Latest news with #insulation
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Aussie builder reveals the top five ways to cut your power bill before prices surge again
A builder has revealed his top five tips for lowering household power bills ahead of the market electricity price increasing by up to 9.7 per cent from July 1. According to tradies, Aussies aren't just bracing for the spike - they're taking action - with a recent surge in energy-saving home improvement jobs. Glass and glazing installations have gone up 68 per cent in 2025, and insulation jobs are up 34 per cent, hipages data reveals. Double glazing Fouad Reaiche, the managing director at ETH Construction Group, told Daily Mail Australia that people would be surprised by the effectiveness of glazing. 'Thermal blocking blinds and double glazing should be added if you have that opportunity,' he said. 'If you're going to spend the money, get double or even triple glazing. It's definitely something that you want to be doing. 'It makes all the difference in the world and people don't actually realise it until they've done it to their house.' Double glazing creates a layer of insulation, slowing down heat transfer between the inside and outside of a home. It means less heat is lost in winter and less heat enters a building in summer, leading to lower energy bills. 'It makes a big change for both summer and winter. It keeps the cold out in winter and the heat in,' Mr Reaiche said. 'It deflects heat on the outside in summer, so it works all year round. 'A lot of people who just did standard glazing were pushed out of the market.' Double-glazed window costs in Australia typically range from $300 to $1,500 per square metre. According to Bradnam's Windows and Doors, Aussies could save up to 20 per cent more on their energy bills if they were to utilise double-glazed over single-glazed products. Draft blockers Mr Reaiche said another simple way to reduce a power bill is to ensure cool or warm air isn't seeping into a house. 'One thing that we see people buying a lot is draft blockers for all their entry doors to stop drafts coming through,' he said. 'It's a big energy saver.' Newer air conditioners Air conditioning consumes 15 per cent of Australia's total generated power, and more than half the energy used in homes is the result of heating and cooling devices. That's why many Aussies are also looking to upgrade their air conditioning units. 'Putting energy efficient heating and cooling in is another thing to consider. People are ditching their old A/C units and upgrading to ones that are more energy-efficient,' Mr Reaiche said. Installing the correct insulation Home insulation is crucial for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature and reducing energy consumption. Roof and ceiling insulation can save up to 45 per cent on energy consumption for heating and cooling, according to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 'Insulation is a big one as well,' Mr Reaiche said. 'If you're building a new home, you need to put in the right insulation based on the climate that you're in.' Mr Reaiche's final piece of advice was to simply shop around and not become complacent by showing loyalty to a power company. 'Switching energy providers is one of the most efficient ways to reduce your energy bill by getting a better deal,' he said. 'People don't think to find a new provider. They're just happy to sign up and stay with them.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Vacuum glazing explained: is vacuum double glazing worth it compared to other window types?
In a nutshell, vacuum glazing — also called vacuum double glazing — works by placing a vacuum between two panes of glass, rather than filling the gap with gas as in regular double glazing. This is advantageous because, as your school physics teacher would tell you, a vacuum is an excellent insulator because there is no matter – solid, liquid or gas – through which heat can be conducted. It works the same way a vacuum flask keeps a drink hot all day long. This means that vacuum glazing is very good at keeping the heat in, or the cold air in summer. Another upside is that vacuum glazing can be thinner. Regular double glazing gets its insulating properties from the inert gas placed between the glass sheets — often the noble gas argon. But with a vacuum, you don't need that much of a gap. So where space is a premium, perhaps with an older building, this can be a plus. How long does vacuum glazing last? Like double glazing, vacuum glazing typically lasts between 10 and 25 years, depending on the quality of the unit and how well it's maintained. Is vacuum glazing more expensive? You may well have guessed the major downside – cost. It's harder to create a vacuum, especially in a bespoke window with a unique size, than it is to fill it with gas. But in some circumstances, perhaps where the choice might be single glazing or vacuumed double glazing, it may be the only sensible choice if you have the money, because of how much heat single glazing can lose. Vacuum glazing is a popular choice for sash windows because of its relative expense, no matter which glass you choose. How much does vacuum glazing cost? A new bay window can cost £1,000 to £3,000 or even more. If you are paying that much, the cost of the glass itself can be dwarfed by the cost of making the frames and fitting them. Vacuum glazing costs between £340 and £390 per square metre, excluding VAT and delivery, according to specialist fitter Six Over Six. Their units are made in the EU and can attract an extra fee if energy prices are particularly high. Meanwhile, regular double glazing with a low-e coating to reduce heat loss costs from £30 to £70 per square metre, according to Eco Happy, a fitter. So you can see there's a big difference. But this figure isn't much use without knowing how much the frames and labour costs are, and those depend heavily on your choices from the cheapest uPVC options to handmade timber frames. A uPVC double-glazed window including VAT, fitting, frames and everything else can cost under £600, by comparison. So going for a vacuum unit could easily add 50 per cent to the cost, and that would be for the cheapest frames. Is vacuum glazing better than double glazing? The two types of glazing last from 10-25 years, depending on how they are looked after and the warranty the manufacturer applies. The expense today of vacuum double glazing means that it is unlikely to be a popular choice outside of specialist applications because of its cost. It is technically superior, but it is also a lot more expensive, and it is likely that most buyers will get similar performance from triple glazing, which is only about 15 per cent more expensive than double glazing. In a door, it is likely you will have more room to play with to install cheaper glass. Is vacuum glazing a good investment? So, is vacuum glazing worth it? That depends on several factors. Whether vacuum glazing is a good investment depends on a number of factors. For it to make sense, you will need to recoup the extra cost – the cost beyond regular double or triple glazing – in reduced heating bills. This will depend on the size of the windows, the size of your home and other energy efficiency measures you have already put in place. It won't be much use having super-efficient windows if you have a draughty home with no loft insulation, for instance. The heat will simply escape elsewhere.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watchdog warning over spray foam insulation as show celebrates 40th year
Homeowners should be wary of companies trying to dishonestly sell spray foam insulation, BBC Watchdog presenter Matt Allwright has warned as the show celebrates its 4Oth year. The consumer rights programme is currently fronted by Allwright and Nikki Fox, who have marked the milestone by discussing some of its success stories, which include undercover investigations and policy changes. The pair said inflated ticket prices and mis-billing by energy companies were some of the biggest cases they had covered, and the show has seen 'tens of thousands of pounds' returned to customers. 'I think being part of that process is a real privilege, and those sorts of roles don't come along very often. I really cherish it. I love it,' Allwright said. Asked about the most shocking story he had covered recently, Allwright said it was the misselling of spray foam. 'Most homes don't need spray foam insulation,' he said. 'You can use fibreglass matting, like most of us have in a loft. 'The problem with it is that it can also cause damage to a home in certain circumstances, and as a result, a lot of mortgage lenders aren't happy about lending on a home that's got it. It's also very difficult to remove. 'You've got to make that sort of thing really clear – if you're selling something that costs thousands of pounds and would cost thousands of pounds to remove and could therefore stop the sale of your home at the point where you need it.' Watchdog has been fronted by various presenters since it first aired on BBC One in 1985, perhaps most memorably by Anne Robinson and Nick Frost. In 2020, the BBC announced it would cease to be broadcast as a standalone programme, and would be shown as a feature within The One Show. Fox and Allwright discuss their memories of the show during a special programme, Watchdog At 40, which will air on The One Show at 7pm on Wednesday on BBC One.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Watchdog warning over spray foam insulation as show celebrates 40th year
Homeowners should be wary of companies trying to dishonestly sell spray foam insulation, BBC Watchdog presenter Matt Allwright has warned as the show celebrates its 4Oth year. The consumer rights programme is currently fronted by Allwright and Nikki Fox, who have marked the milestone by discussing some of its success stories, which include undercover investigations and policy changes. The pair said inflated ticket prices and mis-billing by energy companies were some of the biggest cases they had covered, and the show has seen 'tens of thousands of pounds' returned to customers. 'I think being part of that process is a real privilege, and those sorts of roles don't come along very often. I really cherish it. I love it,' Allwright said. Asked about the most shocking story he had covered recently, Allwright said it was the misselling of spray foam. 'Most homes don't need spray foam insulation,' he said. 'You can use fibreglass matting, like most of us have in a loft. 'The problem with it is that it can also cause damage to a home in certain circumstances, and as a result, a lot of mortgage lenders aren't happy about lending on a home that's got it. It's also very difficult to remove. 'You've got to make that sort of thing really clear – if you're selling something that costs thousands of pounds and would cost thousands of pounds to remove and could therefore stop the sale of your home at the point where you need it.' Watchdog has been fronted by various presenters since it first aired on BBC One in 1985, perhaps most memorably by Anne Robinson and Nick Frost. In 2020, the BBC announced it would cease to be broadcast as a standalone programme, and would be shown as a feature within The One Show. Fox and Allwright discuss their memories of the show during a special programme, Watchdog At 40, which will air on The One Show at 7pm on Wednesday on BBC One. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
$796,000 in Q2 Sales Delivers Highest Earnings to Date on 3 Trailing Quarters of Profitability: Innovative Designs, Inc. (Symbol: IVDN)
$IVDN Superior Insulation Supplier in Multi-Billion Homebuilding Industry / Super Small Share Structure with Only 38 Million OS / 16 Million Float Sole Maker of Patented Insultex® Insulation Delivering Construction Cost and Energy Saving Performance Superior to All Competition. New Board Member has Ties to Industry Leaders Including D.R. Horton $DHI, Ryan Homes $NVR and More Unique Evacuated Cell House Wrap Material Provides an Unmatched R-6 Rating, Water Vapor, Air & Wind Barrier and Other Important Advantages. Record Sales Growth and Highest Profitability Level to Date for First 6 Months of 2025 With 265% Increase Year-Over-Year. First Half of 2025 Already Approximately Equals All of 2024 Revenue Total. Fiscal First Quarter Results Deliver Over 720% Increase, Largest Percentage Revenue Growth in Company History. Profitability Reached for First Time at Fiscal 2024 Year-End on Almost 300% Revenue Increase vs. Previous Year. New Government Building Codes Require Continuous Insulation with Higher Performance. IVDN Meets or Exceeds These Standards Where Many Competitors Now Do Not. Increased Order Fulfilment Capabilities with Plans for Further Enhancement to Handle Strongly Increasing Demand. Process Underway for Uplisting to OTCQB Tier. Innovative Designs, Inc. (Symbol: IVDN), manufactures and markets its unique, patented Insultex® material, a quantum leap forward in insulation based on proprietary evacuated (vacuum) cells. IVDN products deliver optimum warmth and comfort via insulating, windproof and waterproof protection with no animal materials. IVDN holds issued US patents on both the evacuated cell material and its manufacturing process. For home building, home remodeling and other construction, significant improvements in energy efficiency measures, such as IVDN Insultex House Wrap® can provide, have never been more important. Superior insulation, for heating or cooling, is fast becoming a primary factor in the multi-billion dollar construction and remodeling industry. In addition to lowering construction costs because additional insulation boards or supports are not needed, Insultex® use results in high energy efficiency and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the global climate change crisis. IVDN Insultex House Wrap® delivers an unmatched R-6 rating because of its unique and patented evacuated or vacuum cell structure design. The dedicated IVDN Insultex House Wrap® website explains the scientific principles in detail along with visual aids. Insultex® also provides a moisture barrier and other key benefits that make it simply the best insulation choice available today. The IVDN Insultex House Wrap ® website may be visited at No other product on the market offers a vacuum cell structure. A vacuum is the best thermal insulation possible and only Insultex® incorporates countless evacuated cells. Insultex® also provides a moisture barrier and other key benefits. The result is a substantial savings for new construction, adding an R-6 moisture barrier membrane that does not need additional insulation boards or other support as with competitor products. Sales of IVDN Insultex House Wrap® are now benefiting from new government building codes calling for continuous insulation and exterior R-Value requirements. Insultex House Wrap® is starting to be recognized as the very best option to satisfy the new requirements in terms of performance, cost effectiveness and ease of installation. Management is currently in the process of uplisting IVDN stock to the higher OTCQB tier for wider exposure and access by more investors and brokerage services. The Company does meet all uplisting requirements and the process is expected to be completed in the near term. For investors, IVDN has a very small share structure with only about 38 million shares outstanding and a public float of about 16 million shares. Also, according to the latest 10-K filing, Management and Directors are holding over 8.4 million of these shares making IVDN avery lean stock. Innovative Designs Delivers Record Sales Growth and Highest Profitability Level to Date for First 6 Months of 2025 With 265% Increase Year-Over-Year Superior and Patented Evacuated Cell Insulation Continues to Gain Homebuilding and Remodeling Industry Recognition with Rising Demand On June 17th IVDN announced that the Company had filed its financial report for the fiscal second quarter of 2025, ending on April 30th. IVDN has reported that continuing revenue growth has pushed the latest results well above previous projections, reaching $796,369 in fiscal Q2 (a 165% increase over fiscal Q2 of 2024). Total revenues for the first 6 months of 2025 reached $1,340,285 (a 265% increase over the total for the same period in 2024). IVDN has now reported profitability for the past three trailing quarters and record revenue growth for the past 4 trailing quarters. With this fiscal Q2 filing, the profit level has also increased to a new high for the Company's history with over $240,000 in net income for the first 6 months of 2025 vs. a $41,000 loss at the same point in 2024. Fiscal First Quarter Results Deliver Over 720% Increase, Eclipsing All First Quarter Results by Largest Margin in Company History On March 24th IVDN announced for the Company's 2025 fiscal first quarter, ended January 31st, revenues reached over $543,000 vs. $65,886 for the same period in the previous year. This represents a comp. increase of over 720%. Strongly rising sales of Insultex House Wrap(R), are responsible for most of the impressive revenue growth that the Company is now experiencing. Because of the sharp and continuing rise in demand for this unparalleled home insulation, IVDN has been working to develop increased production capacity. The main production facility in Massachusetts has been able to substantially accelerate product output. IVDN also been researching and developing additional production facilities in other parts of the country and this additional production is now also beginning to add to the available supply. Because of these efforts IVDN has made dramatic progress in filling a large backlog of orders for Insultex House Wrap(R) and cut our delivery times down from 6 or 8 weeks to much shorter periods. This improvement in delivery has pleased existing and new customers to the extent that even faster order flow is coming as a result. Experienced Real Estate Developer with Relations to Top Homebuilding Names Including D.R. Horton, NVR / Ryan Homes and More On January 23rd IVDN announced a new addition to its Board of Directors, Mr. John Spagnolo Jr., an accomplished real estate investor and developer. For over 20 years Mr. Spagnolo, Jr. has been successful in building high end homes, residential and commercial properties and other development projects. Most notably, Mr. Spagnolo, Jr., has nurtured relationships with contacts at some of the most important companies in the multi-billion-dollar homebuilding and construction industry. These include D.R. Horton, NVR [Ryan Homes], Maronda Homes, Rockford Homes, Fischer Homes, Infinity Custom Homes and more. For more information on $IVDN visit: and Follow Innovative Designs, Inc. (IVDN) on X (formerly Twitter) here: Disclosure listed on the CorporateAds website Media Contact Company Name: INNOVATIVE DESIGNS, INC. Contact Person: Joseph Riccelli, CEO Email: Send Email Phone: 412-799-0350 Address: 124 Cherry St City: Pittsburgh State: Pennsylvania Country: United States Website:
