Seven reasons to make your home energy efficient

An energy efficient home is designed, built or retrofitted to minimise energy consumption while maintaining or improving comfort, health, and safety. That encompasses everything from the use of sustainable building materials, good insulation, efficient heating systems, the use of renewable energy, such as solar panels, right down to the lighting and appliances you use in your home.

An energy efficient home incorporates various approaches, technologies, and materials to reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills, and minimising environmental impact while ensuring a comfortable living environment. So why invest in an energy efficient home?

Having an energy efficient home is important for several reasons:

Environmental benefits: Energy efficient homes consume less energy, which in turn reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels.

Lower carbon footprint: By using less energy, you are contributing to a decrease in your overall carbon footprint, helping to mitigate climate change.

Financial savings: Energy efficient homes require less energy for heating, cooling, and electricity, resulting in lower utility bills.

Increased property value: Homes with energy efficient features often have higher market value and can be more attractive to potential buyers.

Sustainable energy use: Incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels can make a home more self-sufficient and sustainable.

Comfort and health: Better insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, and properly sealed windows and doors can lead to more consistent indoor temperatures and improved comfort.

Better air quality: Energy efficient homes often have better ventilation systems, which can improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to pollutants and allergens.

Energy security: Using less energy reduces the demand for fossil fuels, which can help to improve national energy security and reduce dependence on imported energy sources. In addition, energy efficient homes are better equipped to handle energy shortages or price spikes, providing a level of resilience against external market factors.

Grants and incentives: If you're looking to make your home more energy efficient, the SEAI is a great place to start as they provide various grants for homeowners who want to make energy efficient upgrades, which can offset the initial costs of such improvements.

Long-term investment: Energy-efficient homes often use higher-quality materials and systems that can be more durable and require less maintenance over time.

As seen from the list above, the growing demand for energy-efficient homes is driven by a combination of environmental, economic, social, and regulatory factors.

It comes as no surprise that increasing awareness of climate change and its impacts has led more people to seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint. And there is a growing emphasis on sustainable living and reducing resource consumption.

When it comes to cost savings, energy efficient homes can result in lower utility bills due to reduced energy consumption, which is a significant incentive for homeowners. Combined with that, energy efficient homes often have higher resale value and can be more attractive to potential buyers, making them a good long-term investment.

Innovation in building materials and advances in technology have made energy-efficient materials and systems more accessible and affordable. The introduction of grants has also helped, making it more financially viable too.

With many people living in urban areas, there is a need for sustainable housing solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of dense population growth. As more people become climate conscious and look at ways to reduce their energy consumption from both an environmental and cost saving perspective, there is rising demand for energy efficient properties in Ireland, and globally, agreements and commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are driving national and local policies towards more energy efficient living.

Save energy costs

Investing in energy efficient homes can lead to significant cost savings and a favourable return on investment (ROI) over time. The exact savings and ROI can vary depending on factors such as the extent of energy efficient upgrades, energy costs, and available incentives.

Things like heat pumps and improved insulation such as energy efficient windows and doors, can lower utility bills by 20-50%. In addition, heat pumps operate more efficiently and tend to have longer lifespans, further reducing replacement costs.

LED bulbs use 75-80% less energy than traditional bulbs, which can significantly lower electricity bills, and energy efficient appliances can use 10-50% less energy than non-certified models, leading to substantial savings on electricity and water bills. You may find our article on energy saving tips useful when trying to reduce your electricity bills.

When it comes to ROI, energy efficient homes often have higher resale values and can sell faster than non-efficient homes, providing a good return on investment. Growing demand for sustainable and energy efficient homes can make these properties more attractive to potential buyers and many energy-efficient upgrades have relatively short payback periods, after which the savings directly contribute to ROI. For example, upgrading to LED lighting can have a payback period of less than a year.

Over the lifespan of the home, energy efficient features can save thousands of euros, significantly outweighing the initial investment costs. When it comes to financing these upgrades there are a number of options available. The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme provides grants to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home. You may also be able to get a Home Energy Upgrade Loan, which is a low-interest loan for homeowners to help with the additional costs of the upgrades that aren’t covered by the grant. These loans are subsidised by the Government so have lower interest rates than normal personal loans.

In addition to grants and schemes, some lenders offer ‘green’ mortgage interest rates. A green mortgage is a mortgage which offers a lower interest rate to people who are buying a more energy efficient home. 

The discounts on offer can vary from lender to lender, but most green mortgages are available to first-time buyers, those building their own homes and some lenders provide homeowners with the option to switch from a standard mortgage to a green one when work is done and a home’s Building Energy Rating (BER) is B3 or better.

Lower your home insurance costs 

In addition to saving on energy bills, the BER rating is an important factor to consider when purchasing a property or upgrading your home, as it can have an impact on the cost of your home insurance policy. 

Homeowners who invest in energy efficient measures such as insulation, heating controls or renewable energy systems can significantly improve their BER rating. This can in turn result in lower home insurance premiums, providing a further incentive to make improvements.

With Zurich home insurance if your home has a BER rating of A or B, you can save 5% on your home insurance. You can also save an additional up to 29%¹ on your home insurance when you buy online with Zurich home insurance. 

Increase the value of your property and its BER rating 

Improving your BER will not only make your home more energy efficient, but it will also increase the value of the property and decrease your energy bills and carbon emissions. There are many ways you can improve your BER rating. For some handy tips read our blog and guide on BER ratings for ways to improve your BER rating.

Help the environment by lowering emissions 

Energy efficient homes use less energy for heating, cooling, lighting and appliances. By consuming less energy, energy efficient homes contribute to a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. This helps mitigate the impact of climate change and global warming. Energy efficiency within our homes often involves the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, which is more sustainable than fossil fuels and has a lower environmental impact.

When it comes to water usage, energy efficient appliances such as low-flow showerheads and toilets, use less water. Reducing water consumption helps preserve this vital resource and reduces the energy needed to pump, heat, and treat water. Likewise, energy efficient homes often incorporate other sustainable practices, such as better insulation, energy-efficient windows, and smart home technologies. These practices not only save energy but also promote a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter 

Not all upgrades to your home have to be expensive. There are many inexpensive ways to make your home more sustainable. Check out our article on easy ways to make your home more sustainable.

Keeping your home cooler in summer doesn’t have to cost a lot. For example, you can close blinds and curtains during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun's heat. Open windows and doors in the early morning and late evening to allow cooler air to flow through your home.

Ensure that windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent warm air from entering and cool air from escaping and plant trees or install awnings to provide shade around your home, which can significantly reduce the amount of heat that reaches your windows and walls. If possible, you can use energy efficient appliances and lighting to reduce the amount of heat generated inside your home.

In winter, keeping your home warmer in an energy efficient way can be achieved with some simple measures. Ensure your home is well-insulated, especially in the attic, walls, and floors as good insulation helps retain heat. Check for draughts around windows, doors, and other openings. To limit the amount of warm air escaping, you could use a draught seal which is an easy and cheap way of sealing your windows. 

Close blinds and curtains at night to reduce heat loss through windows and during the day, open them to let in sunlight. Additionally, you could use rugs and carpets on floors to add an extra layer of insulation.

You can set your thermostat a degree or two lower to reduce your energy consumption or lower the temperature when you're not home and raise it when you are. Use a timer for your heater and your lights so that they only come on and stay on for a specified time.

Take advantage of government grants 

As mentioned, in Ireland, there are several home energy grants available to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their homes. These grants are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and are available for a range of retrofit and home energy improvements. It’s advisable to take advantage of these grants as they can bring down the cost of upgrades.

Here are some of the key grants available:

• Better Energy Homes Scheme for homeowners to do certain energy upgrades.
• Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme for people on low incomes that provides free home energy upgrades.
• National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme for people who want to bring their homes up to a BER rating of B2 or above.

There are also individual grants available to make your home more energy efficient. These include:

• Attic insulation
• Wall insulation
• Heating controls upgrade
• Solar thermal solutions
• Solar PV panels
• Heat pump systems

To apply for these grants, you will need to check that you are eligible and meet certain criteria. You can submit your application online through the SEAI website. It’s advisable to have the energy upgrades carried out by a SEAI-registered contractor. Once the work is completed you can then submit the necessary documentation to claim the grant money.

Future proof your home 

The European Union (EU) has established several regulations and directives aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings, including homes. These regulations are part of the EU's broader strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change, and promote sustainable energy use.

One such directive is the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) whereby member states must achieve energy saving obligations. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) is primarily focused on promoting renewable energy, but also impacts home energy efficiency by encouraging the use of renewable energy in buildings, including the integration of renewable energy systems like solar panels and heat pumps. It also looks to promote the use of efficient heating and cooling systems that utilise renewable energy sources.

The EU's energy efficiency policies are continually evolving with a greater emphasis on the transition to a low-carbon economy, so it makes sense to stay ahead of developments and future proof your home in line with regulations.

Conclusion 

As you can see from this article there are lots of different ways to approach making your home more energy efficient. Although some of these upgrades are costly, the return on investment can pay off in the long run and there are grants and financial supports available to help with the costs of creating an eco-friendly home.

Energy efficient homes usually have a higher resale value and this is another indication that any investment made now could yield a good return further down the line.

Taking out a home insurance policy with Zurich gives peace of mind and confidence that you're with an insurance company that understands your unique world here in Ireland. 

¹Save up to 4% with the 'Protect' promocode discount and up to a further 10% discount when you get an online quote and buy a new policy online from Zurich. Simply enter ‘Protect’ in the promotional code box when you get your online home quote. This offer is available to new customers in the first year only and not available to existing Zurich home insurance customers. We offer an additional 5% discount on your home insurance if you have an existing insurance policy with Zurich. We also offer a minimum additional discount of 10% if you have been claims free for 4 years or more. Offer is valid until 30th September 2024. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Zurich home insurance offer. All premiums including discounts are subject to the minimum premium. Discounts do not apply to optional add-ons.