Beginner’s Guide to a zero carbon footprint home – a 5 minute Step by step guide
Locally the States of Jersey have agreed to a zero-carbon emissions strategy to be in place by 2030. That’s no mean feat. To assist the Homeowner with methods to meet this policy and therein halve or zero your Utility bills - Read on
In a cost effective step by step breakdown:
Step 1
List your Utility bills, in Jersey it’s usually: Oil/Gas, water, electricity. Next to each item note the monthly and annual cost. File this note, to then add updated costs if you install renewable and energy saving products
Step 2
Consider ways of zero-ing your energy costs & your input to helping the environment:
For Water heating and Space heating – consider installing an Air Heat source pump. This attaches neatly to the outside of your Home, provides electricity and heating. How does it do this? It draws in fresh air from outside, through turbines, which create space & water heating
https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2016/02/pros-and-cons-of-air-source-heat-pumps
For Oil replacement – as above install an Air Heat source pump, so you can take out your Oil tank giving added room to your garden. What is oil doing for our planet? Not only is it due to run out, the process in extraction is damaging & the burning of oil, to you a fossil fuel, emits harmful CO2 emissions
Solar panels – next affordable item. If you have a south facing roof consider installing a few solar panels. In short, photovoltaic (more expensive) serves space heating and water heating. Basic solar panels (called collectors) are more affordable but are limited to water heating only. You need a water container for storage of the solar energy or batteries. Links as below
http://isle-eco.com/services/solar-thermal/
Water – rainwater collection to use for grey water. Why not? There are many quick and easy devices to achieve this and given the amount of rain each year your Home could really cash in therein zero-ing your Water rates
Step 3
Insulation
As you continue your Notes. Do your own recky survey of your Home. How much insulation do you have in your loft, ground floor, walls? Do you have double or single glazing?
Once you’ve established answers, consider the following:
Roof insulation, use insulation boards to between the Roof rafters
Ground floor insulation – this is one of the worst areas for heat loss. Consider taking carpets up if not new floor finishes in areas and install a minimum of 25mm Floor insulation, the old finish can go over the top or consider some new floor finishes
Windows – consider installing double glazing if you don’t have it
Wall insulation – if cavity wall and no insulation consider the blown insulation method into the cavity. There are a few Installers locally. Or you can install an external cladding system with the necessary insulation.
https://www.kingspan.com/gb/en-gb/about-kingspan/kingspan-insulation
Extensions/renovations
If you are thinking of extending or renovating, think of adding larger areas of glazing to the south of your home or glazed addition. This adds passive solar heating, yes it is separate to adding solar panels. In short it means with this key south facing glazing you add warmth to your home at no cost to you
Overall
Now you’ve completed your own survey, how easy was that. A great intro to just what you can do for your Home and your pocket. The last bit, you will expect to have a period of time to pay for the products, usually given as a 5 year ‘pay back’ period. After this, it’s all for free. There will be a kit of parts for slick swift installation coming soon including options to the above. Watch this space!
Jane Blakeley Architect
Jane Blakeley BA Hons Dip Arch Cert Urban Des RIBA qualified in architecture in 1992 at Canterbury College of Art School of Architecture, Kingston University then taking a further qualification in Urban Design at Oxford Brookes University before returning to the Island in 1993. Jane worked with one of the larger local practices gaining experience on a wide range of projects from large scale commercial, residential design & one off domestic projects. She set up a boutique Architect practice JFA Architects in 1996 working on a range of project type and with particular focus to House architecture - one off Houses, refurbishments & extensions to small developments of Houses with a policy of no Project being too small. Jane also gives focus to commercial projects, urban design solutions, environmental and ecological design having been Remedials Architect to the reknowned eco Tourism project in Zanzibar East Africa in 1998. She practices an open door policy to answer any architectural or now eco questions and welcomes interest in architecture, the wealth this brings to the community and the challenges this now faces in our modern Age.