WE ALL HAVE a part to play in looking after our planet, from the choices we make on a daily basis – like avoiding single use plastic or taking public transport – to the running of our homes.
Most of us make the effort to recycle at home or to turn off the lights when we leave a room, but what other things can we do to make our home more sustainable?
According to Cork-based Local Hero and sustainability expert Ray Brosnan, both small and big jobs can make a difference to your home’s Building Energy Rating (BER). “A combination of smaller jobs that you can do yourself and bigger jobs that you need a professional for can really improve your home’s sustainability,” he says.
So, which tasks should you tackle yourself, and which should you book in an expert for? Ray shares his advice below…
1. Take your lights to the next level
An easy task that won’t cost much or take a lot of time, says Ray, is switching out your lightbulbs for a more sustainable option. “Upgrading to LED bulbs throughout the house and changing out old fittings to LED fittings is a handy job that you can carry out yourself to improve your home’s energy efficiency.” For a high-tech solution, you could opt for smart lights with motion sensors which you can control with your voice or from an app like Hive.
2. Re-do your attic insulation
If you’re using energy and spending money to heat your home, the chances are you’ll want to get the most out of it. To reduce the heat lost through your attic or loft, Ray says that improving any existing insulation is a task you could carry out yourself.
“Insulating the loft is a relatively cheap task,” he says. “You can get it done for around €400 or €500. You don’t necessarily need a professional to do this – you can do it yourself. Anyone that’s pretty good at DIY might attempt it themselves.”
3. Crack down on draughts
Similar to the reasons why you might insulate your attic, Ray recommends draught-proofing your windows and doors. “Every hardware store will have draught proofing strips for the bottom of doors. For windows, check externally where there are any gaps and silicone them.
“For the chimney, then, you can get anti-draught cowls that you put on top of the chimney caps to stop downdraughts.”
Those are some things you can do yourself – but with professional help, you can make an even bigger difference. Here are the tasks to book a Local Hero for…
1. Improving and upgrading your boiler
Getting a boiler upgrade is another great way to increase your home’s energy efficiency, says Ray. “I think a lot of people have savings on the back of COVID and are conscious that their bills have gone through the roof from being at home.
“A lot of people are switching over from traditional oil or gas to condensing boilers, as well as adding more efficient radiators and thermostatic radiator valves.
2. Taking your insulation to the next level
The task of insulating your attic might be something you can carry out yourself, but if you’re looking to fully insulate your home and its external walls, it’s time to call in the professionals, says Ray. “Upgrading the insulation is a popular job at the moment. If you insulate your home to the recommended levels in the attic and walls, you could potentially raise your Building Energy Rating from a D to a C.
“Improving your home’s BER can increase the comfort and value of your home in the long-term. There are grants available across the board for jobs like insulation upgrades, window and door upgrades. They’re worth looking into.”
3. Mastering high levels of airtightness
While you might be able to reduce the draughts from your windows and doors, the highest level of air tightness can be achieved by booking in an expert – and is a job that’s most likely to be carried out during a big renovation. “To get a high level of air tightness, you need to go around all the edges of the doors and windows,” says Ray. The joints in the timber work where the first floor meets the second floor, they all need to be sealed as well.
“It’s not something that somebody could do themselves. It’s a big job, you’re hacking back plaster to get to the block work or to the timber and to the frame of the door. This is a job that’s done at construction stage or at renovation stage.”
Preparing your home for the future? With Local Heroes, you can get even more out of your home by easily finding and hiring reliable tradespeople in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Galway. All work comes with a 12 month guarantee backed by by Bord Gais Energy. Get a quote in a few clicks here.
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