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Energy Saving and Sustainability

The need to reduce our overall energy consumption

The quality and amount of insulation and efficiency of heating systems greatly affects the Energy Performance of Buildings. Other factors include building shape, orientation, window sizes and distribution. However there are many energy saving measures that can be introduced as well as small scale improvements that can be made.

Simple measures that a householder could implement as recommended by the Energy Savings Trust include:

• Turning your thermostat down by 1C could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and save around £40 per year
  
• Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60C
  
• Close curtains at night to stop heat escaping through the windows
  
• Always turn the lights off when you leave a room
  
• Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily
  
• If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwater, use the half-load or economy programme.
  
• Only boil as much water as you need but remember to cover the elements if you're using a kettle.
  
• A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off
  
• Replace your light bulbs with energy saving recommened ones: just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £100 over the lifteime of the bulb - and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs. It is calculated in the US that if every household replaced one bulb with a compact fluorescent light (CFL) it would have the same effect as removing a million cars from the road.
  
• Wash your laundry at 30C. Washing at 30C rather than normal temperature means you use 40% less electricity.
  
• Water barrels to collect rainwater

Rather more expensive improvements that could be considered include:

• Insulate the loft: Insulating the loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy and is not expensive - a standard layer 270mm could save as much as £180 to £220 a year on fuel bills.
  
• Install cavity wall insulation: Around 33% of heat lost in an uninsulated home is through the walls, so insulating them can be the most cost-effective way to save energy in the home - it could save up to £130 to £160 on an annual heating bill.
  
• Upgrade your boiler: If the boiler is over 15 years old it may be time to replace it. By law new boilers must be of the high-efficiency type. They can help save up to a third on heating bills and even more if the controls are upgraded.
  
• Buy Energy Saving Recommended appliances displaying the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Energy saving appliances could save you up to £45 per year.

Environmental Impact Rating

The Environmental Impact Rating relates to Carbon Dioxide Emmissions

The price of the fuel supplying the heating and hot water requirements in a property determines a significant proportion of the overall SAP rating. Comparing fuel prices is part of the storey but the carbon emmissions are also important. Mains gas produces around 50kg of emmission per GJ and oil around 75kg. Electricity produces over 100kg but wood for instance has a very low emisssion rate. This is partly due to the replacing of trees policy in the UK.

The relationship between SAP and carbon emmissions means that at the lower end of the SAP scale where energy performance is worst, improvements bring about a relatively larger carbon saving than at higher SAP levels. The greatest carbon savings are therefore on average achieved by raising the energy performance of the lowest performing dwellings.

On balance if the SAP and carbon emmissions are taken together a mains gas heated house probably gives the best combination at present.