Insulation
At least 80% (source Construct Ireland May 2007) of all Irish housing stock is built without any energy-effieciency standards applying (they were introduced in 1992). 250,000 homes (17.1% of all occupied dwellings at the time of the 2006 census) were built between 2001 and 2006.
As one of the highest death rates in Europe from the direct effects of fuel-poverty (where householders pay more than 10% of their income on heating) this needs to be addressed urgently. This is especially true where elderly or infirm residents cannot afford to keep their homes at a minimum temperature.
With the introduction of Building Energy Ratings (BERs) for all new homes built after January 1st 2007, and when selling (or renting) second hand homes from 1st January 2009 (UK introduced these for 4-bed and bigger properties as home information packs - HIPs - 1st August 2007, 3-bed 1st September 2007), this will no doubt take into consideration the previous 12 months' fuel bills.
A passive house is a comfortable house. To achieve this, there is a definite hierarchy to follow: -
- Insulate
- Seal
- Ventilate
- Heat
The most cost-effective way to lower these bills is to insulate to at least current standards, but more is better.
There are currently Government Grants available, through the Home Energy Saving Scheme for loft and wall insulation (as well as upgrades to central heating controls and more efficient boilers). You can even get a grant towards the cost of a BER survey, if carried out before and after improvements.
Start with the loft-space. Sheep's wool and hemp are both tried and tested solutions, as environmentally friendly as they get. If there's not much room to manoeuvre, then there are more high-tech solutions, very thin and as good, if not better, than natural materials. Government grants are available to enable low-income residents to achieve a warmer home.
Lag the hot-water tank. This means you won't be heating the water as often, and don't use the immersion heater unless you really need to.
Draughtproof every possible gap, including round skirting boards, keyholes and letterboxes.
If you don't have double-glazing, then it may be a good investment, but cavity wall insulation and dry-lining is more cost-effective. Grants for both these are available in the Home Energy Saving Scheme.
Covering windows during darkness, with lined curtains and/or foil-backed blinds will keep even more heat in.
Even the placement of furniture can have an effect on the comfort of a room. For instance, placing wardrobes against external walls reduces the cold entering the room - it stops at your clothes, which may be a bit chilly! Placing beds away from windows and external walls reduces draughts and chills too. In the lounge, large cupboards and bookshelves similarly should be placed on external walls, and seating away from windows, where draughts will eminate.
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