What Are Energy Efficient Homes
An energy efficient home is a home where the wastage is least. Whether a home is new or has been in use for several years wastage is a distinctly an area needing attention first and foremost. In these times of economic chaos, if you neglect conservation of energy, it tantamount to a crime against your self as well as the society at large.
Do you have to spend a lot to launch an energy conservation plan for your home?
The SEI's HES scheme lists the following maximum cost values for improvements for an average Irish home which they are willing to reimburse even, if you implement them according to their guide lines.
- Roof - Roof Insulation - Euro 250
- Wall - Cavity wall insulation -Euro 400
- Wall - Internal wall dry lining -Euro 2,500
- Wall- External wall insulation -Euro 4,000
- Heating Controls- High efficiency boiler with
Heat control upgrade -Euro 700
- Heating controls upgrade- - Euro 500
- BER assessment- before and after -Euro 200
It is clear these have to be addressed primarily if you are desirous of an energy efficient home that has a good carbon foot print.
There are other aspects which need to be considered other than the above.
For example home electricity usage accounts for more than a quarter of your energy bills. A large portion of this goes for lighting. A standard incandescent lamp (filament lamp) wastes about 70% of the energy it consumes as heat energy. Usage of CFL and LED lamps would reduce this dramatically.
Your outdated home electrical appliances are another major cause for energy wastage. More attention you pay for EU energy labeling scheme for appliances will pay dividends sooner than you think. Naturally the higher rated appliances (for ex. A++) will cost more than the lower rated ones. But the savings on energy should offset this sooner when put in operation.
In an analysis of home energy efficiency there is one factor which is not readily evident and fails to surface even in most statistics. The human factor (which is your attitude) may perhaps waste energy more than you would think possible. Negligence may be a direct result of your attitude to the whole issue of minimizing wastage. Imagine keeping a high wattage lamp switched on for several hours when you are not in. Excessive or unwarranted temperature settings in your boilers, radiators, air conditioners, dish washers, washing machines, TVs, refrigerators all indicate a callous disregard for the welfare of ones self as well as others. What about the maintenance of appliances and your home it self which you tend to neglect easily?
Unfortunately this is a factor which cannot be measured by any existing meter.
For energy efficient home the mind set of occupants is of equal importance as all the other measurable physical factors.
About the Author:
John Mahoney is a freelance author who writes about various technology realated subjects. For more information about John visit his website www.techstore.ie.
