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1. Policy
A report in October 2008 from the UK Green Building Council in conjunction with the Energy Saving Trust made recommendations to Government about turning existing homes into low carbon homes. Download the full report or a summary here.
The "Home Truths" Low-carbon Strategy from the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University identifies policies needed to deliver an 80 per cent cut in carbon emissions from UK homes by 2050. The report says these cuts are achievable but will require a quantum leap in commitment from Government and a radical new approach.
2. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
From 1 October 2008 all properties - homes, commercial and public buildings - when bought, sold, built or rented will need an EPC. Larger public buildings will also need to display an energy certificate. An EPC gives a rating for efficiency using a scale of A-G and includes recommendations for improvement.
3. Hidden Value Guide - unlock the value in your home
An energy-efficient home is a more valuable home. Download the Energy Savings Trust Hidden Value Guide on how to save energy in your home and increase its value.
Carbon emissions come from heating, lighting, appliances, travel, food. This information sheet gives a breakdown for the average British family household. Find out how much carbon (and money) you save by switching off electrical appliances rather than leaving them on standby 7. Case studies from local householders.
Making your home a Low Carbon Home is not always easy. We hope to help by describing in detail just how certain steps can be taken. Our case studies show exactly how to take on jobs like insulating a loft so that it can still be used for storage; how to treat recessed light fittings when insulating a loft; installing solar hot water systems and solar PV panels on pitched and flat roofs.
See the local householder case studies here.
A useful book, Carbon Conversations, by Rosemary Randall, available by request through www.cambridgecarbonfootprint.org , has some very in depth and pertinent information to help individuals reduce their carbon footprint. These are a few extracts from the book. Note that the file size is 5mbytes.
9. Greener Homes and Green Pages
See here for these. 10. List of local certified solar hot water installers Note that this list is provided as a quick guide only and is not updated regularly. Please verify details using the Find an installer page on the Low Carbon Buildings Program site.
11. Dealing with sash windows
Traditional timber sash windows are often associated with howling draughts, and are under threat as people replace them with plastic double glazed units. But before you throw yours on the scrapheap, read English Heritage's research which shows that simple repairs and basic improvements can significantly reduce draughts and heat loss. It is even possible to upgrade them to meet building regs targets.
Just by mending cracks and eliminating gaps you can reduce air infiltration by a third. Add some draught proofing and you can get it down by as much as 86%. English Heritage did its studies using a sliding sash window dating from the 1880s which it rescued from a skip.
It seems like stating the obvious, but heat loss can also be reduced by having thick curtains, and closing them when it gets dark. That reduces heat loss by 41%; a roller blind by 38%.
If you want to meet the building regs target of a U value of 2 or less, then it will cost a bit more. Installing good quality secondary glazing can bring the U value down to 1.7 (as can well-fitted, closed shutters). Both together gives a U value of 1.6. An executive summary or the full report can be downloaded from the English Heritage website.
Last updated Nov 09 |