Introduction
My background was the oil business; from serving as Merchant Navy Engineer Officer on Oil Tankers; through working as project engineer on oil installation platform fabrication at various fabrication yards right here in the Highlands of Scotland.
So, a while back when I had to retire due to ill health, I started looking for something else I could do, preferably working from home. I was always interested in renewable energy and the environment (I was always conscience of our environment). I tried for a job in the environment/renewable energy sector, but they all wanted qualifications. so I enrolled with the Open University, and after five years achieved my BSC (hons) Environmental Studies.
The following article details some of the changes I have made to my lifestyle due to my experience and training.
Remember Any savings we make in CO2 emissions will help towards the reduction in Global warming. These savings, no matter how small – they all add up; will possibly be the most important steps you have ever taken, in saving our world as we know it today.
I hope you find this article informative / interesting and that may you too choose to pursue some of these ideas yourselves.
Note
Please see the sketch at the end of the article of a house showing the energy conservation measures, and the table showing how much of your hard earned money can be saved against, the payback period for achieving the all-important CO2 reduction that these simple and mostly inexpensive (apart from double glazing) changes can attain. I have also listed relative websites for more technical details
1. Loft Insulation
The biggest loss of heat from our homes is due to lack of efficient insulation. You note the word efficient. Old loft insulation will be pretty ropey after about 20 years.
The government recommends loft insulation should be at least 10” thick; the thicker the better, and, here are government grants for this, and savings to your heating bill and CO2 emissions. Easy to install for the average DIY person (nearly said man) but do wear a face mask and a paper boiler suit and gloves when inserting the insulation as it is made from very itchy glass wool material! And, be careful to stand on the rafters and not come down into the living room ceiling –believe me it’s easy done.