Energy efficiency begins at home!
16th April 2008
‘Earth hour’ at the end of last month focussed minds on just how much energy we waste by leaving the lights on, and how much we could save simply by turning them off when we don’t need them.
But most energy we use – and often waste – is not visible in the way lighting is – and yet something like 30% of all energy we use goes into heating powering and lighting homes. Making sure that the energy we use is as ‘green’ as possible is one priority; but the other is ensuring that, whatever its source, we use a lot less of it. And the huge amount of energy that goes into our homes means that energy saving measures in the home can, if widely adopted make a real impact on our collective carbon emissions.
The truth of the matter is that homes in the UK are overwhelming very energy inefficient – and if measured by the so-called SAP rating for energy efficiency they come largely as the equivalent of an ‘E’ or ‘ F’ rated refrigerator - one that we probably would think very hard about buying if displayed in the showroom. .
The Government’s ambitious new Code for Sustainable homes means that, by 2016 all new homes built will be ‘zero’ carbon - ‘A plus’ rated; but how can we make serious inroads into the efficiency of our existing homes without knocking them down and starting again? After all, probably four in five of the homes we are living in now will still be standing in 2050.
Many people are now re-equipping their homes with low energy light bulbs, and a houseful of such bulbs has a noticeable effect on bills and a very clear effect on energy saving. But overwhelmingly, the most effective energy saving thing that can be done is to insulate our homes by getting proper insulation installed in the cavities of our walls. Wall insulation will save about 15% on bills, meaning that energy demands are lower. And, for many people, insulation now comes either free or heavily subsidised.
Where homes have south facing roofs, increasing numbers of people are now harnessing the free power of the sun to offset water heating bills and the use of gas in the home by installing solar water heating panels. Something like a third of water heating can be obtained by solar panels, and installations can pay back their cost – with the aid of a grant- in a very few years.
More ambitious installations such as ground source heat pumps and photo-voltaic (solar electricity) panels on roofs can save substantial amounts on energy but have fairly steep installations costs.
What we should remember though is that energy prices across the world will continue to rise as traditional fuel supply become scarce, and as the true carbon cost of such sources is properly priced. Energy efficiency in the home will therefore inevitably become more cost effective as each year passes: almost a win-win-win investment: you pay less, you use less, and your carbon footprint looks increasing healthy!
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