There is no doubt that there is a need for energy efficient, eco houses. Buildings consume 40% of the world's energy - not so bad considering the amount of buildings there are, but imagine if it were possible to make these buildings consume less? That would drastically reduce the amount of energy being consumed and C02 produced.
In the last few years there has been a drive for eco housing. Eco villages, eco towns, cohousing are all ideas being banded about, but what of houses that already exist? What can the home owner do to make the running of their home environmental? Well, there are in fact endless ways to make your home more energy efficient, plus the less energy guzzling your home the cheaper for you in the long run! As much as the bigger picture of building eco-towns is very important there are smaller moves that your can make in your home. So, think about what consumes the most amount of energy in your home. One thing that costs a lot in energy (and money) is heating and ventilation. Responsibly installed heating systems can help you save the planet- and your pocket - in one easy swoop!
Half of heating is lost through poor installation so first off, pinpoint exactly how you want to install heat into your home. The tradition boiler is ever popular but the non energy efficient ones can account for 60% of all domestic C02 emissions. Luckily, High Efficiency Condensing Boilers are on the market and can be fitted into new or old heating systems- handy for those who simply want to improve their systems in their current residence. The best thing to do is go for the A rated SEDBUK boiler; they work by recovering the heat waste (which would otherwise go out a crack in the window and never be seen again) and potentially can convert 90% of the fuel it uses to run into heat, by using a large heat exchanger to maximize heat transfer from the burner.
You can tell if your boiler is less efficient by its age. If it is over ten years old then the chances are that it is not that efficient. Since boilers have about a fifteen year lifespan and your boiler is over ten years you may want to think about upgrading to a High Efficiency Condensing Boiler. There are many on the market and the best thing about them is that they will work alongside existing heating systems. It is perhaps the least dramatic, yet cost effective, way of making your home more energy efficient.
Related posts
Posted under Articles, Environmental News
This post was written by Rachel Archer on May 8, 2008