In the UK the  Energy Saving Trust (EST)  have been doing a  long-running trial of 88 solar hot water systems, also known as solar thermal systems.

Solar thermal panels use the sun to heat water in homes, rather than generate power, as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels do.

The UK trial shows that things like good  installation,  insulation of the pipes and water tank are all key in improving the performance of a solar hot water system, so you can save the most on your heating bills.

The trials found that solar hot water systems on average – normally provide 39 % of  all the hot water a home needs.  Which is probably somewhere between  £60-£90 savings on energy bills per year.

But  if the system is well installed and used correctly , it could provide 60% of the home’s hot water needs.  A badly installed and run solar system could provide as little as 9%.

Users need to make sure they are  insulating their tank and pipes, getting the right system size and setting up pumps and timers correctly.

Solar payback time

With solar thermal systems in the UK costing about £3,000-£5,000,  payback time is still a big issue -  issue and might explain why there aren’t many systems installed in the UK.

Better Energy Scheme

In Ireland – there have been grants available for a while now for homeowners who install insulation in their house
A new scheme called Better Energy was launched in May 2011 as part of the new governments jobs initiative.

Under the new scheme Irish householders can get a grants of up to €4000  towards insulating their house .
With the freezing winters we have been having – anything that reduces the cost of heating has to be a good thing.

Grants towards new boilers are also available from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
The Better Energy scheme is available to any owner of a dwelling built before 2006. The work must be carried out by a contractor from the SEI’s registered list.
More details below of the amounts of grants available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme .

* All works must be carried out by a contractor registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland for this particular scheme.

The €100 million scheme will, it is expected, employ 4,000 people and benefit some 50,000 homes in 2009. It is estimates that about oOne million of the houses in Ireland require  need some retrofitting to achieve energy savings.

Those nice looking halogen downlighters in your home could be costing you hundreds of euros a year in elecricity. You could reduce your electricity usage by replacing the halogen bulbs with low energy LED bulbs.

The most common fitting for those spotlight type recessed downlights are GU10 fittings. Most halogen Gu10 bulbs are 50 watt bulbs – so a house with 20 of these lights would be using 1000 watts when they are all switched on.

If you had all these lights on for just 5 hours every day they would add €270 a year to your  electricity bill each year according to the ESB.*

You can buy these replacement  LED GU10 bulbs and 20 of those in use for 5 hours a day would use  just €22 worth of electricity a year.  That is a massive saving of 90%. A house with 20 of these halogen 50w Gu10 bulbs could cut their electricity bills by  €248 a year by switching to low energy 4  Watt LED bulbs.

That  is the equivalent (according to ESB) of using a vented tumble dryer 12 times every week (5kg load) all year.

The LED lightbulbs do cost   more than the halogen bulbs -  but in  less than a year you will start seeing a payback.
These LED bulbs last 10 to 15 times longer than ordinary halogen bulbs – so in the long term you will be even better off.
After 2016  Halogen bulbs will not be allowed at all under EU regulations.

You can buy these  LED GU10 bulbs online from Amazon with free delivery to Ireland – they fit straight into existing GU10 sockets and are exactly the same size. They are CE approved too.

These LED Gu10 Bulbs get good reviews too

* (Calculations as per the ESB online energy usage  calculator  based on  rates of 16.00c per Unit (including VAT) )

The new BBC Dragons Den had the investors all queuing up to give money to a company called PloughCroft Solar that installs solar panels to generate electricity.

In the UK – the Government pays householders to feed electricity generated into the national grid.The rate is 43.3p per unit of electricity  – this  Feed-in Tariff is guaranteed until 2035.
A 2kW system, on average, should  result in UK householders being paid  £900 annually as well as saving £140 on their own electicity bill.
WIth typical installation costs of around £11000  – and with electricity prices rising every year – householders could make a profit over 25 years of at least £10000

Solar PV or Photovoltaic cells generate  electricity from  a series of crystalline silicon cells, grouped into a framed panel and encased in toughened glass. The action of light on these cells is to create a direct current, which is then converted to alternating current which can be used in the home or can be  fed into the National Grid.

As with “normal” solar panels  – they are usually fitted onto the existing roof, although there are some which fit flush, and replace the existing tiles or slates.

Here in Ireland – we are not so lucky. ESB Electric Ireland currently offers a “Micro-generation”  payment of just of 9 cents per kWh to residential customers. The UK payments are more than 5 times the Irish levels.

If you are interested – here are the contact details for the ESB :

ESB Electric Ireland Micro-generation Scheme:

General Enquiries 1850 372 372

Registration for payment contact:

Dave Byrne 087 647 1791

Postal address:

Micro-generation Scheme

ESB Electric Ireland

FREEPOST F9

27 Lower Fitzwilliam Street

Dublin 2

email:  microgen@esbelectricireland.ie

Grants are also available in Ireland for the installation of solar electricity panels.

Wood Pellets are made up solely of natural, renewable raw material for which no forests have to be felled. Practically no sulphur dioxide, one of the main causes of acid rain and thus of forests dying, is emitted when pellets are burned. The ash is an excellent natural fertilizer for fields and gardens.

The advantages of wood pellet boilers are – Less volume to transport and store can be used in stoves and boilers Lower emissions, Exempt from CO2 tax, Pellets are dry and can be stored without degrading, Easier to ignite

Grants of upto €2500 are available for the installation of wood pellet boilers from The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

Geothermal heating harnesses natural thermal energy from within the Earth’s crust for water and space heating. This method of heating is hailed for its energy efficiency, lack of pollution, and financial benefits.

A series of pipes are set up in a loop beneath the house and cooled water is pumped through. As the water passes through the ground, it conducts heat, which is then re-extracted in a heat exchanger below the house. The heat that the exchanger pulls from the water and the heat created as a by product of the exchanger’s work are used to heat the house.

By far the greatest benefit is cost. This form of heating costs a fraction of the price of conventional heating systems in use in Ireland today. Thanks to a low consumption of electricity and minimal maintenance costs, there is an energy saving of 70% in comparison to conventional heating systems. A geothermal heat pump reduces a home’s annual heating energy use by 50 to 70 per cent. In addition, the system can also reduce space cooling costs up to 40 per cent and domestic water heating costs up to 25 per cent.

The costs of these systems vary, but the cost of an 8KW heat pump and the outside pipes is generally around €16,000 in Ireland.

Your home’s windows, walls, and floors can be designed to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and  reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design. Unlike active solar heating systems, passive solar design doesn’t involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar heat.

Passive solar homes range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those with south-facing windows that provide some fraction of the heating load. The difference between a passive solar home and a conventional home is design. The key is designing a passive solar home to best take advantage of your local climate.

You can apply passive solar design techniques most easily when designing a new home. However, existing buildings can be adapted or “retrofitted” to passively collect and store solar heat.

The Passive House concept represents today’s highest energy standard with the promise of slashing the heating energy consumption of buildings by an amazing 90%

A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply.

Direct gain is the simplest passive solar home design technique. Sunlight enters the house through the aperture (collector)—usually south-facing windows with a glazing material made of transparent or translucent glass. The sunlight then strikes masonry floors and/or walls, which absorb and store the solar heat. The surfaces of these masonry floors and walls are typically a dark colour because dark colours usually absorb more heat than light colors. At night, as the room cools, the heat stored in the thermal mass convects and radiates into the room.

An indirect-gain passive solar home has its thermal storage between the south-facing windows and the living spaces.

The simplest and most reliable sunspace design is to install vertical windows with no overhead glazing. Sunspaces may experience high heat gain and high heat loss through their abundance of glazing. The temperature variations caused by the heat losses and gains can be moderated by thermal mass and low-emissivity windows

Timber Frame or Concrete Block?  This is the choice many self builders have to decide on. Both methods have their good and bad points – here is the
Timber Frame industry version of why to build a Timber Framed House:

1) Timber Frame can dramatically cut your heating bills. Timber is a natural insulator and due to the thickness of the inner leaf timber wall, you get more insulation as standard than with a Block house. Savings of between 30 and 40% on heating bills are fairly typical.2) Timber Frame buildings are strong and durable. In fact there are many Timber Frame buildings across the UK and Europe dating back many hundreds of years, some as far back as the thirteenth century.

3) Fire Resistance. Timber Frame houses perform excellently in cases of fire. It is perhaps natural for people to think otherwise however, as we all know that timber is hard to beat when placed in your stove. However the timber in a Timber Frame home is treated, as well as being covered by fire resistant dry lining board. Timber Frame buildings need to meet the same exacting standards and regulations as any other method of construction, and they meet these regulations comfortably.

4) Speed and accuracy of construction. The average Timber Frame home is weather proof in five days or less. This means that tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians can get to work on the inside of your house from virtually the outset. You can be moved in within six to eight weeks. That is an incredible saving in time, which can mean big savings in rental and storage costs as well as a faster return on investment. Also due to the modern technology and equipment used in the controlled setting of the factory, the accuracy of the walls can be measured to +/-1mm accuracy, making laying carpet or installing kitchens trouble free. That really sets the standards for other building methods to follow.

5) Timber Frame is very environmentally friendly. The timber used comes from managed forests, mainly in Scandinavia, Canada and Ireland. Replanting of these forests ensures that every tree that is cut down is replaced. In fact there is a net growth in the number of trees planted in these forests each year. Timber uses far less energy and creates much less CO2 than concrete or steel to bring it to its finished state. In fact Timber acts as a carbon sink, storing CO2 which it takes from the atmosphere. Another spin off is that as you use less energy on heating a timber frame home which is an enormous benefit to the environment.

6) Flexibility of Design and future Modification. Timber Frame is a very adaptable form of construction and has already been utilised in Ireland to build Hotels, Office blocks, nursing homes, apartment blocks, as well as large housing developments. Buildings as high as seven stories are being produced. Extending a Timber Frame building is a very easy and clean process as well, making it a wise choice for people who want to start small and let the house grow along with the family. Finally, a Timber Frame building can be clad with many different materials including brick, block, timber, cement board or stone amongst other materials. In other words, the building can look as traditional or different as you like.

7) Better build quality. As each building is an engineered solution which utilises the latest CADCAM systems, consistency of build quality is extremely high. This leads to a higher customer satisfaction rate, fewer call backs and less dependency on site skills.

Reduced material handling and waste. Timber Frame buildings arrive on site in panellised form, labelled and stored in order of erection, which in turn reduces the need for handling. Also, as the structure is for the most part manufactured in a factory environment, there is far less on site waste, which leads to a safer and tidier site.

9) Timber Frame buildings are very suited to the Irish climate. In Scotland with whom we share a very similar climate, Timber Frame accounts for approximately 65% of all new homes. The growth of Timber Frame in Ireland has been phenomenal, growing from just 5% of all new buildings in the mid 1990?s to around 25% at present. Many industry commentators expect this figure to reach 50% in the next 5 to 7 years.

10) EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings. This directive was recently passed into European and Irish. Essentially its? purpose is to ensure higher standards of energy efficiency in all buildings Europe wide. All buildings are to have an energy Audit, and will be given an Energy Rating similar to what you would find on a new fridge. Whenever a building is to be sold or rented an energy rating certificate must be presented to the buyers or tenants, which will enable them to estimate their annual heating costs. It is expected to have an impact on the speed at which property is sold and it is quite likely to affect the price of a building as well, especially in a downward market. The benefits of Timber Frame Technology will really be brought to light in the face of this new directive. The Timber Frame Industry in Ireland is perhaps not surprisingly calling for an early implementation of the directive.

Building Energy Rating Certificates are now mandatory on existing homes that are put up for sale or rent from today (Jan 1st 2009). Homeowners who are not selling or renting their house do not have to apply for a BER cert. If a house was put on the market before January 1st 2009 – it does not need a BER cert – but soon most buyers will expect to see one – so getting one done will probably help the sale of your house especially if the Energy Rating is a good one ( A, or B) .
SEI has been designated as the Issuing Authority with responsibility for the registration of BER assessors, logging of BER assessments and the overall administration of the BER Scheme. In order to obtain a BER, a homeowner must have an assessment carried out by a certified BER assessor who is trained under the National Framework of Qualifications and registered with SEI. A BER is based on the building’s characteristics, (walls, roofs, floors, windows, doors) as well as levels of insulation, ventilation, lighting, and heating systems, including renewable energy technologies.

Anyone buying or renting a new house or apartment may already be entitled to a BER and should ask the seller/landlord or their agent for it. Along with the BER certificate, they will also receive an Advisory Report which will help identify how to improve the energy performance of the building, reducing the energy costs in the home, and helping them do their bit for the environment.

A BER is valid for up to ten years provided that there is no material change to the dwelling. New homes offered up for sale off plans can be issued with a provisional BER which is valid for a maximum of two years.

Fines of up to €5,000 apply for non-compliance with the regulations.

Solar water heating

An average household can save about 50% of the annual cost of hot water using solar panel.

There are two main types of solar water heating panels - flat plate and evacuated tubes (referring to the way in which water interacts with the panel). Evacuated tubes are more efficient than flat plate versions, so are often smaller but generate equal amounts of hot water.

Choosing a solar water heating system

When choosing a solar water heating system, you’ll need to consider a number of factors including your average hot water usage, the area of south facing roof, the existing water heating system and your budget.

You’ll need roughly one square meter of collector area per person in the household. Each metre of panel area will need between 30 and 60 litres of water tank volume.

If you use a less efficient collector (like flat plate solar water heating panels), you’ll need to cover a larger area than if you use a more efficient collector (like evacuated tubes). You’ll also need to select system components (like a hot water cylinder, controls and pipe work) and choose the location for your panels considering shade, pipe runs, roof pitch and future access.

Solar water heating can provide about a third of your hot water needs
Pros

* Solar water heating can provide you with about a third of your hot water needs and about £40 a year off your hot water bills, depending on the fuel replaced.
* Solar energy is free, plentiful and clean.

Cons

* Provides hot water but not electricity.
* An unshaded, south-facing location is necessary to install solar panels.
* Initial costs are higher than conventional electric and gas-heater systems.
* Solar panels can be heavy, so your roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is to be installed on top of existing tiles.
* Solar panels are expensive compared to the amount of electricity they’ll produce in their lifetime.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels

PV solar panels generate electricity from the sun’s energy rather than just heating your water. You’re more likely to see these on offices or large developments than on homes.

You can use PV systems for a building with a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south, as long as no other buildings or large trees overshadow it. Less energy will be generated if the roof surface is in shadow for parts of the day.

The are three basic types PV panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline (or multicrystalline) and amorphous. All are made from silicon, but differ in the way the silicon is cut and treated to create collar cells.

To install a system you need to decide how much electricity you want to generate. After submitting details of your property, a PV installer should help you to conduct a site survey and discuss your options with you.
Pros

* Only daylight is needed to create energy – not sunshine.
* Can cut average household electricity bill by about 30%.
* Solar energy is free, plentiful and clean.

Cons

* A large roof area is needed to generate lots of energy.
* Significantly more expensive to buy and install than solar water systems.
* Solar panels are expensive compared to the amount of electricity they’ll produce in their lifetime.
* The efficiency of solar panels depends on the number of solar light hours and climate.
* Initial costs are higher than conventional electric and gas-heater systems.
* An unshaded, south-facing location is needed for installation.
* Solar panels can be heavy, so your roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is to be installed on top of existing tiles.

With BER – Building Energy Ratings coming iinto force for all house sales in January 2009 – Insulation is an easy way of increasing your property’s BER.

Each type of insulation is fitted differently but most insulation can be installed as a DIY project. Whatever type of insulation you choose, you’ll need to make a few preparations before you start.
Before installing insulation

When you insulate your loft you’ll need to insulate pipes and tanks too

Wiring needs to be dealt with safely. Wires should be kept above the insulation but not stretched if they don’t comfortably reach. An electrician will be able to re-route any problematic wiring – see our guide to hiring an electrician.

All pipe work and tanks in the loft space should also be insulated correctly since there will no longer be the same amount of heat escaping into the loft space to protect pipes from freezing.

Insulation must be installed following the manufacturer’s instructions to achieve the full benefit.
Fitting blanket insulation

Blanket insulation is sold in rolls of different widths so start by measuring the distance between joists and buying the nearest size.

Ideally it should fit neatly between the joists. To calculate the right amount, measure the length of the floor space to be covered. Don’t stretch or tear blanket insulation – use scissors if it needs to be cut.

Unroll the insulation blanket and lay it flat between loft joists. If possible add a further layer of blanket insulation across both the joists and the lower layer of insulation. Boards can then be placed over the insulated space for easy access in the roof space.
Fitting loose fill insulation

Work out the floor space in square metres – you’ll need approximately 200 litres of material to cover each square metre to a depth of 200mm.

Before laying the material, ensure the space between the joists is relatively dust-free and that the depth of the joists is sufficient to hold an acceptable level of loose fill insulation.

The material should be poured between the joists in the roof space, ensuring there are no cracks or holes in the ceiling. Brush or rake between the joists to ensure the fill is consistently level.

If you’re not fitting boarding over the loose fill, check the level of the material during winter months as high winds can unsettle loose fill insulation and blow it around the roof space.

To insulate a loft hatch, it’s best to use blanket material held in place by plastic or an old sheet.
Fitting sheet insulation

This type of insulation is fixed between the rafters rather than between joists, and like blanket insulation it can be cut to fit or bought in pre-cut packs.

To avoid condensation build up, always allow sufficient space between the insulation and roof slates or tiles to allow for ventilation.
Fitting blown fibre insulation

In most cases you’ll need to hire a professional to install this type of insulation as it needs to be blown into place with specialist equipment.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have announced a new Home Energy Saving Scheme aimed at encouraging homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The scheme will target older housing as these homes are most in need of energy efficiency retrofitting.

Initially, there will be a regional pilot of the scheme in North Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Dundalk. There will be an additional strand, which will allow for clusters of housing throughout the country. The full scale national programme will be rolled out in 2009.

The scheme will be administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and locally by the Tipperary Energy Agency, the Limerick/Clare Energy Agency and the SEI team in Dundalk.

A BER assessor will survey the home for a fee of 100 euro . The BER Assessor will be paid the rest of the full fee of 350 Euro by the Department.
The Government will then cover up to 30% of the cost of any work recommended by the assessor to make the house more energy efficient these works, to a maximum of €2,500. On completion of the works a follow-up energy assessment on the building will be undertaken so that there is a “before and after” test of what has been done.

Building Energy Ratings Assessors (BER) in Co Kilkenny
Barry Lynch Co. Kilkenny

Company: EDPM Ltd
Email:
Address: EDPM Ltd Unit 5 Village Business Centre Upper New St Kilkenny
Tel: 0567723707
Fax: 0567756466
Web Site:
Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Locations covered: MUNSTER
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Ben Hickman Co. Kilkenny

Company: D. Brennan & Associates
Email: ben_hickman@hotmail.com
Address: D. Brennan & Associates 10 Patrick’s Court Patrick Street Kilkenny
Tel: 0567775452
Fax: 0567786416
Expiry Date: 21/02/2009
Locations covered: ULSTER, LEINSTER
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Mervin Doyle Co. Kilkenny

Company: The Energy Rating Assessment Co
Email: info@erac.ie
Address: The Energy Rating Assessment Company Ltd 6 Chapel View Stoneyford
Tel: 086 269 1561
Fax:
Web Site: www.erac.ie
Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Locations covered: ULSTER, CONNAUGHT, LEINSTER, MUNSTER, DUBLIN
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Ronan Meally Co. Kilkenny

Company: Ronan Meally Consulting Engineers
Email: info@rmce.ie
Address: Ronan Meally Consulting Engineers 1 City Wall James Street Kilkenny City
Tel: 056 7795428
Fax: 056 7795427
Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Locations covered: LEINSTER, MUNSTER, DUBLIN
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Seamus Brennan Co. Kilkenny

Company: Heating & Energy Consultant
Email: seamusjbrennan@eircom.net
Address: ‘Fanore’ Bleach Road Kilkenny
Tel: 0872519853
Fax: 0567752914 

Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Locations covered: LEINSTER, DUBLIN
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Stephen Calnan Co. Kilkenny

Company: Building Energy Rating Consultants
Email: stephen@berc.ie
Address: Ballytarsney Mooncoin
Tel: 087 2159844
Web Site: www.berc.ie
Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Locations covered: MUNSTER
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Thomas Downey Co. Kilkenny

Company: Thomas Downey
Email: tommiedowney@eircom.net
Address: Lower Kilmacow via Waterford
Tel: 051 885320
Fax: 051 885320
Expiry Date: 29/01/2009
Locations covered: LEINSTER, MUNSTER
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

Vincent Dunphy Co. Kilkenny

Company:
Email:
Address: Ballincrea Slieverue
Tel: 051 880927
Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Locations covered: ULSTER, CONNAUGHT, LEINSTER, MUNSTER, DUBLIN
Registration Type: NEW DWELLINGS

List of BER Registered Assessors – Building Energy Regulations Ireland in County Cavan

Company: Brendan Smith Consulting Engineer
Email: bsce@eircom.net

Company: Airpacks Ltd
Email: sales@airpacks.ie

Company: P and S Civil Works Ltd
Email: declangaffney@pandscivilworks.com

Derek McCabe Co. Cavan
Company: CO2.ie
Email: derek@roebuckhouse.ie

Gerard Reilly Co. Cavan
Email: gerardreilly2000@yahoo.co.uk

Gerry Brady Co. Cavan
Email: egbrady07@eircom.net

Nevin Traynor Co. Cavan
Company: Traynor Environmental
Email: nevin@traynorenvironmental.com

Orla Daly Co. Cavan
Email: berandmore@hotmail.com

Company: PS Energy Rating
Email: psenergyrating@gmail.com

Paul Smith Co. Cavan
Email: smith_paul@eircom.net