SUSTAINABILITY
Everyone has a part to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions points out the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. SCSI issued a list of Ten Tips for making homes more energy efficient and sustainable.
Taking steps towards energy efficient homes
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) has pointed out that governments on their own cannot solve our climate crisis.
Emissions In 2018 it was estimated the Irish built environment accounted for 35% of all greenhouse gas emissions. So, this shows the importance of making our homes, our places of work, our schools and hospitals as energy efficient and sustainable as possible. Krystyna Rawicz a leading member of the SCSI’s Sustainability Group stresses that everyone has a part to play in helping Ireland meet its climate action targets. To further encourage this, the SCSI issued ten top tips for making homes more energy efficient. 38 HARDWARE & HOMESTYLE • DIRECTORY 2022
Planning: It’s really important to plan your home upgrades and to get professional advice to ensure that any proposed upgrades are successful. Not all work has to take place in one go, and for some homeowners, a deep retrofit will be appropriate. For others, works can take place over a number of years. All homeowners should keep a record of any such works undertaken, including product data sheets, contractor’s invoices etc. These can be added to a Renovation Passport for the home in future years. Building Fabric: Up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87% gained through glazing. Selecting the right type and size of glazing systems is vital to maximise energy efficiency.
Insulation is essential to keep your home warm in winter, while it can also help with weather proofing and soundproofing. Depending on the type of home, it can be placed inside or outside external walls, in cavities as well as in the attic or at roof level. When upgrading insulation it’s essential to think about potential condensation risks and professional assistance is important to avoid cold bridging Air leakage: Air leakage for example around poorly fitting windows and doors, accounts for 15-25% of heat loss in buildings. Sealing your home effectively is one of the simplest upgrades you can undertake. Lighting: Consumes 8-15% of the average household electricity budget. Efficient
