Retro-Fit your Home for the Future

The majority of houses were built before anyone knew much about energy efficiency, or carbon emission, so the result is homes that leak heat and create high levels of emission, leaving the homeowner with high heating bills. So existing homeowners are now upgrading their properties with energy efficient technologies.

 

This process is sometimes call an eco-renovation, or retrofit. A retrofitting is a catch-all term for making our older homes more energy efficient, and is already commonly practiced. For example, many people have swapped their traditional light bulbs for low energy ones and have fitted double-glazed windows to help trap heat in the home. But householders are becoming increasingly aware that further upgrades are required if they are to slash fuel bills and reduce emissions.

 

Why retro-Fit Your Home?

 

It makes sound environmental and economic sense to green your home. In the Uk dependence on imported gas in recent years has pushed the average fuel bill in the UK to around £800. In the Uk an Ofgem report estimated that average bills would rise 60% by 2016 as energy supplies become more volatile

 

Reduce Carbon Emissions: Energy efficiency alone could reduce carbon emissions from our homes by 40%, according to government figures.

 

Eco-refurbishment brings real advantages for the householder," "Some of the more disruptive measures might be a hassle at the time, but a 'green' home means a better quality of life as well as being better for the environment

 

How Much does Retro-Fitting Cost

 

The cost of retrofitting depends on the building‚ the region and extent of the works‚ with different levels of retrofitting and refurbishment depending on the planning laws‚ construction of the building‚ historic value and unique environmental and thermal performance. Once these are determined‚ it can be decided what is best for the building and how radical the works will be. It is cheaper to combine energy-efficiency measures with repair and improvement work.

Types of Retro-Fitting Available

 

There are many new and established retro-fitting technologies that are considered renewable or low carbon, which generate from difference sources, at varying intermittency and varying cost. Some technologies have become so established that they can now compete with traditional fossil fuel systems.The following are some of the ways to retro fit or green your pre-existing home, while reducing your energy bill;

•  Home Heating System:

Currently if your Home Heating System uses Gas or Liquid Petroleum fuels the efficiency may be high. If not repair or replace the equipment with environmentally friendly Wood Pellet Boilers or stoves,or anAir to water Heat Pump.

• Home Cooling System:

Your cooling system may account for about 50% of energy consumption in your household. Replacing bad pipe and air duct insulations, changing or repairing Volume control dampers and Fresh air dampers, changing temperature and humidity controls with new units, sealing against infiltration, etc need to be addressed.

 

• Home Ventilation System:

Ventilation is important in maintaining the Indoor Air Quality. Every bit of Fresh air brought in affects the Humidity, Temperature and the Heat Load. Precise regulation and incorporating heat recovery ventilation will save energy.

• Domestic Hot water System:

The use of electricity is efficient but very expensive. Replacing them with solar thermal panels, Heat Pumps, wood pellet burning, will provide cheaper alternative sources which are also more sustainable.

• Home Insulation System:

Attic insulation, Exterior Wall insulation, Exposed Floor insulation, crawl space insulation etc are to be looked into. A wide variety of insulations such as Fiber Glass wool, Rock Wool, Slag Wool, Cellulose, Cotton etc are some of these. The durability, fire resistance, vermin and rodent resistance, settling resistance are aspects to be considered.

• Air Leaks:

Air leaks to a new or old home through small crevices around windows, doors, roofs, pipe and duct penetrations etc.depending on the outside air velocity the uncontrolled air flow in to the home will be considerable. It brings in Heat, Moisture, Pollutants and Dust. Discovering these through a blower door test can be of significant important

 

How will  NuTech assist you in the above?

 

• Designs and estimates to comply your home,
• Procuring and installing insulation, heating equipment, ventilation equipment,
• Design, supply equipment and install sustainable Domestic hot water systems for energy efficient homes.
• Information on obtaining grant subsidies