Sealing up unwanted draughts is an inexpensive way of saving small to moderate amounts of energy by improving thermal insulation. Draught-free rooms and buildings are more comfortable at lower temperatures, so you can even turn down the thermostat, which also saves on energy bills.

Heating costs through the roof? Consider cladding and insulation

Cladding is used to provide an additional layer of insulation to a building which improves thermal performance and weather resistance. It can be made using a variety of technologies, materials and procedures. Metal, wood, brick, vinyl, or composites can be used with varying insulating and cost-performance.

Have you looked into those cavities? Cavity wall insulation

Insulating wall cavities can help you cut energy use and save money by reducing heat lost through walls in colder months, and keeping it out during warmer months, which cuts back on cooling needs.

Cavity wall insulation can be used in any double-walled or double-skinned building. The cavity between the walls needs to be at least 50 mm for the insulation to be effective.

Tip

There are different types of cavity wall insulation:

Recovering heat produced during the refrigeration process is possible and can help save energy and cut costs. Heat-recovery equipment can be fitted to existing plant or integrated in new buildings, and heat from the heat rejection stage of the refrigeration process can be recovered from the condenser. The recovered heat can then be used for general space heating or hot water.

There are two types of heat recovery, depending on the installation and refrigerant used:

Refrigerated display cabinets are important for marketing/selling goods that need to be kept cold while displayed, but they are notoriously energy-intensive. Taking necessary maintenance measures can help save energy and reduce yearly bills. For instance, when cabinets are not regularly cleaned or maintained, efficiency and performance suffer. Equally, retrofitting the curtains or blinds of refrigerated cabinets can reduce electricity demand.

Free cooling can assist in cooling water which is subsequently used in industrial processes or air-conditioning systems. It is an economical system which can help reduce costs and energy uses.

Free cooling uses low outside temperatures to chill the water and can replace mechanical refrigeration systems. When the air temperature is lower than the temperature of the water needed, free cooling is a great option.

Consider using free cooling when:

Micro-hydro (or hydropower installation) is a good example of small-scale renewable energy that can help to save energy. It exploits water flows through a turbine to drive a generator and produce electricity. Installed on a small river or stream, it can produce enough electricity for an industrial or commercial site.

The solar thermal identity… or should that be supremacy?

Solar thermal (also called solar heating collector) is a mature renewable energy technology. Solar collectors have recently been used not only for the preparation of hot water and pool water, but also for heating objects and devices. It can provide hot water at temperatures of between 55 and 65º C.

An efficient solar thermal system has the potential to meet nearly two-thirds of the hot water needs of a building. It works by absorbing energy from the sun and transferring it to heat water.

Wind energy is a good example of how small-scale renewables can work. The electricity generated can cover part of the electricity needs of building(s). This potential varies depending on several factors, which specialists can help to identify. A good place to start is to check the long-term annual mean wind speed in the target region, to get a sense of the site's suitability for small-scale wind energy.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are a good example of small-scale renewables. PV modules are panels that convert sunlight into DC electricity, and then into AC electricity. PV modules are reliable and require low maintenance. This technology works well, ideally free from shade, covering electricity needs during the daytime.