To get the best coverage for our roof insulation, we had to make sure that we could get the insulation in to as many places as possible.

In our roof, this posed a bit of a problem.  When we first moved into our house in 2000, one of the first things we did was install R80 style downlights.  Effectively, we cut holes in our ceiling creating gaps in the air tight integrity of the home, allowing heat to escape in winter and enter in summer.

So before the installers arrive (due on 15th September) we installed downlight mitts over each of the light fittings.  We sourced them from this online store; http://efficiencymatrix.com.au/product/loft-mitt/.  This is the 120mm version.

They look a bit like the sorting hat in Harry Potter!  These mitts cover the downlight fitting so that the insulation can be placed around it tightly.  They also stop draughts emanating from the light fittings as well.

Just a word of caution if installing these in your roof over downlights.  You cannot fit them over halogen downlights because these types of lights are just too hot and may cause the mitt to smoulder.  You can only use them if you use compact fluorescent lights or LED.  We have a mixture of both, which emit very little heat.  There is a different type of downlight mitt for halogen downlights, which are much smaller and designed for this additional heat.

I will post further updates as they occur over the next two weeks.  Kim and I are very excited and hope it all goes to plan.

Well we have gone and done it!  We have taken further steps towards a more liveable home.

Kim and I have placed a deposit on the roof insulation, the double glazing at the front of the house, and paid to replace one of the lounge windows with glass bricks.

We had to tighten our belts but the great thing is that we have saved enough money by paying triple payments into the mortgage offset account, that essentially, all the work will be paid for with cash.  It will just take a little longer clearing the mortgage, which I am ok with.  I would rather have a more comfortable home during the extremes of summer than retire early in a hot box!

We saved some money from our workshops and I even drew down on the money I saved from eBook sales and the small amount of advertising revenue from the blog to pay for the glass brick window.  Thanks to all of you who bought an eBook or looked at an ad, we can pay cash for this window as well.

The insulation gets fitted in September, and the glass brick window next week.  The double glazed window units will take six weeks from when they are measured, which happens some time next week as well.

Kim designed a pretty cool glass brick pattern.  I like it a lot.  It will be the feature eastern window in the lounge area.  It should quell her desire for a stained glass window, and make the room a little more interesting.  Besides that, the bricks act like a double glazed unit and is well insulated.

So there you have it.  More about the progress when the installation of each item occurs.

Oh, by the way, we are still going strong with the Brass Monkey Challenge.  I will have a final update on our quest to go the entire winter without using the built-in natural gas heating once the gas bill arrives.  That in itself should be an interesting exercise.