I was interested in reading an article on a New Zealand website entitled ‘Don’t Count on that Energy Saving’.
The writer argues that spending money on insulating your home won’t actually save you any money, or energy. He quotes various studies which suggest that people in better insulated homes often use more energy than those in less well insulated homes.
What’s happening and likely to happen as the rush to insulate gathers momentum is people in cold homes suddenly find they have warm(er) homes and they like it. “So instead of taking savings by using less energy and having lower power bills, they’re taking the comfort instead,” says Branz scientist Nigel Isaacs.
I decided to do my own little study to see if this argument is valid. As we have installed A Rated windows in our home through the summer, I asked my wife if she was intending turning the boiler down a bit as a result of the new windows. She couldn’t understand why I was asking the question, and confirmed that she had no intention of changing the settings on the boiler.
The implication for our industry marketing the benefits of energy rated windows is obvious, but don’t worry I have intervened and reduced the temperature dial on the boiler.
The interesting conclusion from this article is that better insulated homes is more important for our health than for reducing our energy consumption. By retrofitting houses with better insulation it is estimated this could provide a health saving of $215.
Collins says providing warmer, drier homes for families and children is more important than energy savings. “Turn the argument on its head and you realise that one night spent in hospital is about the cost of installing ceiling and underfloor insulation in a home, and then you’ve got to ask where we are better spending our time and money.”
I wonder how many salesmen out there are currently using the better health message while demonstrating the benefits of double glazing? And taking the argument a stage further, surely there are health benefits of relaxing in a nice, warm conservatory.
Live longer….. buy double glazing and a conservatory!
