Homes must be greener

The debate over the introduction of Home Information Packs continues with the deadline of 1st June fast approaching. Whatever happens, the fact that our homes account for 27% of the UK’s CO2 emissions makes looking at how to improve energy efficiency in the home a high priority. The biggest problem is making sense of the different energy efficient products on the market. The organisers of the Thames Valley’s dedicated Homebuilding & Renovating Show, on at the Newbury Showground on 23 and 24 June, have put together a simple guide to help you through the maze of greener living.

RAINWATER HARVESTING
Rainwater harvesting allows homeowners to make the most of the significant amount of rainfall the UK gets. A system costs around £1500 which includes underground storage tanks, filters and a pump to take water back into the house. A large tank can supply enough water for the whole house but at the very least you could use it for flushing toilets and watering the garden. A cheaper alternative is to invest in a few water butts and a pump to allow 100% of saved rainwater to be hosed onto the garden. Hosepipe bans will no longer be a problem!

UNDERFLOOR HEATING
An underfloor heating system is energy efficient because the emitter (the floor) has a larger surface area than the standard radiator and so the water can be heated to a lower temperature than normal. Installation costs are similar to those for a top-end radiator-based system. Running costs tend to be between 10-30% cheaper.

GREY WATER RECYCLING
Grey water (waste water from showers, basins and washing machines) can be recycled for non-potable uses such as flushing the loo and watering the garden. The ‘grey’ water is treated with cleaning agents and passed through a carbon filter. Less storage is needed than with rainwater harvesting as the supply of water from the household is much more regular than rainfall.

HEAT PUMP
The ground source heat pump is one of the darlings of the green movement. It works like a fridge, using electricity to power water through pipes below the surface (you will need to excavate part of your garden to lay the pipes) where the temperature remains at a constant 10°c. A secondary process raises the temperature further, enough to power an underfloor heating system. Installation costs tend to be between £8-12,000. Payback times are a point of controversy in the industry, with claims ranging between 8 and 22 years.

WIND POWER
Wind power is also making the news. Two basic types exist: the stand-alone system used to generate electricity to run small electrical applications; and grid-connected systems, which connect the output to a home’s existing mains supply. The energy produced by the turbine overrides the energy from the grid, with the mains electricity as backup. The Windsave WS1000 (now available at B&Q) costs around £1,595 + VAT installed and, taking into account grants available, the manufacturers claim it could pay for itself in as little as five years, saving of up to 33% off an annual electricity bill. Key controversies are how much wind is actually converted into energy, and the viability of the system in low-wind areas.

SOLAR POWER
Using the sun to provide energy, solar panels are used for heating water and PV cells, for creating electricity. A heating system will cost around £2,000 to install and can usually provide enough hot water all year round — the problem from a ‘value’ point of view is that it only costs around £100 a year to provide this anyway. PV cells create a more significant amount of electricity which may allow you to sell some of the energy you’ve created back to the grid.

INSULATION
Insulation is a key ingredient of a green home because it reduces the amount of energy required to keep it warm inside. Floors, walls and roofs should have as high levels of insulation specified as possible. Owners of older properties should be looking to bring insulation levels close to modern building standards. Up to 33% of heat produced in the home is lost through walls so consider cavity wall insulation. It costs £200-500 and produces savings of around £150 a year on your heating bills. There are grants available – ring 0800 512 012 for more information.

ENERGY SAVING LIGHTBULBS
Energy saving lightbulbs use around four times less electricity than a standard lightbulb. In place of a 40W bulb, you would only need an 8-11W energy-saving equivalent. They cost around £3.50 compared to just 50p for a standard bulb, but it should save you around £10 per year on your annual electricity bill.

HEAT RECOVERY PASSIVE VENTILATION
A heat recovery system takes the moist, stale air from bathrooms and kitchens (through extractor fans) to a heat recovery unit (usually situated in the loft), and pass it through a heat exchanger to recover some 65-70% of the heat usually lost through standard ventilation. They run continuously, are up to 95% efficient and can easily be fitted to additional heating and cooling systems. Payback time for a system of this sort is estimated to be around five years. A HR unit is quiet and provides filtered air - perfect for asthma and hayfever sufferers.

LOW FLUSH WCS
The average household uses an astonishing 180 litres of water a day to flush loos, the largest single use of water in the home (around a third of water used). Dual flush loos are an essential starting point but water saving or low flush WCs are an even better way to save water and money (all new homes are fitted with water meters).

WISE BOILERS
Boiler efficiencies have been transformed in recent years to reduce the level of CO2 emissions. Nowadays, boilers can only be used if they are A or B rated on the Government’s SEDBUK rating scheme, which means that all boilers in the UK have to be at least 86% efficient — a rating that only condensing boilers currently exceed. Using one will save you up to around £60 a year on your heating bills.

NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS
The choice of materials used in building projects can have a big impact on the environment. Materials that need manufacturing require high levels of energy to produce workable products and may give out pollutants as a by-product of the process. Naturally occurring materials such as lime, sand, stone, slate and timber enjoy very low production costs and produce far less pollutants in this process.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
To find out more about how to save money, be more energy efficient or create a dream home visit the Thames Valley’s dedicated Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the Newbury Showground on 23 and 24 June 2007. The Show offers over 120 exhibitors and free seminars and masterclass sessions on both days. Tickets cost £5.00 in advance, £8.00 on the door (children under 16 go free). For more information visit homebuildingshow.co.uk.