There's no way of escaping it: everywhere you go these days you leave dirty great carbon footprints revealing, for the world to see, just how wasteful and unsustainable your lifestyle is. From the type of car you drive (you do drive, don't you?) to your choice of grocery provider (could we be talking supermarket here?), you wear your green credentials on your sleeve.
But however guilty you feel about your turbocharged SUV and penchant for Peruvian asparagus at Christmas, the likelihood is that your home is your most carbon-rich, energy- burning crime. So, if you're really serious about reducing your impact on the environment, the best place to begin your quest is at home. Eco-friendly homes don't have to be weird-looking and expensive. An award winning five-bedroom eco-home on a brownfield site in Lewes, East Sussex, which cost just £340,000 to build, is selling for £865,000 (www.lewesestates.co.uk). Its environmentally friendly features include solar panels, underfloor heating and English lamb's wool insulation.
It is insulation that is the biggest single contribution you can make to reducing a house's carbon footprint. "We still let a huge proportion of our energy escape through windows, roofs and walls," says environmental campaigner Brigit Strawbridge. "But other options, like solar hot water, are both efficient and surprisingly affordable." Strawbridge is best known as the diminutive but feisty martriarch in the BBC2 series It's Not Easy Being Green, which documented the Strawbridge family (Brigit, husband Dick and grown-up children James and Charlotte) as they struggled to convert a 300-year-old Cornish farmhouse into a comfortable yet environmentally friendly place to live.
Anybody who is serious about reducing their carbon footprint can start making changes immediately, says Brigit. "It's a doddle. What's not easy is making decisions - whether biofuel crops are a better option than using the land to grow food, if investing in solar electricity will save money and the environment - these are all questions that you have to think hard about."
Earlier this month she encouraged home-owners to adopt a whole range of energy efficient measures at a weekend promoting green energy, low carbon, environmentally conscious lifestyle options at Hallsannery Centre near Bideford, North Devon, courtesy of the Torridge Action Group for Sustainability (TAGS for short). Visitors from across the country learnt the virtues of biomass boilers and the need for the thickest possible layers of insulation, and were taken to see dozens of different homes and businesses which have already invested in sustainable energy-saving technology. "My message is that you can switch to a greener lifestyle by making changes gradually, and the best time to start is now," says Brigit.
The Strawbridge family runs courses in greener living and their website provides useful links (www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org).
1 Switch to low-energy lightbulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs use up to 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 15 times longer.
2 Turning your thermostat down by 1 deg C can save up to 10 per cent on your annual heating bill.
3 Never leave your personal computer or monitor on when not in use - they burn a huge amount of energy.
4 Turn your television off at the wall when not in use. A television on standby is still using 80 per cent of its power.
5 Close your curtains when it starts getting dark to reduce the amount of heat escaping through your windows.
6 Air leakage wastes an enormous amount of thermal energy. Seal all leaky doors and windows.
7 Save water by putting a flush saver, or even a brick, in your loo cistern to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.
8 Replacing an ageing central heating boiler with a new condensing type could cut your heating bills by more than 20 per cent.
9 Your hot water does not need to be boiling, so make sure your cylinder thermostat is set at 60 deg C.
10 Next time you upgrade your fridge or freezer make sure you get an energy-efficient model. An "A++" rating denotes the best energy efficiency.
11 Urban water run-off from paths and patios can be stored in a sustainable drainage system which helps prevent flooding in main sewers and drains.
12 Use water butts to store rainwater for use in the garden. It can even be filtered and used in the house for flushing loos and in your washing machine.
13 'Grey water" from your bath and shower can also be filtered and re-used in the house or garden.
14 Solar hot water heating is one of the most cost-effective technologies available. Once installed, up to 70 per cent of your annual hot water requirement can be met by this technology.
15 Solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels generate electricity from sunlight. Although a whole-house system is an expensive option, small panels can be used efficiently to power certain appliances such as water pumps and lighting circuits.
16 If your windows need replacing, make sure you fit new double- or even triple- glazed units. Double glazing can cut heat loss through windows by up to 50 per cent.
17 A third of all building heat is lost through walls. Cavity wall insulation is easy and cheap and even solid walls can be insulated either indoors or outside.
18 Increasing the depth of your loft insulation to at least 20 cm could reduce heat lost through your roof by 25 per cent.
19 Use a compost bin and reduce the amount of kitchen rubbish you send to landfill.
20 Most metals, glass and plastics can be recycled and most local authorities have a collection scheme. Make sure that you segregate and recycle all these materials.
full article
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Saving energy at home could take 200 years to repay its cost
The cost of installing energy-saving measures such as solar panels would take more than 200 years to recoup in reduced bills, according to research published today.
The Energy Performance Certificates which are now required with all Home Information Packs for houses with three or more bedrooms list eight measures to secure a high rating of A or B against a poor rating of F or G.
But the study from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors shows that some of the measures, such as solar panels to heat water, would cost £5,000 to install but reduce average bills by only £24 a year and would take about 208 years to pay back.
The RICS data shows that putting in all eight measures, including insulation, condenser boilers and double glazing, would cost £23,547. This would knock only £486 off fuel bills and would take 48 years to recoup.
Ministers have argued that the energy performance certificates would reduce carbon emissions and shave hundreds of pounds off household bills, making them an attractive selling point. But the cost of double glazing would take 124 years to recoup in lower heating bills while underfloor insulation would take 54 years.
Even loft insulation would take 13 years to produce savings in utility bills. “People on average spend 16 years living in one property, making most of the EPC energy saving measures financially unattractive propositions,” said RICS. Ten per cent stay in their home for less than five years, and about 12 per cent less than three years.
The organisation is now pressing ministers to reduce the 17.5 per cent VAT rate paid on energy saving measurs to 5 per cent or zero. But they also want the Government to provide grants to give householders a financial incentive to reduce carbon emissions.
“The Government needs to do a lot more than just introduce a ‘fridge style’ energy rating system to encourage people to take up energy saving measures,” said Jill Craig, RICS Head of Policy and Public Affairs.
“RICS has been calling on government to reduce the level of VAT applied to all energy saving measures and to provide an attractive grant program to aid real change. If this Government is really serious about combating climate change they have to turn their big talk into even bigger actions.
“Efforts must be focused on the bulk of the housing market, made up of older homes from the 1920s1960s, that produce twice as much CO2 as a homes built after 1995. The EPC should be applied flexibly to all residential property, not just those that are being bought and sold.”A review of the whole of the residential housing sector begins on Monday which will consider the effectiveness of energy saving measures.
The inquiry, which will be chaired by Sir Bryan Carsberg, former director general of the Office of Fair Trading, will examine the benefits and drawbacks of Home Information Packs. It will also examine current practices in buying/selling and renting and letting property before drawing up recommendations on the regulation of estate agents and letting agents.
The commission, sponsored by RICS, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents, will take evidence in public hearings. Yvette Cooper, the housing minister, will be one of the first witnesses to be invited.
Jill Sherman
full article
The Energy Performance Certificates which are now required with all Home Information Packs for houses with three or more bedrooms list eight measures to secure a high rating of A or B against a poor rating of F or G.
But the study from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors shows that some of the measures, such as solar panels to heat water, would cost £5,000 to install but reduce average bills by only £24 a year and would take about 208 years to pay back.
The RICS data shows that putting in all eight measures, including insulation, condenser boilers and double glazing, would cost £23,547. This would knock only £486 off fuel bills and would take 48 years to recoup.
Ministers have argued that the energy performance certificates would reduce carbon emissions and shave hundreds of pounds off household bills, making them an attractive selling point. But the cost of double glazing would take 124 years to recoup in lower heating bills while underfloor insulation would take 54 years.
Even loft insulation would take 13 years to produce savings in utility bills. “People on average spend 16 years living in one property, making most of the EPC energy saving measures financially unattractive propositions,” said RICS. Ten per cent stay in their home for less than five years, and about 12 per cent less than three years.
The organisation is now pressing ministers to reduce the 17.5 per cent VAT rate paid on energy saving measurs to 5 per cent or zero. But they also want the Government to provide grants to give householders a financial incentive to reduce carbon emissions.
“The Government needs to do a lot more than just introduce a ‘fridge style’ energy rating system to encourage people to take up energy saving measures,” said Jill Craig, RICS Head of Policy and Public Affairs.
“RICS has been calling on government to reduce the level of VAT applied to all energy saving measures and to provide an attractive grant program to aid real change. If this Government is really serious about combating climate change they have to turn their big talk into even bigger actions.
“Efforts must be focused on the bulk of the housing market, made up of older homes from the 1920s1960s, that produce twice as much CO2 as a homes built after 1995. The EPC should be applied flexibly to all residential property, not just those that are being bought and sold.”A review of the whole of the residential housing sector begins on Monday which will consider the effectiveness of energy saving measures.
The inquiry, which will be chaired by Sir Bryan Carsberg, former director general of the Office of Fair Trading, will examine the benefits and drawbacks of Home Information Packs. It will also examine current practices in buying/selling and renting and letting property before drawing up recommendations on the regulation of estate agents and letting agents.
The commission, sponsored by RICS, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents, will take evidence in public hearings. Yvette Cooper, the housing minister, will be one of the first witnesses to be invited.
Jill Sherman
full article
Solar heating will pay for itself ... if you wait 208 years
There's good news and bad news if you follow the energy-saving advice in your Home Information Pack.
On the positive side, by installing solar heating you'll be helping the planet and start saving money.
But the bad news is that it will take 208 years to recoup your outlay - meaning at least that your great, great, great, great grandchildren should be laughing.
The research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found payback times for energy-saving projects on an average three-bedroom terraced house range from five years for cavity wall insulation to more than 200 years for solar heating.
Those installing double glazing face a 124-year wait while an energy-efficient condensing boiler could take 38 years.
Even a more basic measure such as loft insulation will take 13 years before energy savings amount to the same initial outlay.
Given that we spend an average of 16 years in one property, RICS says we are unlikely to be spurred into shelling out for some of the schemes.
It highlighted VAT as being a major factor in increasing the length of time before homeowners make savings and called for a grants system to make improvements more attractive.
The study heaps yet further controversy on the Government's troubled HIPs scheme.
Jill Craig, RICS head of policy and public affairs, said: "RICS has been calling on Government to reduce the level of VAT applied to all energy-saving measures and to provide an attractive grant program to aid real change.
"If this Government is really serious about combating climate change they have to turn their big talk into even bigger actions.
"Efforts must be focused on the bulk of the housing market, made up of older
homes from the 1920s-1960s, that produce twice as much CO2 as homes built after 1995.
"The Energy Performance Certificates should be applied flexibly to all residential property, not just those that are being bought and sold."
The certificates are supposed to encourage individuals to make energy- saving changes to properties to help reduce carbon emissions.
However, property owners will have an incredibly lengthy wait to get their money back even on more basic measures.
For example, the payback time for loft insulation is 13 years and 38 years for hot water cylinder and pipework insulation.
At present Energy Performance Certificates are compulsory only for homeowners selling their properties, which is thought to account for 6.9 per cent of homes.
The cost of having a house's energy performance assessed is between £100 and £150.
HIPs have been blamed for a 37 per cent fall in the number of family homes coming on to the market.
The packs became compulsory for homes with three bedrooms a month ago and for those with four or more in August.
Estate agents claim the regime is driving sellers out of the market, creating a property famine.
HIPs appear to be driving away the 20 per cent of sellers who have, in the past, put their home on the market "on spec" to see if they can find a buyer or get a good price.
RICS believes HIPs could cause real damage to the property market, which is fragile at the moment.
The market has also slowed down in the wake of higher borrowing costs, caused by five base rate rises in the past year and the impact of the global credit crunch.
full article
On the positive side, by installing solar heating you'll be helping the planet and start saving money.
But the bad news is that it will take 208 years to recoup your outlay - meaning at least that your great, great, great, great grandchildren should be laughing.
The research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found payback times for energy-saving projects on an average three-bedroom terraced house range from five years for cavity wall insulation to more than 200 years for solar heating.
Those installing double glazing face a 124-year wait while an energy-efficient condensing boiler could take 38 years.
Even a more basic measure such as loft insulation will take 13 years before energy savings amount to the same initial outlay.
Given that we spend an average of 16 years in one property, RICS says we are unlikely to be spurred into shelling out for some of the schemes.
It highlighted VAT as being a major factor in increasing the length of time before homeowners make savings and called for a grants system to make improvements more attractive.
The study heaps yet further controversy on the Government's troubled HIPs scheme.
Jill Craig, RICS head of policy and public affairs, said: "RICS has been calling on Government to reduce the level of VAT applied to all energy-saving measures and to provide an attractive grant program to aid real change.
"If this Government is really serious about combating climate change they have to turn their big talk into even bigger actions.
"Efforts must be focused on the bulk of the housing market, made up of older
homes from the 1920s-1960s, that produce twice as much CO2 as homes built after 1995.
"The Energy Performance Certificates should be applied flexibly to all residential property, not just those that are being bought and sold."
The certificates are supposed to encourage individuals to make energy- saving changes to properties to help reduce carbon emissions.
However, property owners will have an incredibly lengthy wait to get their money back even on more basic measures.
For example, the payback time for loft insulation is 13 years and 38 years for hot water cylinder and pipework insulation.
At present Energy Performance Certificates are compulsory only for homeowners selling their properties, which is thought to account for 6.9 per cent of homes.
The cost of having a house's energy performance assessed is between £100 and £150.
HIPs have been blamed for a 37 per cent fall in the number of family homes coming on to the market.
The packs became compulsory for homes with three bedrooms a month ago and for those with four or more in August.
Estate agents claim the regime is driving sellers out of the market, creating a property famine.
HIPs appear to be driving away the 20 per cent of sellers who have, in the past, put their home on the market "on spec" to see if they can find a buyer or get a good price.
RICS believes HIPs could cause real damage to the property market, which is fragile at the moment.
The market has also slowed down in the wake of higher borrowing costs, caused by five base rate rises in the past year and the impact of the global credit crunch.
full article
Friday, 12 October 2007
Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize for climate
Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize today for warning the world about the dangers of global warming, and leading the campaign to persuade governments and individuals to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
The former US vice-president will share the £750,000 prize with the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations panel which has worked for two decades to establish consensus on the science of man-made warming.
Mr Gore said tonight that climate change is the most “dangerous and urgent challenge” the world faces at the moment and said it is time to “elevate global consciousness” about the challenges of global warming.
full article
The former US vice-president will share the £750,000 prize with the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations panel which has worked for two decades to establish consensus on the science of man-made warming.
Mr Gore said tonight that climate change is the most “dangerous and urgent challenge” the world faces at the moment and said it is time to “elevate global consciousness” about the challenges of global warming.
full article
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