Home Sustainability Handbook

Transcription

1 Home Sustainability Handbook Join the growing number of Australian households concerned about their carbon footprint. Harcourts Launceston 187 Brisbane Street, Launceston TAS 7250 Phone

2 Introduction from greenappledesigns greenappledesigns is concerned about the future of our planet and hopes to make a difference in the local community, by providing a service to homeowners, landlords and renters to find out about reducing their carbon footprint at home. Australian s are the largest emitters per person of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the world, over China, India and the USA. Everything we do emits carbon; the groceries we buy, the vehicle we drive, our waste we put out in our garbage bins, the dairy we consume they all produce carbon and for most Australians, we would need five planets to support the lives we are living right now if we continue business as usual. Of course, we don t have five planets; we only have one, which simply means we need to curb our ways. The very best thing about this very big problem is that there is a lot that we can do about it, and some of the things are simple and cheap or even free! You hear it a lot, but walking instead of driving is a big one, and buying local food that does not have to travel round the country or indeed across the globe to get to your supermarket is best (and freshest!). In this document we explain ways we can all reduce our energy usage and become more energy efficient. Things like turning appliances off at the power point, turning off lights in rooms that are not in use and buying more energy efficient appliances will reduce our usage. To become more energy efficient, we need to insulate our homes, use passive solar design techniques and active management to keep our homes cool in summer and warm in winter. Following the steps in this booklet will make your home more comfortable, more cost effective to run and potentially increase the equity of your home, and reduce your carbon footprint.

3 Introduction from Harcourts Harcourts welcomes you to your copy of our Home Sustainability Handbook, your free resource for all households and businesses. At Harcourts we are committed to making 2011 the year that we focus on learning how to lead a more sustainable lifestyle and providing information and services to our community. We intend to reduce our waste and resource usage, change the way we think about energy usage and hopefully help the planet along the way. With 2011 the year of sustainability, we have already made significant changes within our office through implementing recycling programs for paper, changing lighting systems to be sensor activated and providing all our staff with a more environmentally friendly coffee cup alternative! We are excited to launch this handbook and be at the forefront of environmental change in the real estate industry with greenappledesigns. This unique relationship enables us to provide access to the services of professionals who can give advice and information to home owners, landlords and tenants on ways in which they too can lessen their carbon footprint on our planet and make their properties more cost efficient.

4 Index Background 1 Green star ratings 2 Passive design 4 - Orientation - Ventilation - Thermal Mass - Glazing - Shading - Insulation - Weather Sealing Heating & Cooling 12 Lighting 14 Appliances 15 Waste and recycling 16 Water use 17 Water heating 18 Renewable Energy Sources 19 Behaviour changes 20 Recent statistics 21

5 Background When you think of global warming, what is the main contributing factor that comes to mind? If you are like most people, you probably thought of cars and transportation or big industry but that is actually incorrect. Energy use in buildings is in fact one of the worst offenders when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to climate change. Alarmingly, Australians have the highest per capita output of carbon of all developed countries, even more than the United States and China. There are three ways we can combat this in our daily lives: curbing energy use being more energy efficient using alternative energy sources Alternative energy sources involve finding new ways to produce energy such as wind and solar energy. Reduction in consumption refers to people and businesses using less power and fewer services that require power, for example: turning the lights off, using less heat in the winter, and taking shorter showers. Energy efficiency means using less energy to produce the same amount of energy service. Energy efficiency can come in the form of new technologies (refrigerators that use less energy, cars that get better mileage, windows that keep the heat in), or simply being attentive to running what you already have more efficiently (cleaning out air conditioner filters, ensuring tyres are inflated at the recommended level). Goals Reducing energy and water usage, greenhouse gas emissions and improving comfort levels can all be achieved by: Using passive solar design Choosing renewable energy sources Choosing energy efficient technologies Changing behaviour patterns Reducing waste Recycling Using recycled products Reducing water use, wastage and reducing water pollution Reusing and recycling water It is our purpose in this booklet to provide home owners with information about how to increase the comfort of their homes and reduce their carbon footprint. 1

6 Green star ratings Benefits to home owners Homeowners are often looking for ways to improve their homes, either aesthetically or in functionality. When you talk about the comfort of a home, it is all too often said that a particular room is too hot in summer, or too cold in winter. More often than not, these comments come from those who own older style homes. Whilst aesthetically older homes have lots of charm, the charm can soon wear off on a drafty and cold winter night. Green star ratings will assist in providing a checklist of items to attend to for greater effectiveness of your building envelope. A green star audit will highlight areas in the home that could benefit from adjustments such as: more solar heat gain in winter, higher or additional insulation levels, or external shading either in the form of a built structure or vegetation. Green star ratings can also isolate which rooms are pulling down a rating, enabling you to focus on these issues first to achieve a greater benefit in electricity cost savings and more comfort sooner. Green star ratings on new dwellings are becoming a required part of the building approval process, so your building designer or architect may already be arranging your rating for you. However, if you have recently built a new home or would like to know the green star rating of your existing home, a green star assessment will provide that. Additionally, an assessment will highlight if there are any further improvements that you could undertake to improve your rating. Insulation is most often the number 1 item on an energy efficiency to do list. Modeling external shading (image: Bers Pro Plus Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) 2

7 Benefits to buyers and sellers of property When buying a home, it is very difficult to ascertain the energy efficiency of the property you are considering. A green star rating assessment focuses on the building envelope, in order to provide you with a snapshot of the current state of the home relating to energy efficiency, in addition to the potential of improvements to the home. Similarly, when a homeowner is considering selling a home and wishes to make some improvements, in order to obtain the best possible price for the property, the homeowner may wish to have a green star rating assessment undertaken. Along with a snapshot of the current state of the home, the green star rating provides the homeowner with a checklist of ways to improve their rating. Green star ratings are a becoming an important tool for those buying and selling property. External wall construction and insulation levels being modeled in the software program (image: Bers Pro Plus Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) Room temperature profiles based on climate zone and month/week of the year showing nternal temperatures in relation to average outdoor temperatures (image: Bers Pro Plus Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) 3

8 Passive Design The elements of passive design are: ORIENTATION for heating VENTILATION for cooling THERMAL MASS for storing heat GLAZING, SHADING AND INSULATION for control 4

9 ORIENTATION for heating Good orientation of a home means that the windows of the home are placed to capture as much winter sun as possible in order to gain maximum solar heat gain. In Tasmania, a home that faces North East will always rate better or be more energy efficient as it is gaining the warming effect from the sun, lessening the need for artificial heating in winter. If you are renovating or extending, speak with your building designer or architect about ways to maximise solar heat gain into your home. Most building designers and architects already design with this in mind, and will be able to provide you with advice on how you can make this a part of your renovations. Skylights or sky windows can also help gain solar heat in winter, positioning these to gain the morning sun will help warm up a cool room in winter; clerestory or highlight windows will do the same. As an active management note, opening and closing curtains across windows will assist in keeping in the warmth generated during the day. It is very important to open curtains to allow the sun to access the rooms to warm them, and then, before night fall in winter, drawing the curtains to retain the heat. Opening up external walls that face north or east in a home and placing good sized double glazed windows will increase the energy efficiency of your home. Ensure your living rooms are on the northern and eastern walls of your home and your bedrooms and bathrooms and offices are on the southern walls. Kitchens are best situated on the eastern wall, gaining the cooler morning sun. As they are work rooms that usually involve cooking, having them on the western wall will make them very hot work rooms in summer. 5

10 VENTILATION for cooling Good ventilation is important in summer to decrease the need for artificial cooling such as air conditioners. By opening lower windows on the southern wall of the home and opening higher windows on the northern wall of the home you will draw in the cooling breezes and allow the warmer air trapped inside the home to escape. Opening windows and doors in summer Opening internal doors enables pathways for the cooler air to enter from the south of the home pushing the warmer air out through the north of the home Reconfiguring rooms and walls, if renovating, to allow for maximum natural air flow (Image: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) 6

11 THERMAL MASS for storing heat Thermal mass is achieved through the use of dark tiles, bricks, stone and other heat-absorbing building materials which absorb the heat from the sun and re-radiate it. This can be an excellent tool for reducing heating loads by capturing the winter sun (through the use of heat-absorbing building materials) and then trapping in the heat through the use of double glazed windows. This is most effective in Northern facing rooms where the winter sun is low enough to be captured through the windows, whilst in summer the thermal mass can be protected from the hot summer sun via external shading structures. (Image: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) Winter Allow thermal mass to absorb heat during the day from direct sunlight or from radiant heaters. It will re-radiate this warmth back into the home throughout the night. (Image: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) Summer Allow cool night breezes and/or convection currents to pass over the thermal mass, drawing out all the stored energy. During the day protect thermal mass from excessive summer sun with shading and insulation if required. If you have a cold room in the house that captures good winter sun, but no summer sun, you could consider placing dark coloured tiles on the floor to absorb the winter sun and reradiate it into the room Installing stacked stone or dark tiles or bricks around a fireplace inside a home will help to store and radiate heat into the room in winter 7

12 GLAZING, SHADING AND INSULATION for control Windows can be big holes in the wall as far as protecting the occupants from the elements. Uncovered single glazed windows allow the warm air inside the building to seep right out. To protect your home from losing the heat you have generated, you need to have double glazed windows or very good curtains with a good insulating block out that fits well to your windows and goes right to the floor in conjunction with timber pelmets. Pelmets prevent the heat that is sitting at the top of your room (as heat rises) from escaping down behind the tops of your curtains. Some curtain brackets can be adjusted so that curtains sit closer to the walls, however be careful of condensation ruining the lining of curtains if they touch the windows. (Image: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) Investigate installing double glazed windows Install timber pelmets and curtains to the floor with a 3 pass coated insulation lining Remove any vertical blinds or venetians, they are unsuitable for our climate in Tasmania, unless used in conjunction with heavy drapes and pelmets in winter 8

13 SHADING External shading is important to reduce the impact of the summer sun. By building structures set at the winter sun angle over North facing windows you can capture the winter sun, whilst shading the rooms from the summer sun. Alternatively, planting deciduous trees along the northern wall that shade in summer and allow the winter sun through in winter when they lose their leaves is a great way to passively cool and heat your building. Get the right advice about which trees to plant from a qualified arborist and you will be locking up carbon in the process! Build structures set at the winter sun angle over north facing windows to capture the winter sun, whilst shading the rooms from the summer sun Use internal shading devices such as vertical, venetian or solar blinds use these in conjunction with heavy drapes and pelmets in winter Consider planting deciduous trees along the northern wall of the building get advice from a qualified horticulturist or arborist for the right type of tree for your area (Images: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) 9

14 INSULATION Insulation is an important part of any building, in fact, sometimes the most important factor. Insulation should be checked regularly by a qualified and experienced installer. The recommended level of insulation in Tasmania is: Ceiling equivalent to R4 (or around 20mm depth) External walls equivalent to R2 Underfloor equivalent to R1.5 There are many different products on the market, and many are DIY. Some provide noise reduction, but all provide a higher level of comfort by reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Research the right product for your application. (Images: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) Install insulation equivalent to R4 in the ceiling Ensure your roof cavity is well sealed to prevent the insulation from being exposed to the weather through missing or broken tiles, or roofing iron that is not secured When renovating, and if you have access to any external wall cavities, fill them with insulation equivalent to R2 or above If you can access your underfloor area, fit underfloor insulation equivalent to R1.5 or above 10

15 WEATHER SEALING The final element of passive design is about trapping in the heat that you have created. There are many areas that can be sealed around the building, it is a cheap and quick exercise that only needs to be done once, and with regular maintenance will prevent draughts and heat loss making homes much more comfortable. (Image: Holger Willrath, Solarlogic) Weather seal around all windows and doors Install dampers in chimneys Seal around piping inlets/outlets Seal gaps in floorboards, particularly if you have no under floor insulation Check your downlights are they vented? If so, consider installing capped downlights vented downlights also compromise the effectiveness of your ceiling insulation as insulation cannot be placed near vented downlights and as such you have holes in your ceiling insulation compromising its effectiveness Exhaust fans come in self-sealing and non-sealing units self-sealing exhaust fans are much more expensive, but limit heat loss in your bathroom whilst they are not in use 11

16 HEATING & COOLING Ideal indoor thermal comfort temperatures for summer range between degrees, and in winter between degrees. These ranges will differ depending on which state/country you are used to living in. Thermal comfort even differs between individuals living in the same house, and therefore, settling on a comfortable temperature for heating can be some cause for discussion around the dinner table. There are many forms of heating available. Some are more efficient than others, and some are better for the environment than others. Set out below is a brief overview: Heat pumps (reverse cycle air conditioners) ducted/non ducted Heat pumps are recommended as an efficient form of heating as they are 300% efficient, meaning that for every 1 watt of power drawn, they produce 3x that in heat, meaning that a 7.5kW heat pump would effectively cost the same as a 2500W portable heater to run, but produce much more heat Gas heating ducted/non ducted Where natural gas is available, this can be a cost effective and efficient form of heating. LPG is also available for gas heating, however it is a much more expensive option and most heaters are not interchangeable Wood heaters Wood heaters are carbon neutral, as they only release the amount of carbon that the wood has locked up whilst growing, providing you do not cut down the trees for fire wood and only use trees that have fallen naturally. However, for city life, it is not great for our outdoor air quality, particularly in the city of Launceston and its surrounds. Ceiling fans Ceiling fans help to distribute heat quickly around the room and therefore reduce running costs. They are particularly useful in rooms with higher ceilings and cost less than 1 cent per hour to run Portable heaters Portable heaters can be effective if used in isolation and not in conjunction with other forms of heating. Small fan heaters can use up to 2500 watts an hour or around 50c per hour Hydronic heating Water is heated in a boiler and re-circulated through piping to panel radiators or convectors located in each room throughout the home. In slab (floor coil) systems are also available whereby the piping is laid in the slab during construction. Heat is released into the slab from the piping, heating the room. Underfloor heating Electric under floor heating mats and cables can be installed throughout an entire house or specific areas. These systems generally use up to 160w per m 2, so can be costly to run for large areas. When choosing heating for your home, consider the building envelope first: have you done all that you can to gain natural heat from the sun? Have you done all that you can to keep the heat in that you generate? 12

17 Consider the space you are heating, and the way you need to use the heater; get advice from professional installers Consider upfront costs in conjunction with ongoing costs: will the lower priced unit cost less now, but much more over a number of years? Talk with others in your neighbourhood about their heating experiences Cooling appliances are not essential in our climate, and with a well designed home, they are not needed. In a poorly designed home however, or one with restricted orientation, they may be one of the most important appliances in the home. Heat pumps (reverse cycle air conditioners) See above Evaporative water coolers These coolers can cost less to install and run than air conditioning units. They work by turning hot dry air into cool moist air and are particularly suited to Southern Australian climates Ceiling fans and portable fans Ceiling fans help to distribute heat quickly around the room, and also help to circulate natural ventilation (Image: Energy Makeovers) Always look for natural ways to cool your home first shading, ventilation, orientation options Think about your appliance: will you use it in winter in its opposite mode? Buying one appliance instead of two is the most cost effective method and better for the environment 13

18 LIGHTING Halogen light globes and incandescent light globes utilise a great deal of electricity and create a lot of heat when being used, increasing the cooling load in your home during summer. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use around a quarter of the electricity of incandescent light globes. By replacing all of your light globes in your house with CFLs, you can save up to 75% off your lighting bill immediately. Skylights or sky windows are also an excellent way to reduce the amount of artificial lighting you consume. Ensure you choose the double glazed option; otherwise you are like to lose much of your heat through the glass ceiling during winter. Change all halogen down light globes to LED or CFL alternatives Reduce the number of downlights in use either by having your electrician remove several fittings from the circuit, or by removing a number of the light globes, particularly if you have a large quantity in any one room Change all standard incandescent light globes to CFLs Ensure all lighting is switched off at night, or when you are on holiday, or connect light fittings with movement sensors 14

19 APPLIANCES Do you have an old freezer operating in the shed that is only storing a tiny amount of food? Or is there an empty beer fridge operating? Do you leave your TV and DVD player on standby when not in use? If so, consider how many hours you use your TV say 4 hours a day therefore it is on standby 20 hours a day, 365 days a year this soon adds up. Having your fridge totally enclosed in your kitchen cabinetry also makes it run hotter, and having it located in the direct sunlight will also impact its efficiency. When re-designing your kitchen, consider locating your fridge in an unenclosed space away from direct sunlight. (Image: Energy Makeovers) Spending a bit more on good quality appliances with warranties and high star ratings will mean they are likely to last longer, reducing the consumption of electricity whilst in use, reducing the need for appliances to be repaired on a regular basis, and reducing the likelihood they will end up in landfill sooner rather than later Research your next appliance purchase at Turn off appliances at the wall and turn off lights in rooms that are not in use Reduce the temperature in your fridge to between 3-5 degrees, anything lower than this will be using electricity unnecessarily Recycle your old appliances by finding out about local e-waste recycling days run by local councils 15

20 WASTE AND RECYCLING Waste and recycling are an important part of calculating your carbon footprint. Make it as easy as possible to recycle. Recycling, reusing and repurposing as much as you can are important steps you can take towards living more sustainably. For more information about the life cycle of products and waste, visit the following website: Remove the obstacles that prevent the distribution of waste in your home Start a compost bin or worm farm Have separate large bins to capture waste as it happens Sort your rubbish Limit the amount of disposable items you use nappies, razors, tissues, sandwich wrap etc Research local council recycling support and drop off locations for batteries, printer cartridges and mobile phones Donate to charity Host a clothes swap with friends Reduce your consumption, be mindful of the packaging on the things you buy 16

21 WATER USE Saving water and protecting the rivers and oceans by being careful of the chemicals and pollutants that we wash down the drain is an important part of our environmental responsibility. We should all be concerned with reducing water usage. The best way to reduce our usage is by installing more water efficient toilets and tapware. Secondly we should be recycling and reusing our water, installing rain water tanks and grey water recycling systems to utilise water from the bath on our flower beds. Lastly, we need to care for the waste water we do produce by using natural detergents when washing dishes or hands or cleaning toilets. Better yet, learn to make your own cleaners; they are infinitely cheaper and better for us and our environment. Indicative of estimated savings in a 3 person household (image: Energy Makeovers) Replace hand soaps with ones that are free from parabens and sodium laurel sulphate Replace dishwashing detergents with a plant based environmentally friendly product Conduct an audit of cleaning products and implement environmentally friendly options Install flow restrictors on all tapware Install AAA rated tapware and shower roses Install dual flush toilets with a low flush rate Install a grey water reticulation system Install an on demand hot water reticulation system Install water tanks 17

22 WATER HEATING Monitoring the cost of your current hot water service is relatively easy, as the cost is separated out for you on your regular electricity account. It is wise to start a monitoring program, either in a spreadsheet, or just on a piece of paper filed away. An excessive jump in usage could mean a faulty system, and monitoring your usage (as opposed to the dollar amount payable on the bill only) can alert you to the problem quickly. Investigating alternative water heating solutions is within everyone s capabilities. There are many new systems on the market and hot water costs make up approximately half of our electricity bills. The systems are built to last a very long time, so it is worth paying a little attention to the choices we make now, for the future. (Image: Energy Makeovers) Check the temperature of your hot water cylinder if the temperature is set above 60 degrees celsius then you are heating water hotter than it needs to be. A temperature range of between degrees celsius is optimal. Anything below this and the water risks developing nasty bacteria If your hot water cylinder is due for an update, research the possibility of installing a gas boosted solar hot water system if you are near a natural gas pipe line, or an electric boosted solar hot water system. There are many systems on the market, so do your research Instantaneous gas and heat pump hot water services are also much better for the environment than electric storage systems that we have become accustomed to. An instantaneous gas hot water system could be a great option if you have access to a natural gas pipeline. 18

23 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES Installing renewable energy sources in your home could include solar panels on your roof or a wind turbine. These technologies are improving all the time, and are becoming more affordable. The benefits of powering your home with renewable technologies are not only limited to reducing your carbon footprint. Renewable technologies can assist in reducing your costs and your reliance on external sources for one of your largest utilities. Many electricity companies will pay you for any excess power you produce, so your system could earn you money. There are many different options, and much debate surrounding this topic, so it is vital that sound advice is sought and research is undertaken, taking into consideration all elements of your situation. Some of the renewable energy alternatives you can consider investing in right now include: Solar panels on your roof Solar hot water Wind turbines Geo thermal heating Green Energy through your energy provider 19

24 BEHAVIOUR CHANGES Changing our habits can be one of the hardest issues to tackle but also one of the easiest Habits like turning off lights and not leaving the water running when washing our teeth, choosing quality over price, remembering our plastic bags when we go shopping or buying local or even growing our own food are all noble, and imperative activities. But we are going to need to get our hands dirty! Change is never easy, but we are meant to move through it, not get stuck in it. Environmental goals can appear to be so large that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Sometimes the changes we perceive we need to make can also seem expensive and unachievable. We are each one small piece in the puzzle and if we all do our bit, to the best of our abilities, we will be doing everything we can to help resolve some of the many environmental issues facing us. Many hands make light work, so get involved in your community, neighbourhood projects, Clean Up Australia Day s, earth hours, get your kids involved, start a worm farm, grow some tomatoes on your balcony, or some herbs on your window sill, start looking at the packaging, read the ingredients, consider can I make/borrow/do without this? To find out more here are some great websites for your information:

25 RECENT STATISTICS In 2008, 59% of households had energy saving lighting installed (up from 33% in 2005) Energy star ratings were the main household consideration when replacing refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and clothes dryers Plasma televisions, use almost three times the amount of energy compared to a standard television Household electricity consumption rose to 210 petajoules (PJ) in , up 48% from (ABARE, 2009). There has been a fall in the use of electricity for hot water systems between 2002 and 2008 from 61% to 46%. Of those homes with heaters, electricity was the main source of energy for space heating (45%), followed by gas (41% for mains gas and LPG/bottled together) and wood (13%). More than one-third (35%) of households in Tasmania used wood as an energy source, a decrease from more than half (52%) in 2002 In 2008, 7% of households used solar energy to heat water, up from 4% of households in More than half of all households in the Northern Territory used solar energy to heat water (54%) - a much larger proportion than in Western Australia (21%) and no other state or territory exceeded 10% In 2008, more than one-third (37%) of separate houses had four or more bedrooms An ABS survey in on environmental views and behaviour found that most Australians aged 18 and over (82%) were concerned about environmental problems, and more than half (53%) believed the condition of the natural environment was deteriorating Almost nine out of ten people expressed concern about water shortages (89%). Around three-quarters (73%) of the population were concerned about climate change and more than two-thirds (69%) about the accumulation and disposal of household waste More than one-third of households (39%) nominated 'comfort/convenience' as the main reason for their choice of heater. Less than 2% of Australian households chose their type of heating based on environmental considerations. Insulation in ceilings, walls and floors will contribute to the comfort of a dwelling all year round, as well as a reduction in energy use for heating and cooling. The use of insulation in homes has increased to 61% in 2008 up from 52% in 1994 While household appliances such as refrigerators, separate freezers, dishwashers etc. only accounted for about 30% of total energy consumption, they accounted for more than half (53%) of residential greenhouse gas emissions Source: 21

26 greenappledesigns is an independent energy efficiency consulting service, providing green living and energy efficiency advice across Tasmania. greenappledesigns is able to assist with energy efficiency audits, home sustainability assessments, green star ratings and green living advice. Into the future, if you wish to learn about indoor air quality, volatile organic compounds (voc s) in your home, water quality and more, contact greenappledesigns for more information. If you are interested in learning more about the sustainability of your home, greenappledesigns is the place to start. Important notice: This information is provided in good faith to assist home owners and renters learn more about energy efficiency, home sustainability and potentially reducing carbon emissions. It is designed as an introduction to issues surrounding homes and their energy efficiency and is not designed as a tailored solution answering every question under this topic and we can therefore take no responsibility for any misunderstandings that may arise. For any further information regarding your particular situation you may like to contact greenappledesigns who will do everything they can to assist with your enquiry. emilyflaherty em@greenappledesigns.com.au please consider the environment before printing this document Harcourts Launceston 187 Brisbane Street, Launceston TAS 7250 Phone