When you look to buy or rent a home, you will check out the number of bedrooms, the location and, of course, the price. But purchase price or weekly rent is not the only cost to think about.
Think about energy efficiency!
An energy-efficient home will cost you a lot less to heat, provides comfort and is well prepared for clean heating.
Take this checklist along when house-hunting. No home will have all these features, and homes are not required to have them. This checklist provides you with a guideline on whether or not your future home will keep the heat in, and at a reasonable cost.
Also, don't forget to find out what to do when you move in to make your home energy efficient.
Comfort
- Sunny, north-facing main rooms, not blocked by trees, etc.
- Not too many south-facing windows
- No high ceilings
- Ceiling insulation, up to recommended level of R3.6 (ca. 180 mm of batts) but at least up to R2.6 (ca. 140 mm of batts)
- Wall insulation
- Concrete slab foundation (best)
- Underfloor insulation
- Polyethylene damp-proof ground sheeting in damp areas
- Carpeting.
If you purchase or rent a house built before the year 2000 you or your landlord could be eligible for subsidies for insulation and clean heating. For more information, visit EECA's EnergyWise website or call 0800 749 782.
Heating
- Clean heating such as a heat pump, flued gas or diesel heater, pellet fire or low-emission woodburner.
Doors & windows
- Internal doors to close off heated rooms and separate floors in multi-storey houses
- Closing well or fitted with draught stoppers
- Double-glazed windows, No single-glazed skylights
- Lined or thermal curtains
- Pelmets above windows.
Hot water
- A-grade cylinder
- Hot water cylinder wrap (if not A-grade)
- Hot water pipes lagged
- Cylinder close to kitchen, bathrooms and laundry
- No leaky hot water taps.
Lights
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs
- Ample natural lighting.
Moisture
- No mould or mildew on walls or floors due to wet soils or drainage problems.