After the AGM, an energy adviser from the Environment Centre gave a presentation on “Keeping your Collins home warm in winter and cool in summer”. About a quarter of carbon emissions come from our homes, so reducing this would make an important contribution to slowing global warming.
The energy performance of our houses is rated on a scale A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). A D-rated home would be a Collins house built in 1920s with open fires and no central heating. She took as an example a 1920s house in Shirley with no insulation, an outside toilet, no electricity, gas lights, coal fires and plenty of draughts. The emission was 3.6 tons of carbon per year. Over the last 12 years it has been improved in stages and has now achieved a B-rating. The carbon emission has gone down from 3.6 tons to 0.3 tons.
How do we make our homes more resilient in heat waves? Shading the house with shade-sails in the garden and an exterior mesh fabric which is attached to the outside of the windows with suction cups. This brought the internal temperature down by 5 degrees.
Visit the Environment Centre website environmentcentre.com for contact details including an online form.