Owners of ‘green’ homes report 60% drop in energy use

HOMEOWNERS in a pilot project of houses designed to be energy efficient have reported a 60% drop in energy use.

Those surveyed also reported a general improvement in their health.

Under the scheme in Waterford city and county, homes have been adapted with new heating and energy-efficiency devices.

These include attic insulation, draught-proofing, cavity wall insulation and gas- or oil-fired condensing boilers. Greater savings resulted for homeowners having a combination of the installations.

Details of the scheme, which involves 360 homes, were outlined at an Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs hearing yesterday.

Sustainable Energy Ireland has been given €2 million by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for the project.

The State energy body’s programme executive, Ruth Buggy, said initial findings from works on the homes indicated savings in electricity and gas bills as well as a large decrease in energy usage.

“People have reported greater levels of comfort, as well as increases in their health,” she said.

Surveys of about 80 of the homeowners show that where occupants reported savings, there was up to a 60% drop in energy use.

The report is expected to be completed in December and will also show how the energy-saving measures are changing people’s lifestyles.

Some 35% of those surveyed have said they are experiencing greater comforts in their homes with the changes.

Furthermore, just over a third claimed they had experienced an increase in health, with less illnesses for example.

Another 71% said the increased insulation had meant less draughts in homes, as well as an improvement in conditions generally.

This research on insulation is part of a bigger survey, which will also be extended to Cork and Donegal. The results of those projects are expected early next year.

The Oireachtas Committee was examining a national strategy on fuel poverty at yesterday’s hearing, at which TDs and senators were critical of minimal increases in fuel allowances for low earners this year in the budget.

Fine Gael TD Olwyn Enright said Ireland was playing “catch-up” with its European neighbours and the North on deciding on a strategy for helping those experiencing fuel poverty.

Families were finding it difficult to cope with increased fuel costs, said Ms Enright.

Labour’s Roisín Shortall said families and elderly people were on long waiting lists with Dublin City Council to get grants to insulate homes.

Only those with medical emergencies were being dealt with because there was no money for the house grants, added the TD.