Improving Energy Efficiency in Your Home

Why Energy Efficiency Matters

With rising energy costs and increasing awareness of environmental issues, improving the energy efficiency of your home has never been more important. Irish households spend an average of €2,000 annually on energy bills, with heating accounting for approximately 60% of this expenditure.

Enhancing your home's energy efficiency not only reduces your carbon footprint but also leads to significant cost savings. What's more, an energy-efficient home is typically more comfortable, with fewer drafts, more consistent temperatures, and better air quality.

Understanding Your Home's Energy Usage

Before making improvements, it's helpful to understand how energy is used in your home. In a typical Irish household, energy is distributed as follows:

• Space Heating: ~60%
• Water Heating: ~15%
• Appliances and Lighting: ~15%
• Cooking: ~10%

With heating accounting for the largest share of energy consumption, it's often the area where the biggest efficiency improvements can be made, particularly in Ireland's climate where heating systems are used for much of the year.

Optimizing Your Heating System

Regular Boiler Maintenance

Having your gas boiler serviced annually by a Registered Gas Installer is essential for safety, but it also ensures optimal efficiency. A well-maintained boiler can be up to 15% more efficient than a neglected one. During a service, our engineers will:

• Clean key components to ensure efficient operation
• Check gas pressure and flow rates
• Ensure optimal combustion
• Identify and address any issues that might be reducing efficiency

Consider a Boiler Upgrade

If your boiler is over 10-15 years old, upgrading to a modern high-efficiency condensing boiler could significantly reduce your energy consumption. Modern A-rated condensing boilers are typically 90-94% efficient, compared to older models that might operate at 70-80% efficiency or less.

While the initial investment may seem substantial, the energy savings over time can make it a cost-effective choice, especially with current energy prices. The SEAI offers grants for heating system upgrades through the Better Energy Homes Scheme, which can help offset the cost.

Smart Heating Controls

Upgrading your heating controls is one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency improvements you can make. Modern smart heating controls allow for:

• Zone control - heat only the areas of your home that are in use
• Programmable timers - set different temperatures for different times of day
• Smart thermostats - learn your habits and optimize heating accordingly
• Remote control via smartphone apps - adjust your heating when you're away from home
• Weather compensation - adjust heating based on outdoor temperature

These features can reduce heating costs by 10-30% by ensuring you only use energy when and where it's needed.

Improving Home Insulation

No matter how efficient your heating system is, if your home isn't well insulated, you'll be losing heat and wasting energy. Here are the key areas to focus on:

Attic Insulation

Up to 30% of heat can be lost through an uninsulated roof. Insulating your attic is relatively straightforward and cost-effective, with a typical payback period of 2-4 years. The recommended depth for attic insulation in Ireland is 300mm of mineral wool or equivalent.

Wall Insulation

Walls can account for up to 35% of heat loss in a home. The type of insulation solution depends on your wall construction:

• Cavity Walls: Cavity wall insulation involves filling the gap between the inner and outer walls with insulating material. It's relatively non-invasive and cost-effective.
• Solid Walls: These require either internal or external insulation. External insulation involves wrapping the building in an insulating layer, while internal insulation is applied to the inside of external walls. Both have pros and cons regarding cost, space implications, and disruption.

Floor Insulation

About 10-15% of heat can be lost through uninsulated floors. Insulating under a ground floor can improve comfort and reduce energy use. For suspended timber floors, insulation can be installed between joists, while solid floors might require insulation above or below the floor slab (the latter usually only practical during construction or major renovation).

Windows and Doors

Upgrading to double or triple glazing can significantly reduce heat loss through windows, which can account for up to 10% of a home's heat loss. Similarly, ensuring doors are well-sealed and insulated helps maintain indoor temperatures. Even simple measures like draught-proofing can make a noticeable difference to comfort and energy bills.

Hot Water Efficiency

After space heating, water heating is typically the second-largest energy user in Irish homes. Here's how to make it more efficient:

Insulate Your Hot Water Cylinder

If you have a hot water cylinder, ensure it's properly insulated with a good quality cylinder jacket (at least 80mm thick). This simple measure can reduce heat loss by over 75%.

Optimize Water Heating Times

Only heat water when you need it. Using programmable controls to schedule water heating around your usage patterns can save significant energy.

Consider Solar Thermal

Solar thermal panels can provide up to 60% of your hot water needs annually, with most of the contribution during summer months. While the initial investment is substantial, SEAI grants are available, and the long-term savings can be significant.

Install Water-Efficient Fixtures

Low-flow showerheads and taps can reduce water consumption without compromising performance, meaning less hot water needs to be heated.

Everyday Energy-Saving Habits

Beyond home improvements, your daily habits can significantly impact energy consumption:

Heating Habits

• Lower your thermostat by 1°C – this can reduce heating bills by up to 10%
• Close doors to unused rooms and turn off radiators in these spaces
• Use thermal curtains and close them at dusk to retain heat
• Avoid blocking radiators with furniture or curtains
• Use the timer function to ensure heating is only on when needed

Hot Water Usage

• Take shorter showers instead of baths
• Fix dripping hot taps promptly
• Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads
• Use cold water for clothes washing when possible

Cooking Efficiency

• Match pot size to burner size
• Use lids on pots to retain heat
• Only boil the amount of water you need
• Use residual heat by turning off the hob or oven slightly before cooking is complete
• Consider using a microwave or slow cooker for certain dishes, as they often use less energy than an oven

Financial Support for Energy Efficiency Improvements

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers several grants and support schemes to help homeowners improve energy efficiency:

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Provides grants for:

• Attic insulation
• Wall insulation
• Heating controls upgrades
• Heat pump systems
• Solar thermal panels
• Solar PV panels

National Home Retrofit Scheme

For deeper retrofits that achieve a minimum post-retrofit BER of B2, with grants covering a percentage of the cost.

Free Energy Upgrades

For eligible homeowners who receive certain welfare payments, the SEAI offers free energy efficiency upgrades.

More information on these schemes, including eligibility criteria and application processes, can be found on the SEAI website.

Measuring the Impact of Energy Efficiency Improvements

To understand the impact of any energy efficiency measures you implement, consider:

Building Energy Rating (BER)

A BER certificate rates a home's energy performance on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient. Having a BER assessment before and after improvements can quantify the impact of your efforts.

Energy Monitoring

Smart meters and energy monitoring systems allow you to track your energy consumption in real-time, helping you identify further opportunities for savings.

Comfort Levels

While harder to quantify, improvements in comfort – such as more consistent temperatures, fewer drafts, and better humidity control – are important benefits of energy efficiency measures.

How FermeSovve Gas Can Help

At FermeSovve Gas, we're committed to helping our customers improve their energy efficiency:

• We offer boiler servicing to ensure your heating system operates at peak efficiency
• Our engineers can advise on the most suitable heating controls for your home
• We provide boiler replacement services, helping you select the most efficient model for your needs
• We can conduct energy efficiency assessments to identify the most impactful improvements for your specific situation
• Our team can advise on available grants and support schemes that you might be eligible for

Conclusion

Improving your home's energy efficiency is a journey that can start with small steps and gradually progress to more significant improvements. The benefits extend beyond cost savings to include enhanced comfort, increased property value, and reduced environmental impact.

With rising energy costs and growing climate concerns, investing in energy efficiency has never made more sense. Whether you're making simple behavioral changes or undertaking a comprehensive retrofit, every step towards greater efficiency helps your pocket and the planet.