Home Sustainability Assessments: Case Studies - Part 2
Sustainability Quotes
from local businesses
Many households have found great ways to save energy and water, but some found that they had very high energy and water consumption. With the help of a Home Sustainability Assessment, they were able to make changes that will save them hundreds of dollars, reduce their carbon emissions and help them save thousands of litres of water!
One household has ducted reverse cycle air-conditioning throughout their 150m² house. This air-conditioning system was set to a constant 20°C, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The house was certainly thermally comfortable, but their $1800 electricity bill was placing a strain on the family budget! The family maintained that it was important for them to be comfortable, especially as they have young children. I suggested that if they were to turn the thermostat down a few degrees in winter and up a few degrees in summer and dress for the seasons (i.e. heavier clothes and layers for the winter, shorts and t-shirts for the summer) they could reduce their electricity use by around 20%. Hopefully after noticing little difference in their comfort levels, and a reduction in their energy use, they may be encouraged reconsider their need for year-round mechanical air-conditioning.
Another household used an electric clothes dryer more than 20 times a week, even in summer. This household didn't realise how much their dryer was costing them. Up to 50% of their electricity costs were associated with the use of this dryer. So there was a good financial (not to mention environmental) incentive to start using the clothes-line again.
A single person living in a compact home experienced very cold conditions in her uninsulated home. She noticed little effects from her electric bar heater and had resorted to leaving her oven door open to heat her kitchen/living area. Crazy? Not necessarily. While I wouldn't recommend it, her gas oven-come-heater would be responsible for far less greenhouse gas emissions than the high electricity usage of her bar heater! Her report recommended insulation and a high efficiency gas space heater to replace her electric bar heater and open oven. With the help of a Green Loan this householder plans to make these recommended improvements. The gas heater will easily heat the small space and its high efficiency will no-doubt mean that this householder will notice a reduction in both her electricity and gas usage!
Fridges are another area where many people underestimate the running costs and are surprised to learn that refrigeration is responsible for up to half their electricity usage! Many households have more than one fridge and a couple of homes I have visited had 4-5 fridges and freezers. Older fridges, fridges that are exposed to extreme temperatures, even sparsely filled fridges are running inefficiently and are likely to be costing a significant amount of money. Many of these families indicated that they could turn off rarely used fridges and they will likely notice a reduction in their electricity use.
Sustainability Quotes
from local businesses
