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| Energy Service |
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Our House looks at a company that visits your home to show how you can save on water, energy and waste costs, while also benefiting the environment.
Rick Roberts, a builder by trade, began "Environment & Safety Service" in 1996. He realised how serious the greenhouse problem was and wanted to look at ways that would help the environment. After a year of research he concluded there were a lot of preventive measures within households that could be implemented to help the situation. Environment & Safety Service have “retro-fitted” over 2,000 homes in Sydney to date.
Rick’s company conducts assessment visits to find out how households can save on water, energy and waste - not just to help the environment but also to save money. To do this they will often begin by looking at water and electricity bills to see if there are any problem areas and will then look at every room in the house to carry out a thorough assessment.
Rick will demonstrate a full range of energy-saving products and provide advice. Customers can then choose their products and Environment & Safety Service will then install them. They can also estimate how much will be saved and calculate approximately the benefits for the environment.
Common Problems And Solutions
1
Doors:
Gaps below and around the exterior doors allow drafts to enter, heating up the home in summer and cooling it in winter.
Solution: Install door-activated draft excluder and foam seal.
2
Lounge room / bedrooms:
Incandescent lighting.
Solution: Replace with energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting. These lamps can save up to 70% of your lighting energy costs.
Badly-fitting wooden window frames - allowing drafts to enter.
Solution: Seal with foam seal.
Curtains do not reach the floor, allowing cool air to enter the room.
Solution: Lower the hem on curtains to touch floor.
Open fire place not in use.
Solution: Block off to prevent heat loss through chimney.
3
Kitchen:
Excessive water flow in kitchen tap.
Solution: Replace with water saving aerator.
Faulty fridge seals.
Solution: Replace fridge seals.
Cooking with electricity.
Solution: Convert to gas - it is cheaper and has less greenhouse gas emissions.
No curtains on windows.
Solution: Install floor length curtains, to provide external shading.
4
Bathroom:
Excessive water use in shower.
Solution: Replace with AAA-rated 9 litre per minute shower to save water and energy from hot water.
Excessive water use in bathroom basin.
Solution: Replace aerator with water saving aerator.
Toilet cistern, using 9 litres per flush.
Solution: Install a cistern converter to make the toilet multi-flush.
Incandescent lighting.
Solution: Replace with energy efficient compact fluorescent, as before.
5
Laundry:
Heat loss from hot water system.
Solution: Add extra insulation to the tank, insulate the pipes and maybe use solar power if possible.
Water from washing machine wasted.
Solution: Install a grey-water diverter to water lawns and gardens.
6
Other Areas:
Roof Area.
Solution: Insulation bats installed.
Rain water wasted (stormwater).
Solution: Install a rain water tank at the side of your house.
Kitchen waste.
Solution: Install a compost bin and reduce kitchen waste by up to 40%.
NB: For an electrical appliance, generally the more stars shown and the lower the rating number on the label, the more energy efficient the device will be.
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Cost
Environment & Safety Service provide a free initial assessment visit.
The average price for a house costs $150 - $200. This includes installation of some products. However, the company says that this will pay for itself within 1-2 years.
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More Info
Environment & Safety Service
238 Paramatta Rd.,
Stanmore NSW 2048.
Ph: (02) 9560 9789 or Fax: (02) 9560 9799.
Visit the web site:
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~essretrofitters
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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