Whatever the size, apartment or single-family home, facing north or south, in the countryside or in the city, many homes have critical points with which something can be done so that neither the heat escapes in winter nor the heat enters in summer; and, also, saving a good amount of money each year.
It is called energy efficiency, which, applied to homes, means using less energy to maintain or even increase the thermal comfort of a home.
Just as the characteristics are different, according to the differences listed at the beginning, each home is different and so are its problems and needs; Therefore, the solutions to be applied will vary depending on each case: interior or exterior insulation, renovation of windows, change of air conditioning system, installation of renewable energies, etc. How do you know which one is ideal, which one to start with?
Leroy Merlin has promoted the Energy Savings and Efficiency Barometer, a study prepared by Creara Energy Experts, a consulting firm specialized in energy efficiency. The purpose of the study is to help consumers identify their home’s needs to reduce stress on cooling and heating systems and make an informed decision on where to start to achieve the more comfort/less energy goal. In it it shows the results of different actions to improve energy efficiency in a home and, also, that the comfort it provides can be within the reach of all family economies.
Different possibilities
The home that has served as the basis for the study is a single-family home with one floor, 144 m2 and an initial energy rating of E. The resulting estimates are for that assumption, obviously, but in any case, they are a good clue of the economic savings that the various solutions can provide.
The study analyzes nine rehabilitation and efficiency measures, comparing the behavior of the house before and after applying them and assessing their technical, economic and environmental impacts.
Starting with insulation, where they come in from changing windows and carpentry to intervention on facades and roofs, an operation that better retains heat in winter and stops its entry in summer. The latter would provide the basic household with an estimated saving of 976 euros per year.
The most economically beneficial result comes from replacing the windows with high-efficiency ones plus installing a biomass boiler, which would reduce the annual energy expenditure to 2,984 euros and the home’s energy certification would be A.
In general, the combination to save more energy consists of aerothermal energy (which stands out for being the option with the most potential for efficiency and savings), photovoltaics and insulation.
If the characteristics of the home and the family economy allow it, the incorporation of photovoltaic panels with storage batteries would reduce energy consumption by 75%, and the maximum energy certification would also be achieved, that is, A.
The importance of everyday life
Leroy Merlin emphasizes that it is not always about doing a major renovation all at once. A progressive process and small daily decisions are adaptable to all homes. Rational daily use of the house also helps maintain a comfortable interior temperature and complements improvements in insulation and installations.
To the informative effort that the Barometer entails, the company adds expert advice and support, in its objective to democratize access to energy efficiency in homes.
Leroy Merlin experts advise consumers on energy efficiency solutions