The Energy-Freedom Home

This post is a bit of a summary from the following book “The Energy-Freedom Home – Beyond Zero Emissions – 2015” I found it a fantastic resource and strongly recommend anyone who is interested in reducing emissions, or simply saving money to get yourself a copy and have a look through it and implement as much as you can.

Being green is becoming increasingly more important with every year that passes. It might seem like a monumental undertaking to reduce emissions, and as an individual it can be easy to dismiss the need because at the end of the day, “what’s the point, I am only one person, it is not like I make much of a difference anyway.” And while I can see the logic in that sort of argument, I believe if we were serious about wanting to reduce emissions, then as individuals, we need to lead by example and be the change that we want to see in the world.

But you want to know the best part? You can actually make money out of reducing emissions. I mean it is all well and good to help the environment, but you really want to persuade me to change my ways, then just tell me I will make money out of the change and I will definitely be listening.

So if you make money out of reducing emissions, then why isn’t everyone doing it? Well, there is a bit of a catch, and that is the financial benefit is not realised immediately, while the cost of making an Energy Freedom home can be slightly expensive.

For example, if may cost $20,000 to renovate/retrofit your home to turn it into an Energy Freedom home, and the cost benefit might end up being a saving of $3,000 per year. So it might take 7 years before you do start to see any financial benefit from the upgrades. But given you might be living in your home for 30 to 40 to 50 years, then the financial benefits will outweigh any upfront costs.

What is Energy Freedom?

Energy Freedom means not only being a consumer of electricity, but a producer. So not only do you significantly decrease your electricity consumption, but you also produce electricity and turn your whole home into something much more energy efficient. Your home will be more comfortable, smarter, and quieter. Not to mention, an Energy Freedom home will help make you an active participant in addressing climate change.

Benefits of Energy Freedom

The benefits of an Energy Freedom home are the following:

• Low ongoing energy costs
• Eventual financial return on your upfront investment
• Improved home value
• Higher comfort levels
• Greater capacity to cope with extreme temperature conditions.
• Fossil Fuel independence
• Zero net emissions

The NINE steps to Energy Freedom

1. Lighting
2. Draught Proofing
3. Insulation
4. Windows
5. Appliances and Cooking
6. Heating and Cooling
7. Hot Water
8. Energy Monitoring and Control
9. Solar Power

You can implement the above steps as quickly or as slowly as you want, there is nothing stopping you from implementing all of them within a 6 month – 12 month period, however the upfront cost might be significant. Due to this, it is typically suggested that implementing the steps over 7 or so years is what you should be aiming for. It is also important to note that there is no specific order to carry out the steps, they can be carried out in any order which suits. Also, depending on your geographical location or specific home, some steps may be more impactful in reducing/creating electricity so it may pay to focus on these ones first.

Step 1) Lighting

Replace all halogen globes and fluorescent lights with LED lights. There are several advantages to using LED lights, namely;

• Much lower energy use (up to 80% less energy use compared to halogen bulbs)
• Lower heat generated during use
• Longer life

The main disadvantage is the upfront cost of purchasing and installing LED lights, and potential issue with transformer compatibility. However, the long-term financial benefits will far outweigh the costs in the long run. And due to the lower heat amounts generated using LED lights, specifically for downlights, insulation can be significantly more effective around LED lights.

Step 2) Draught Proofing

Particularly in older homes, a lot of air leakage occurs, which can cause loss of hot air during winter and a loss of cold air during summer. This causes more reliance on heating and cooling to create comfort inside the home. The main areas to look for when rectifying any potential draught issues are as follows;

• Design and build issues (if building a new home, ensure draught is taken into consideration particularly with exhaust fans, lights and windows)
• General draught proofing (sealing gaps between architraves and skirting boards, sealing up unnecessary wall vents)
• Exhaust fans (typically fans are poorly sealed, they can be replaced with fans that seal shut when turned off)
• Chimneys (these should be sealed when not in use – fitting with a chain-operated hinged damper flap)
• Vents (they may provide useful ventilation, but can also be a problem with draught)
• Insulation (insulation can help prevent air leakage if there are gaps in floorboards/walls
• Downlights

Step 3) Insulation

It is almost impossible to have too much insulation, and currently, especially in Australia, most houses do not have enough insulation. Ceiling insulation is the most important, but do not forget walls and floors. Good insulation in a cold climate can save as much as 80% of your heating bill.

Step 4) Windows

Windows are usually the weakest link in a home’s thermal envelope. Upgrading windows is often quite affordable and very effective in creating an Energy Freedom home. Adjustable awnings, curtains, shutters play a vital role in controlling energy flow through windows. Double glazing can be very helpful (however it is not the complete solution) and also has the benefit of significant noise reduction.

Step 5) Appliances and Cooking

You may have redundant devices, turn off things you do not really need. Consider efficiency when buying – use the star ratings that are provided. Induction electric cooktops offer the same or better functionality as gas, with much higher efficiency.

In the average Australian home, one-third of consumed mains energy is used by appliances (28%) and cooking (5%). Given the high percentage of energy usage in this area, it is important to look at ways to reduce the amount of energy consumed.

Cooking – if you currently use gas, upgrade to all-electric appliances, including an induction cooktop

Appliance Replacement – when it comes to replace your existing appliances, choose a high-efficiency model with the help of energy rating labels

Operation – many devices such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and televisions have operational settings that influence energy efficiency.

Step 6) Heating and Cooling

Space conditioning uses 38% of our homes’ energy across Australia, including electricity, gas and wood. This makes heating and cooling overall the greatest consumer of home energy. Australian homes use about 10 times as much energy for heating as for cooling, so it makes sense to focus on reducing heating requirements to make the most effective change.

Prioritise passive measures first – Windows exposed to direct sun in summer should be shaded. Ensure insulation, draught proofing and windows are upgraded prior to installation of air-conditioning systems as it may impact the size of the system required.

Heat pumps for heating and cooling – where active systems are required, split system style heat pumps are recommended to achieve high-efficiency heating and cooling. Systems using refrigerants with low global-warming potential are preferred.

Minimum performance – Split systems with a minimum performance of 4.5 stars for both heating and cooling are preferred.

Configuration – Multi-split-style heat pump configurations are recommended for houses that need to service more than four separate spaces.

Selection and Operation Considerations –

• Use fan only until temperatures are above 28°C
• Keep doors and windows closed when in operation
• Check cool-climate performance
• Choose the right size unit

Step 7) Hot Water

In Australian homes, approximately 25% of household energy is used to provide hot water. Solar hot water systems are good but may have high wintertime energy needs in Southern parts of Australia. Heat-pump hot-water systems are versatile and efficient, and best-practice units maintain high efficiency in winter.

Be careful about the amount of hot water you use;

• Using low-flow fittings on showers
• Having shorter showers
• Using front-loading washing machines
• Using cold only washing when possible

Update your hot water system. Ensure to get a size that reflects the lower daily use. If in a warmer climate, consider using solar hot water systems as this can provide at least 85% energy savings.

Pay attention to pipe and fittings, check they are properly insulated. Fit an insulating boot over the hot-water system’s relief valve.

If you have a temperature set point that is adjustable, make sure it is set to no higher than necessary. Consider systems that offer smart boosting and temperature control.

Step 8) Energy Monitoring and Control

This is similar with finances when you develop a budget and cost tracking, a lot of the time you might not be aware where significant portions of your money are going until you start tracking your expenses. The same can be said with your electricity usage, when you start to monitor your electricity usage you can really see where you use your electricity, and then find out ways how you can save.

Some examples of items that people can monitor and act on include the following;

• The amount of standby electricity used in their home every day and night
• The cost of leaving appliances turned on when not in use (such as lighting, computers, television)
• The cost of running an old and inefficient second refrigerator
• The relative amounts of energy used by different electrical-appliance technologies, such as halogen vs LED lights, plasma vs LCD televisions, heat-pump vs radiant heaters
• The cost of running electricity intensive appliances such as air conditioning units, pool pumps or clothes driers
• The amount of energy used at peak times
• The cost savings possible by shifting electricity use to different periods of the day/week

Setting up ways to monitor and control your energy usage can be relatively cheap. Find out first if you already have a smart meter, if you do not have one, contact your electricity provider to find out if you are likely to get one soon. If it is likely you are not going to receive one anytime soon, write to your provider and express your interest.

Some electrical providers may have a web portal where you are able to access your power usage information over the internet. Find out if you can do this and if you cannot, write to your provider.

You could also get an In-Home Display (IHD) so you can monitor your usage easily from your home. Depending on your set up with regards to smart meters and web portal access will determine what IHD will work for you.

Once you can look at your power usage, look individually at your appliances to determine how much power usage they end up using, especially when they are on stand-by.

Step 9) Solar Power

A solar power system is a good investment as over time it will more than pay for itself. An efficient home’s energy consumption can be offset by about 5kW of solar. With sufficient solar, a home’s net annual energy bills can be close to zero.

Since the start of the 21^st century, the number of solar panels installed has been growing exponentially, which is good news because the cost of solar panels has come down dramatically over the same time.

Use an experienced solar power person to determine the size of the system required, and best location due to your specific property.

Case Study

I always like to look at real time examples, and it is great that this book provides two realistic examples which can be used as a basis for people to be able to see the real results of implementing these 9 steps.

Newcastle Brick Veneer Home

The Newcastle home is 120m² project home in a mild, humid, subtropical to warm-temperate climate, near the coast. The home was built in 2000, has two bedrooms and a study and was purchased by the current owners in 2009.

The initial envelope conditions were slab-on-ground, brick veneer with wall sarking, plasterboard for internal walls and ceiling, no ceiling insulation, Colorbond roof with sarking, single-glazed aluminium-framed windows, and 60cm eaves. The house had mains for gas for hot water and cooking, and no air conditioning.

Improvements

2009 – Added ceiling insulation, improved lights

2010 – Panel heaters, ceiling fans, roof-mounted air extractors, solar power

2011 – Draught proofing, electric cooking

2012 – Solar hot water, curtains, louvres

2013 – Pergola solarium, blinds

Lighting

All light bulbs in the house were replaced with CFL bulbs or LED lights. There are no halogen or incandescent globes in the house.

Draught Proofing

Skirting boards and architraves were installed in the two wardrobes where they were missing. Sealing pipe holes when the gas stove was removed. Sealing plumbing service holes in the bathroom with expanding foam. Using sealant around cupboards, skirting boards, bath and showers. Ensured the new bathroom exhaust fans were sealed.

Insulation

Insulation was installed in the ceiling.

Windows

A large amount of glazing was installed in the living room and kitchen. Further than this, installing curtains, roman blinds, a pergola with tinted fibreglass and also planting a mango tree for shade was also carried out.

Appliances and Cooking

Gas cooking was replaced with conventional electric

Heating and Cooling

There is no air conditioning unit in the house, but by using fans, curtains, windows and doors the occupants are able to control the temperature effectively. Panel heaters are used in areas which are currently being occupied. Areas are isolated to prevent unnecessary heating of unoccupied areas.

A closed in pergola solarium was also installed at the back of the house, in winter when it is sealed, the temperature inside can reach significantly higher than outside temperature.

Hot Water

The original gas hot-water service was replaced with an electric boosted solar hot-water system

Energy Monitoring and Control

Inverter and smart meter readings are taken on the first of every month

Each room has a power board with a light that indicates if standby power is left on when exiting the room.

Solar Power

A 2.9kW grid-connect solar-power system was installed

Performance Rating Summary

I wish they had costs associated with each item, but it is still easy to see that everything adopted in this case study is relatively minor and easy to achieve.

Performance Rating

The home was rated using the NABERS system before and after improvements. The results are shown in the above table. This does not take into account the solar power system.

Conclusion

As discussed at the beginning of this post, I have only provided a summary, there is significantly more information in the book “The Energy-Freedom Home – Beyond Zero Emissions – 2015” and for anyone who is interested in saving money and being more environmentally friendly while they do it then I strongly recommend getting yourself a copy and having a look around your home and see what you can implement.

At the moment I am renting so I cannot implement the majority of these, but as soon as I do live in my own place I can assure you completing these improvements will be one of my top priorities.