Energy Efficiency in the Office and at Home

Siobhan Purnell

Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre

We all use energy every day – at work, at home and when we travel. To generate most of this energy we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) that produce greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). Greenhouse gases trap the sun’s energy inside the earth’s atmosphere, thus the more energy we use the more we contribute to climate change.

People sometimes think that climate change will be a positive thing for the UK and Ireland, giving us warmer summers and fewer cold winters. But hotter summers and less rain in the south and east will mean water shortages, forest fires and damage to crops and damage to wildlife. In the north and west there could be much heavier rain and more flooding, and as the polar ice caps continue to melt, rising sea levels will threaten many coastal communities.

In addition we cannot consider climate change impacts in isolation: for example, the more serious consequences of climate change in Africa are likely to result in increased immigration to the UK resulting in greater pressure on our service infrastructure. Overall, the cost to society, the environment, our health and the economy is likely to far outweigh any benefits.

Thirty percent of the energy consumed in the UK is wasted!

Save 20% in the office

Businesses are currently responsible for about half of all the UK’s carbon emissions. Even one small office can emit three to five tonnes of CO₂ a year, but behavioural changes can make a big difference and they won’t cost you a penny. Here are some things you and your employees can do today:

·ensure that heating, air-conditioning and lighting systems are only on when they are needed: turning down your heating by 1 degree Celsius can save upwards of 8% every year

·ensure that office equipment is turned off when people are not using it, especially overnight and at weekends

·educate occupants to use appropriate thermostat settings, and check that they do not encourage heating and cooling to operate simultaneously

·maximise daylight use by opening blinds and turning off lights: lighting accounts for around 15% of an office’s energy bill

·collect information that will enable you to prioritise your efforts to reduce energy use

These measures could reduce your overall energy costs by 10% but combine these with other changes that need only minimum investment, for example replacing old light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, and you could cut your bills by a fifth, or more. For larger projects, such as upgrading an inefficient boiler, it is worth your while contacting the Carbon Trust. They can offer advice on the best technology for you and point you in the direction of 0% interest energy efficiency loans or the Enhanced Capital Allowancesscheme which allows you to claim 100% capital allowance on qualifying investments in equipment in the first tax year. For more advice on how to be more energy efficient at work, call the Carbon Trust on 0800 085 2005.

Save 20% at Home

The energy we use to heat, light and power our homes produces 27 per cent of the UK’s CO₂ emissions. The average household in Northern Ireland creates around six tonnes of CO₂ every year. There are simple steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient, saving around two tonnes of CO₂ a year and over £300 a year on your household bills.

Check out these top tips or click on the following image to take a tour around the home to help you save energy today.

1. Look for cavities...

Around 33% of the heat lost in your home is through the walls, so insulating them can be the most cost-effective way to save energy in the home and save you £200 per year.

2. Boilers...if it isn't broken, it still might need fixing...

If your boiler is over 15 years old, it's probably time you replaced it with a new energy efficient one. High efficiency condensing boilers are the most energy efficient and will save you around a third on your heating bills straight away, and even more if you upgrade to modern controls.

4. Look for the logo...

Replacing an old, energy inefficient fridge-freezer with a new Energy Saving Recommended one could save you up to £45 every year. If all of Northern Ireland were to make the change this week, together we'd save over £16 million every year!

5. Treat your hot water tank...give it a jacket

An insulating jacket for hot water tanks only costs a few pounds and pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm thick and you could save £25 a year.

7. A bright idea...buy an energy efficient light bulb

Trade up your ordinary light bulbs for energy saving ones; for each bulb you fit, you can save up to £9 on your annual electricity bill. If every Northern Ireland household installed just one bulb we'd save over £2 million per year!

9. See double...and cut heat loss by 50%

Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by over £100 a year.

10. Be switched on - take a Home Energy Check...

For a report on how much energy can be saved in your own home, fill out the Energy Saving Trust’s online home energy check www.est.org.uk/northernireland

For more information on saving energy contact the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre in Northern Ireland on freephone 0800 512 012 or log onto www.est.org.uk/northernireland.

The Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre is managed by the Northern Ireland Energy Agency.