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Space heating
We use a lot of electricity, wood and sometimes coal to heat our homes. On average, about a third of all the energy used in homes (this includes electricity, wood, coal, natural gas and LPG) is for heating. About 22% of all electricity used in our homes is for heating.
You can save energy for heating in three main ways:
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Minimise
heat loss
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The easiest way to warm your house is to minimise heat loss. A high level of insulation will make your home warmer, drier, healthier and cheaper to run. 20-30% of heat in a house can be lost windows; double glazing with low-e glass will significantly reduce this. Eliminate air infiltration by make sure that all gaps around windows and doors are weather-sealed. Also seal infiltrations around pipes and wires ducts. Seal unused chimneys.
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Page links
Insulation
Double-glazing
Passivhaus
The Passivhaus standard is a voluntary standard for the design and construction of low-energy homes that need minimal heating, if any.
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Passive solar
heat gain
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Sunlight is the cleanest, most renewable source of energy on earth – and you don't have to pay for it! When planning a new house make sure that the design takes advantage of passive solar heat gain by including some or all of the following: optimal orientation, window design and placement, building materials such as concrete that have thermal mass, and air flow. If you are renovating an existing house, this is a good time to consider upgrading your home’s passive solar design features. Also pruning trees, removing other shading or simply opening your blinds when it's sunny will all help.
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Clean up
your heat
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There are many options for heating your home and there are a number of factors – like the size, layout and construction of your house – that will affect the type of heating you will use.
The most sustainable options are the clean, energy efficient ones. Heat pumps and modern wood burners and wood pellet stoves are good options. Avoid gas, oil and coal-burning heaters.
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