Insulating Your Home

Act on CO2: Energy saving begins at home

03.04.2009

Act on CO2 says that the key to being green and reducing one's carbon footprint is making simple changes at home.

It claims that people can save money and energy at the same time by changing their attitudes and making adjustments to their property, the Journal has reported.

One of the organisation's top tips is attic insulation. It claims that around half of a home's heat loss escapes through the roof and the walls, so insulation can dramatically reduce this loss.

However, the insulation added to the attic must also be of adequate thickness. Act on CO2 recommends homeowners have insulation that is 270 mm thick.

Global Home Improvements claims that many Irish houses, particularly those built before 1980, are very wasteful of energy - so anyone who owns a home that was built prior to this may benefit the most from attic insulation.

Insulation is "planning for the future"

31.03.2009

It has been claimed that people who insulate their homes in Ireland are making wise decisions to safeguard their future.

John Henry Boyle has reportedly created a home in Donegal that has been designed to be energy efficient and take advantage of natural light, reports the Irish Independent.

Mr Boyle has created window seats that allow you to enjoy the views outside. He added that he has taken ventilation ideas from the Georgians by having windows on three sides, with only the side windows opening to allow air to circulate through them.

Furthermore, Mr Boyle ensured that he paid attention to the need for insulation in his home design.

"I'm planning for the future," he said.

Global Home Improvements suggests that insulation evenly distributed around a residential property produces better results than additional insulation applied to just one area, such as the attic.

The home is the key to climate change, WWF says

31.03.2009

Individuals are responsible for more than half of the overall impact on climate change, according to the WWF.

The good news is that individuals can also make a difference and the best place to start is by making your home more energy efficient, says Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF.

His comments come after the successful Earth Hour campaign.

On March 28th at 8.30pm, in the largest ever global action on climate change, iconic buildings across the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building, switched off all their lights for an hour.

If you did not take part in this campaign you can still do your bit for the environment by making you Dublin home greener.

"A lot of things individuals can do on their own - the main thing is making your house as energy efficient as possible," Mr Butfield adds.

Primarily, the green expert suggests installing adequate attic and wall insulation, energy-saving light bulbs and more efficient appliances in the home as ways to reduce energy consumption.

NEA to hold insulation roadshows

27.03.2009

National Energy Assessors (NEA) are to go on the road to teach Ireland about saving energy.

A series of question and answer evenings are planned that will offer more information to Irish homeowners about saving energy, the Galway Advertiser reports.

One of the main goals of the roadshow will be to show how homeowners can benefit from the new insulation grants that the government has announced.

Pursuant to the Home Energy Saving Scheme, approved households can get funding towards the cost of attic and wall insulation, heating controls and a building energy rating assessment.

"Topics covered in the information evening include how to benefit from the Home Energy Saving Scheme, choosing the right contractor, advantages of cluster housing and building energy rating assessments," the news provider says.

On the nights, attendees will be able to pose questions to Sustainable Energy Ireland-registered assessors about insulation.

Edwardian home gets attic insulation in Dublin

27.03.2009

It has been reported that a quintessential Edwardian family home has been upgraded to include attic insulation.

Refurbishments such as this go to show that even a home built in the late 19th century can be made greener and more energy efficient.

The home in the desirable area of Terenure Park was one of the first to be built there and has been renovated to create a family home that spans 2,400 square foot, the Irish Independent reports.

It said: "The total refurbishment included installation of gas central heating, double glazing, attic insulation and the entire house was re-wired, re-plastered and re-plumbed."

Whether you live in an Edwardian home, a Victorian terrace or a 1960s semi-detached, your home could retain more heat with the help of attic insulation.

Sustainable Energy Ireland claims that up to 35 per cent of a home's heat loss can occur through the roof.