Thermostats under the ECO4 grant:

If you are a homeowner or private tenant, and you are currently in receipt of one of the below benefits, you could be eligible for funding towards the cost of a smart thermostat.  

• Child Benefit (conditions apply)
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit

 

Arktek are proud installers of a wide range of smart thermostats. If you qualify for funding, one of our friendly engineers will attend your property to assess your current heating system and recommend the best thermostat for your property.

Arktek Engineers are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers who specialise in not only installing smart thermostats, but also can manage the full application process for getting funding for smart thermostats and other home energy improvements.

Simply get in touch with Arktek to get started.

Arktek are delighted to announce that we are celebrating 7 years of trading this month!

Arktek was incorporated on 18th November 2015. When we first started supplying home energy improvements throughout the North East and Yorkshire, we only offered 2 measures, have since expanded to supplying 8 different measures and continue to add to our portfolio of services.

We now install room in roof insulation, boiler replacements/installs, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, underfloor insulation, smart thermostats, home improvements/renovations, and landlord services such as EPCs. We provide assistance to homeowners and landlords who wish to secure government funding for home energy improvements and we are dedicated to helping local residents secure funding under the ECO4 and LA Flex government schemes.  

In the past seven years, we have carried out nearly 1,500 cavity wall insulation installs & have installed over twice as many gas boilers, all across the UK!

We are also proud to employ a large team of long-term employees who work from our head office in Sunderland as well as on-site through the North East and Yorkshire. Our workforce started with 3 members of staff and has now expanded to over 25 dedicated employees!

We’d like to thank the Arktek team for their hard work and commitment, our suppliers for their contribution to our goals and growth, and our customers who help keep our business thriving.

The team is looking forward to celebrating our birthday on 18 November!  

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 and LA Flex funded measures to help you save on energy bills.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.

A government scheme that provides funding for home energy improvements is available for UK residents on pension benefits – find out if your parents or grandparents qualify:

The media is rampant with warnings about the risks associated with living in a cold home this winter, with energy bills spiking and a cold winter predicted. However, many people may not be aware that a government scheme which offers funding for home energy efficiency improvements can provide vital help to a large number of people who qualify.

Elderly and vulnerable residents are more susceptible to discomfort and health complications from living in cold conditions.

The charity Age UK recommends that elderly people heat their main living area to 21C and the rest of their home to 18C, however, simply turning up the thermostat can be costly especially with the recent increase in energy prices.

Thankfully, there is funding available for the installation of insulation as well as smart thermostats and central heating, which can help dramatically improve the energy efficiency of a property; saving you money on your energy bills and making the property feel warmer at the same time!

Who is eligible for funding?

The ECO4 scheme provides funding to increase the energy efficiency of properties. To be eligible for this scheme you must be in receipt of an ECO4 qualifying benefit (see below).

• Child Benefit (conditions apply)
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Savings Credit

People who are in receipt of the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Pension Credit Savings Credit often don’t realise when this is included as part of their pension – this may include your parents or grandparents!

How can people apply for funded home energy improvements?

Arktek is an installer of ECO4 measures and can assist with the entire process of securing funding and installing measures available for you or your family member’s home.   

The simple process involves:

• advising on your or your family member’s eligibility for the ECO4 scheme
• help complete and process the application for funding
• conduct a free, no-obligation survey to determine the best possible energy saving measures for the property
• install energy-efficiency measures to help heat the property and provide relevant certificates

Fill out our short form to find out if you or a family member qualifies for funding for home energy improvements.