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ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE HOME
By Gillian Applewhaite
As Barbados becomes more developed, the improved standard of living enjoyed by many has led to an increase in energy consumption. However, as the price of oil continues to rise dramatically, the resultant increase in the cost of living due to the many areas of the economy which utilise oil is cause for concern.
Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken, and one of the areas where efficiency can be introduced is through energy conservation in the home.
Senior Technical Officer in the Ministry of Energy, William Hinds, noted, for example, that persons were constructing more elaborate homes which contain more electrical appliances requiring additional energy.
“We have bigger houses, and bigger houses call for more energy. We have bigger refrigerators that are perhaps sometimes two and three times the size that we would use if we were poor; and we have a lot of food in those refrigerators that is not used for several weeks, but we are using energy to keep that food cold,” he explained.
The use of more energy efficient appliances is therefore recommended. Although the initial outlay may be high, the savings that will be realised over the life of the appliance will be greater than the extra cost paid at the time of purchase.
In terms of refrigerators, it is also suggested that the temperature is set not at the coldest level, but at the level that is adequate for storing the food it contains. The number of times the refrigerator door is opened should also be kept to a minimum.
Additionally, Mr. Hinds urged persons who had not yet constructed their homes or who were in the process of doing so, to consider the importance of energy efficiency. “You need to have a roof that is going to reflect the heat from the sun, not absorb it. If you have a roof that is a dark colour or it has pigments of black in it, like vinyl tiles, you will be absorbing heat and you don’t want that. If you are absorbing heat, and you choose to have those vinyl tiles because they are attractive, you can still compensate by having insulation in your roof or you can have what is called a radiant barrier that will reduce the radiant energy coming into your house,” he advised.
The location of your favourite rooms in the house may not seem particularly important, but, as Mr. Hinds noted, having them facing away from the sun at the time when you come home from work in the afternoon, could make a difference.
“So, you want to have your favourite rooms pointing east because at sunset, the sun is going to be at the other side of your house. Planting some trees along some of the walls is also going to absorb the energy from the sun and make your house easier to cool,” he pointed out.
He added that using more solar energy and alternative energy sources, such as photovoltaic for lighting, could also be an integral part of the construction of one’s home. “But, most of all you have to sit down with your contractor, with your builder, with your architect and say ‘I would like to have an energy efficient house and let us start from the top’” he urged.
Windows with over-hangs, exhaust fans that pull hot air out of the ceiling, light coloured curtains, and ceiling fans as opposed to air condition units are also recommended as ways of reducing energy use.
The Senior Technical Officer warned that while the price of an air condition unit may increase the temptation to purchase it, the money “that you spend on the air conditioner is going to be several thousand dollars over years that you are not going to get back”.
“If at any time you decide to sell your house, you cannot tell a perspective buyer this house is valuable because I paid $10 000 or $20 000 in electricity over the last number of years. It is not an asset having to pay these bills, you are not gaining anything from it,” he stressed.
For those homeowners who still want to own an air condition unit, he advocated having windows and doors in that room that were effectively sealed. “If you are using an air conditioner where there are small cracks or small areas where air comes in and goes out, you will be using your dollars to take that heat out of the room. And, at the same time, that heat and more will be easily coming in under your door and through the spaces at the tops and bottoms of your windows,” Mr. Hinds explained.
He concluded that while being subjected to fluctuating fuel costs was not preferred, the way one responded by being more sensitive as a country, in terms of the energy used, the type of energy used and shifting towards alternatives could make a significant difference to one’s pockets. “As a country we can actually have a greater disposable income per capita; and we can become prosperous by using our energy more efficiently,” Mr. Hinds said.