Energy Efficiency

Sustainable construction begins with reducing energy use. We have listed some top tips for energy efficiency from Friends of the Earth below. There appears to be growing support for nuclear power as a way of reducing our dependency on fossil fuels as it ensures a secure supply of cheap electricity and helps the fight against global warming. Jersey already gets most of its electricity from nuclear power stations in France however this is dependent on uranium (a finite resource) and carries the potential for a catrastrophic accident.

Sustainable energy sources providing viable alternatives include solar power, wind and tidal power. Wood burning stoves also provide an alternative provided the wood comes from a sustainable source (some stoves are 92% efficient an open fire is only 32% efficient!). Although we are not aware of any sustainable woodland on the island some tree surgeons sell on the logs they collect and the Jersey Box Company at Morville Farm make kindling and other products from old pallets. Heat pumps provide another alternative when combined with a sustainable electricity source.

A heat pump moves heat energy from one place to another. Ground source heat pumps are increasingly popular in Jersey. They involve having heat absorbing pipe loops laid in the ground next to the house (around a metre underground). Because the temperature underground is less variable and warmer than the air temperature it takes less energy to top it up to the temperature needed to heat a house.

The heat is then distributed through the house via an underfloor heating system. This puts the heat where it is needed, at floor level. Conventional heating systems heat the house from the top down (warm air rises). System providers are listed in the yellow pages.

Keeping the warmth in!

Houses need ventilation. especially in damp areas like the kitchen and bathroom. There are two possible approaches:

Passive stack ventilation: If the rooms contain pipes of 100 to 150mm diameter pipes that run from the ceiling to a roof opening the rising warm air will pass out automatically. It can then be replaced by air from a conservatory or other buffer space.

We're in a flat without a conservatory so the system we're looking at is a heat exchange fan. This uses the warmth of the air being sucked out to heat the cooler air being brought in. We're going to try a local building supplier and will let you know what happens! There are whole house systems that can be put in called: Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). They need to be fitted at the point of construction or complete retro fit. Ask your architect or builder for help. The green building store can provide information.

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Top Tips for Energy Efficiency

  1. Insulate and draught proof your home.
  2. Turn your heating down by 1°C, average temperatures in homes have increased from 12.6°C in 1970 to 18.9°C in 2001.
  3. Boil only as much water as you need for a cup of tea and use lids on pans when cooking.
  4. Buy durable, local products made from natural raw materials and repair or reuse products instead of throwing them away.
  5. Switch electrical appliances off, don't leave them on standby - a staggering 85 per cent of energy used by a DVD player is when it is not in use, and unplug mobile phones, etc once they are fully charged.
  6. Dry your clothes on a washing line.
  7. Lag your pipes and hot water tanks and buy energy efficient light bulbs.
  8. Buy recycled products and compost and recycle your waste.
  9. When replacing windows install wood framed double glazing.
  10. When replacing heating select an energy efficient boiler or choose an alternative technology that doesn't rely on fossil fuels.

Source: Friends of the Earth