From March of 2009 there is a grant available through the home energy saving scheme. As BER assessors there is a grant available through this scheme for a before works and after works BER (Building Energy Rating) of €200. As a company through our offices nationwide we are going to be providing this service and also help home owners with understanding the benefits that they will achieve from the grant aided systems that they may put in place. We will also help homeowners with the grant applications and guide them in the route that suits their situation most. We are an independent company that is not selling a product but providing a service and it is our aim for you the get the best results possible from the scheme. |
 |
1. Insulation
Attic insulation is the cheapest way to improve the energy rating of the dwelling the following materials can be used:
If you have a house with a cavity wall construction you may pump insulation into the cavity through a drilling pattern in the external leaf. The U-value of an empty cavity width of 75mm (1980's construction) is 1.64W/m2K so for example by pumping the cavity with a bonded bead the thermal U-value of 0.37Wm2K can be achieved which is a vast improvement and will improve the heat losses through the external walls.
Products that may be used include:
2. Windows and Doors
Windows on existing dwellings are mainly single glazed or older double glazing. The standard window U-value of the moment is 1.7Wm2K so anything better than that is a major improvement (Remember the lower the U-value the lower the heat loss thus leading to a greater energy efficiency). Solid timber doors have a U-value of 3.00Wm2K so anything with a lower U-value can
only have a positive effect.
3. Ventilation
Ventilation is very important in a dwelling but too much ventilation can lead to energy wastage. Controlled vents could be installed in every room. Draught proofing may be applied to doors and windows to minimise air leakage.
4. Space & Water Heating Boilers
The changing of the boiler whether it be gas or oil to condensing technology would dramatically improve the efficiency of the dwelling. Condensing boilers can be up to 97% efficient compared to a normal boiler being around 70% efficient.
Renewable
Solar
The use of solar panels again can have a major impact in improving the dwellings energy efficiency. The use of solar will provide your water heating needs for the summer and boost your hot water for the rest of the year thus leading to longer boiler life span.
Heat Recovery
Also could be used under the ventilation heading. This system continuously extracts warm air from the wet rooms of the house such as the bathrooms or kitchen the heat from this air warms the incoming fresh air which is delivered which is then delivered to the liveable rooms of the house i.e. Sitting room, living room and bedrooms.
Lighting
The use of low energy CFL bulbs throughout the house is a relatively cheap and effective way of improving the energy rating of the house.
Heat Pumps
The most familiar form of heat pump is the domestic refrigerator. Here, heat is extracted from the cabinet to keep food fresh and the extracted heat is expelled through the radiator grill at the back of the unit. In this case the heat is merely a waste product. In the heat pump, we utilise this heat, and put the "cold part" outside. To make this more understandable, imagine that the "ice box" of your refrigerator is immersed in a small garden stream and the hot grid from the back is placed inside a house.
The "ice box" will attempt to freeze the stream and, if we stopped the stream from flowing, freezing of the water would actually occur. But the passing water will constantly warm up the very cold "ice box". The temperature of the flowing stream will actually be reduced very slightly. So we are extracting heat from the stream which ends up as heat in the radiator grill, available to warm the house. In every case, the useful heat delivered to the house will be greater than the energy required to drive the heat pump itself. So we have extracted "free" heat from the stream.
Extracted heat (2.5kW) + Power input (1kW) = The useful heat output (3.5kW).