Save by being energy savvy

WITH our utility bills soaring higher and higher, the pressure to cut down on the amount of energy we use in our homes feels very real. Of course, reducing our energy use is good for the planet as well as our wallets, so we should really be embracing all the energy-saving methods we can. As we struggle with fall outs from the current cost of living crisis and the ongoing climate emergency, the imperative to be energy savvy has never been stronger.
The first steps along journey to cheaper, more-environmentlly friendly energy usage sound pretty simple: First, get a better understanding of the energy usage in your home, then identify any problem areas that might need your attention and then consider introducing different ways to improve energy efficiency.
These steps sound pretty simple, but many of us will still need a bit of guidance. Happily, help for Mayo households is at hand, and mercifully, it won’t cost us a penny.
A new initiative is litterally equipping the county’s householders with the right tools to save energy and reduce their energy bills – and all you have to do is take a trip to the library in either Castlebar or Ballina to get tooled up. Both of these libraries are now lending out Home Energy Saving Kits designed to help everyone save energy at home.
Launched by Cllr Martin McLoughlin at Castlebar Library last month, the toolkits were developed by Dublin energy agency Codema. Each kit contains five tools and six exercises, all aimed at reducing energy usage and the amount it costs us every month, and the kits are available to borrow free of charge for one week.
The items in the toolkits address three key areas of energy use in the home: space heating, hot water and electricity consumption. They can help identify common problems, such as inadequate insulation, poor ventilation and appliances in the home that might be driving up your electricity bills. (The kit is also accompanied by a step-by-step user manual and a demo video, so don’t worry, you don’t need to be a plumber or engineer to understand how the tools work.)

Tool up
So what’s inside? Well first up, there’s a fridge/freezer thermometer for measuring the temperature of your fridge and freezer accurately, so that you can adjust it accordingly.
There’s also a thermal-leak detector, which will show up energy leaks in the home by showing you the temperature differences with a coloured LED spot. This helps to spot thermal air leaks and highlight the areas that need additional insulation and/or draught proofing.
A temperature and humidity meter will help users work out both the temperature as well as the humidity levels in the home, while a plug-in energy monitor will show up how much energy the appliances in your home use and help you calculate their running cost.
Lost your radiator key? They do have a habit of vanishing. No panic, though, you’ll find one in the kit. For those with a ‘wet’ central heating system, these keys ‘bleed’ the radiators by releasing trapped air and allowing the rads run more efficiently. You’ll notice the heat boost too.According to Codema, implementing easy energy-saving measures like these can reduce your energy bill by up to 20 percent, while making your home more cosy and contributing to a better environment. What’s not to love?

To borrow a kit, contact Tina Burns in Castlebar Library on 094 9047940 or Paul Tighe in Ballina Library on 096 70833.