| Energy efficient homes are a great way to | | | | tumble dryer). |
| reduce the impact of rising global fuel prices. | | | | 2. Home Improvements - include loft insulation, |
| People are now being forced to spend a greater | | | | wall insulation, draft proofing, and double / treble |
| proportion of their monthly budgets on energy | | | | glazing (can generate total savings of around |
| bills. There has never been a more crucial time to | | | | $1,000 a year). |
| carry out simple energy saving home | | | | 3. Heating system solutions - include adjusting |
| improvement works. | | | | programmers, fitting thermostatic radiator valves |
| In 2008, after countless energy price hikes, | | | | (TRVs) and lowering thermostats (lowering your |
| people are finally beginning to realize that energy | | | | room thermostat by just 1°C can save you |
| saving as beneficial for their bank account as it is | | | | over $100 a year). |
| for conserving the environment. | | | | 4. Energy saving products include energy saving |
| Shell last year announced record profits of $27.5 | | | | light bulbs and home appliances such as tumble |
| billion and that was when the cost for a barrel of | | | | dryers and fridge/freezers (can generate total |
| oil was under $100. This year they are reportedly | | | | savings of up to $500 a year). |
| making well over $75 million each day. Surely with | | | | 5. Other techniques include changing your energy |
| all that profit our energy costs should be falling | | | | supplier and seeking financial assistance from |
| not rising. | | | | governments or other bodies to increase your |
| What's the solution? | | | | home's energy efficiency. |
| We can't control global economics and most of us | | | | These simple energy saving solutions are cheap |
| do not have an oil well in our back yard. However, | | | | and easy to implement and, unlike more costly |
| to a large extent we can control the amount of | | | | solutions such as solar power, do not require |
| energy we use and the energy saving measures | | | | massive investment. They can quickly generate |
| we employ. In particular we can start by | | | | significant reductions to annual energy bills whilst |
| maximizing the energy efficiency (i.e. minimize | | | | lowering carbon dioxide emissions. |
| energy usage) of our homes. | | | | Jane Longton, Orlando, Florida fitted loft insulation, |
| Households spend on average around 10 per cent | | | | double glazing, and draft proofing in 2007 and her |
| of their annual income on home energy bills. Using | | | | annual energy bills have fallen by more than $900. |
| a few simple, often overlooked, techniques annual | | | | Energy efficiency upgrades also have the benefit |
| energy bills can be cut by around 75 per cent. | | | | of providing year on year savings once installed |
| The following five 'no-cost' or 'low-cost' energy | | | | and they enhance property saleability. |
| saving measures offer some of the best and | | | | According to the U.S. government global energy |
| most cost-effective solutions to the energy | | | | demand is set to rise 54 per cent by 2025 so, |
| problem with relatively short payback periods: | | | | unfortunately, we are likely to see many more |
| 1. Home Energy Audits - easy to carry out and | | | | uncapped energy price rises over the next few |
| useful to identify areas for home improvement. | | | | years. By increasing our home energy saving any |
| Focus on areas of lowest energy efficiency, such | | | | future increases in global energy costs will have |
| as un-insulated lofts, single glazed windows, open | | | | less impact on the energy bills of those who have |
| fireplaces and energy 'eating' appliances (e.g. | | | | made some sensible changes. |