Did you know…
- WillowWarm, an Irish company, make 100% carbon neutral briquettes that can be used to heat your home in place of peat briquettes.
- Willow has a lifespan of around 36 years, so once planted, willow provides 36 years of crop production without the need for annual ploughing, re-seeding, or re-planting.
- Room to Improve presenter Dermot Bannon believes insulating your walls should always be the first step when energy proofing your home.
Why is it important to energy proof your home?
- By reducing the amount of energy your home uses, you’ll automatically lower your utility bills.
- Proper insulation and air sealing can help maintain a consistent and comfortable temperature, reducing the need for constant adjustments to your heating and cooling systems.
- Energy-efficient homes are becoming increasingly desirable to buyers. Making energy-saving improvements can potentially increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell.
What can I do to energy proof my home?
- Simple behavioural changes such as skipping the dryer whenever possible and hanging clothes to dry naturally is a low-effort way of starting to energy proof your home.
- Another simple way to energy proof your home is to replace old appliances with Energy Star certified ones. These models use significantly less energy.
- A significant investment into energy proofing your home would be to generate your own clean electricity with a rooftop solar panel system. While this is a big investment, it can lead to substantial energy cost savings in the long term.
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more!
www.willowwarm.ie – You can learn more about WillowWarm’s carbon neutral briquettes here.
www.seai.ie – Here you get some more tips on energy proofing your home.
www.renovationhub.ie – This website is an initiative from the Irish Green Building Council. It provides a roadmap for homeowners interested in undertaking energy-efficient renovations.
