CASE STUDY:

Heat Pump and Solar in Macroom

Heating system and solar upgrade to a 2005 built heat pump ready property. The client wanted to move away from the original oil heating and fortunately the property was already well enough insulated to switch over to an air to wate heat pump with minimal fuss. A 6.6 kWp solar PV system was also added to offset some of the additional electricity that will be used by the heat pump. Individual Better Energy Homes grants were provided by SEAI.

Upgrades

• Air to water heat pump
• Solar PV

Impact

• BER improved from B3 to A1 
• Estimated annual fuel bill saving €2,580
• CO2 saving per year 5.4 tonnes

SEAI Grants €8,900

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CASE STUDY:

Solar PV in the Mealagh Valley

Solar PV install to 2005 built bungalow. The  4.35 kWp solar PV was the first step in a number of upgrades the client plans to complete in the next few years. As well as a significant reduction in fuel bills the solar installation brought the property up to a B2 meaning the client could switch to a green mortgage rate.  An individual Better Energy Homes grant was provided by SEAI.

Upgrades

• Solar PV

Impact

• BER improved from C1 to B2 
• Estimated annual fuel bill saving €900 
• CO2 saving per year 1 tonne

SEAI Grant €2,100

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CASE STUDY:

Bungalow upgrade in the Múscraí Gaeltacht

Upgrade of 2006 built timber framed property. The existing house was reasonably well insulated and need minimal work to be heat pump ready. The client wanted to move away from oil heating and harness renewable energy. Working with a One Stop Shop grant funding was provided by the SEAI National Home Retrofit Scheme grants for a whole house upgrade.

Upgrades

• Triple glazed windows and doors
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• Air to water heat pump
• Solar PV

Impact

• BER improved from B3 to  A1 
• Estimated annual fuel bill saving €1,635 
• CO2 saving per year 3.6 tonnes 
• 25% Reduction in heat loss 

SEAI Grants €22,000

The post Bungalow upgrade in the Múscraí Gaeltacht appeared first on Home Retrofit.

CASE STUDY:

1900s Farm House in West Cork

Upgrade of west cork farm house on the sheepshead. The homeowner found the existing property cold and hard to heat and their oil boiler was on its last legs. They wanted to make the house warmer and future proof against rising energy costs. Working with a One Stop Shop grant funding was provided by the SEAI National Home Retrofit Scheme grants for a whole house upgrade.

Upgrades

• External wall insulation
• Roof insulation
• Airtightness
• Demand control ventilation
• Air to water heat pump
• Solar PV

Impact

• BER improved from D2 to  A1
• Estimated annual fuel bill saving €3,500
• CO2 saving per year 11.2 tonnes 
• 52% Reduction in heat loss

SEAI Grants €26,900

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There are two main types of energy-efficient light bulbs available: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs are the most common and adaptable light fitting, and are suitable for replacing dimmable lights and spotlights. LEDs are also more energy-efficient than CFLs. If you replace all the bulbs in your home with LED lights, you could save €40 a year on your electricity bills. Though LEDs are more expensive, they will typically last 20 times as long as incandescent bulbs so the s

Watts and Lumens

If you have ever bought a low energy light bulb and been disappointed by the level of brightness it gives out; you may have picked a bulb with too small a lumen value. With traditional bulbs, we used watts to determine the brightness of a bulb, but watts measure power consumption rather than brightness. Energy-efficient bulbs use fewer watts, so it is best to look at lumen output. For example, a 25 watt bulb would equate to 250 lumens, 40 watt would be 470 lumens and 60 watt 800 lumens. 

Choosing the right colour

Low energy light bulbs imitate traditional light bulbs, so if you prefer a particular colour, there should be a close match with the new energy-efficient lighting. ‘Soft white’ or ‘warm white’ bulbs provide a cosy glow that is best for general household lighting, while ‘cool white’ or ‘pure white’ are ideal for office spaces or any area that requires clear vision. The colour rendering index (CRI) of a bulb shows you how well a bulb will illuminate a chosen colour. Two bulbs can have the same colour, but the bulb with a higher CRI will show colours more accurately than the other.

The bulb’s packaging will indicate the CRI alongside the lumen value. A CRI of 80 or more is appropriate for most household tasks.

The post Energy Efficient Lighting appeared first on Home Retrofit.

1. Energy and Carbon Savings  

In Ireland, residential buildings account for roughly 28% of energy consumption. Many  homeowners pay more than necessary for utility bills because of heat lost through drafts and poor insulation. By retrofitting your home, not only will you be reduce your energy bills, you will contribute to the reduction of national energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions which will help mitigate climate change.

2. Improved Comfort

Many Irish homes suffer from cold draty rooms in winter and overheating in summer. This leads to a negative impact on home comfort. Retrofitting adopts a whole-house approach which increases the comfort of your entire home by addressing drafts, poor levels of insulation and building defects. Modern equipment and techniques such as infrared thermal imaging and blower door air tests can help to diagnose these problems. 

3. Greater Building Durability

A whole house retrofit will address inherent building problems such as poor ventilation and a build-up of moisture, which if unaddressed can damage the building structure and finishes. By upgrading the building fabric and services, while also addressing these issues, the life expectancy and durability of the building will be increased. 

4. Higher Resale Value

As energy costs continue to rise and concerns about climate change become more mainstream, the energy efficiency of a home is becoming more of a factor for buyers.  Potential purchasers are looking for homes which will have lower energy bills as well as the additional benefit of increased comfort, better air quality and durability. 

5. Indoor Air Quality

Inadequate ventilation is common in many homes and often leads to poor indoor air quality which can in turn cause numerous health issues. A whole house retrofit will include a ventilation strategy and necessary upgrades to achieve this. This ensures that there is an adequate source of controlled fresh air intake for breathing and that moist and stale air is moved when and where required. 

The post Benefits Of Retrofitting appeared first on Home Retrofit.