Saving Energy at Home

Nicola Terry Nicola.qeng-ho.org

Energy-surprises.blogspot.com Energy and Carbon Emissions: the way we live today Transition Cambridge – Cambridge Carbon Footprint

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Intternational License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Why do you want to save energy?

•  Reduce energy bills

•  Reduce carbon emissions

Does it matter?

How can we save energy?

Services

•  Space heating

•  Water heating

•  Cooking

•  Lighting and appliances

Savings

•  Reduce waste

•  Reduce requirement

•  Increase efficiency

Space heating – Reducing heat loss

Measure Savings Easiness

Loft/cavity insulation +++ ++

Solid wall insulation +++ +

Floor insulation ++ ++

Double/secondary glazing ++ +/++ Secondary is easier

Curtains/blinds + +++

Fix draughts +++ +++

Heat recovery ventilation ++ +

Humidity controlled ventilation ++ ++

Shock ventilation ++ +++

Space heating – Reducing heat loss

Measure Savings Easiness

Loft/cavity insulation +++ ++

Solid wall insulation +++ +

Floor insulation ++ ++

Double/secondary glazing ++ +/++ Secondary is easier

Curtains/blinds + +++

Fix draughts +++ +++

Heat recovery ventilation ++ +

Humidity controlled ventilation ++ ++

Shock ventilation ++ +++

Green Deal

Simple home heat loss model

http://nicola.qeng-ho.org

Space heating – Where are the draughts?

•  You tell me

Space heating - Where are the draughts?

•  Doors/windows

•  Floorboards

•  Skirting

•  Pipes and cables that go through walls, floors, roofs

•  Loft hatch

•  Cat flaps/letter boxes

•  Chimneys

Space heating – Reducing heat requirement

•  You tell me

Space heating – Reducing heat requirement

Measure Savings Easiness

Turn down thermostat +++ +/++ Depends on who lives in the home

Adjust radiator valves ++ +++

Adjust timers (optimum start)

++ +++

Move the thermostat (wireless)

++ ++

Heat yourself +++ ++

Space heating – Increase heating efficiency

•  You tell me

Saving energy – Heating efficiency

Measure Savings Easiness

Condensing boiler +++ ++

Radiator reflector panels ++ +++

Bleed radiators ++ +++

Radiator shelving ++ ++

Radiator position ++ +/++ Depends on your room layour

Hot water savings

•  You tell me

Hot water savings

Measure Savings Easiness

Lag pipes ++ +++

Check tank thermostat + +++

Shorter showers ++ ++

Low flow shower head ++ +++

Don’t run the hot tap unless you want hot water

+/++ Depends on pipe run

+++

Cooking

•  You tell me

Cooking

Measure Savings Easiness

Lids on saucepans ++ +++

Use microwave (reheat solid food, cook vegetables in little water)

+ +++

Heat only the water you need (kettle, boiling)

++ +++

When you use the oven fill it up ++ ++

Lights and appliances

•  You tell me

TV size/energy label

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66 70

Max

imum

on-

pow

er W

Length of diagonal (inches)

A+++

A++

A+

A

B

C

D

A A+

32” 43 W 33 W

42” 69 W 53 W

52” 102 W 79 W

Size matters more than energy label

Energy certificates

Look for kWh/annum

Lights and appliances

Measure Savings Easiness

Use the sun to dry your washing ++ +++

Turn things off (TV, games consoles, microwave…)

+ +++

Buy smaller ++ +++

Buy efficient +++ ++

Discard old appliances ++ +++

Analysing your electricity use At nicola.qeng-ho.org

Wrap up

•  Main messages •  Lots of ways to save energy – many quick wins

•  If you fix draughts you must consider ventilation

•  When you buy or change something, think small, efficient, energy saving features

More information

•  www.transitioncambridge.org/faqs

•  energy-surprises.blogspot.co.uk