Cool Lights!

50W halogen downlights have been hot stuff in the world of lighting for far too long - see an earlier blog for our thoughts on halogen downlights. Fortunately, there are some cool new alternatives, such as unvented 8W LEDs. See just how hot and just how cool below!

We decided to make a direct comparison and installed a 5W LED in place of one of five 50W halogens in a kitchen. The old halogen globe, light fitting and transformer were quickly and simply removed and the LED was installed directly into the existing hole in the gyprock (sometimes it can be a little trickier depending on the wiring set up).
The result is impressive - the new LED (on the right, above) is very bright and it casts a broader and more even light than the halogens. This kitchen will only need 3-4 LEDs (rather tha 5 halogens) that's a reduction from 250W to 24-32W!
Most impressive was the temperature difference. The lights were switched on at the same time and in less than 5 minutes the halogen was at 98 degrees and the LED was just 16 degrees! The LED is barely visible on the right hand side of the thermal image above. See below for close ups.
The LEDs not only reduce your lighting energy-use and fire risk, but because they are a completely sealed unit they prevent any air leakage (and they can be insulated over because they are so cool), significantly reducing heat loss... and therefore even more energy use!

You can read more about this partiuclar LED here.

Enviro Expo 12-13 June

Story from p20, Canberra City News May 28-June 3.

Energy Imaging and more than 30 other businesses/groups with a sustainability focus will be exhibiting at a free two-day Enviro Expo at the Queanbeyan Conference Centre as Queanbeyan City Council celebrates World Environment Day 2009.

The Expo, to be held on Friday June 12 and Saturday June 13, will showcase ways that the local community can reduce its impact and the environment.

Download a flyer and program of events here.

Alex Sloan decides to suck it and see!

Earlier this week we tested the house of ABC 666's Mornings presenter Alex Sloan. You may have heard an interview, that she recorded during the testing, go to air on Thursday 2nd April.

The original parts of Alex's house are nearly 80 years old and its been extended a couple of times in more recent years. No surprise - we found it to be very leaky. The beautiful old exposed floorboards were particularly sieve-like! The pleasant surprise was how generally well-sealed the windows and surrounding architraves were. Some clear insulation gaps were also spotted.

There is big potential to relatively quickly and inexpensively improve the energy efficiency and comfort level of the home. Having seen (and felt) the extent of the gaps, Alex seems pretty motivated to start plugging them up before Canberra winter hits. Dear old Bessie (the healthy, hot dog with cold nose) will appreciate the reduction in cool drafts too!

Green Loans - Home Sustainability Assessments

Energy Imaging have just become Green Loans Home Sustainability Assessors.

How does it work?

1. Firstly, households need to have a qualified household sustainability assessor investigate their current energy and water use. After participating in a household sustainability assessment the household will be provided with a tailored report on the best water and energy saving changes they can make to their property as well as practical information to help get them started.

2. the program will help households, who choose to undertake actions suggested by the assessment, with a Green Loan subsidy to significantly reduce the cost of loans of up to $10,000. The loans will be made available through partnering financial institutions. Details on the terms of loans will be available later this year.

Green MLA puts home to the test

ACT Greens MLA, Caroline Le Couteur, bravely invited Energy Imaging and The Canberra Times into her home to assess the quality of her insulation and measure the rate (and locate the areas) of air leakage. A story was published in the Canberra Times Earth Hour Supplement on March 18.

Insulation results were good - a thorough and even job with few gaps. This means the insulation can actually work to its quoted R value. Air leakage, however, was at the rate of17.7 air changes per hour at the test pressure of 50 Pa (modern North American and European homes aim for 1.5 - 3.0 at 50 Pa). At normal pressures, this equates to leaving a 35cm square window permanently open, or having the entire volume of air change 3 times per hour. Imagine that in the Canberra winter - whoosh goes your heated air (and money and green house gas emissions) every 20 minutes!

The Helix magazine does the draft test

The February-March issue of the CSIRO's The Helix magazine (www.csiro.au/thehelix) features a story about draft proofing and Energy Imaging, on page 8.

Free insulation for millions of homes!

Today, Kevin Rudd announced that the Australian Government will install free ceiling insulation in around 2.7 million Australian homes (http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2009/media_release_0783.cfm)

This is good news but we are concerned that the Australian Government's focus on insulation:
1. will lead to more low quality installation of insulating materials (greatly reducing its cost effectiveness), and
2. ignores the enormous potential offered by simultaneously targeting air leakage control.

• 5% gaps in insulation reduce effectiveness by 50%
• air leakage can account for 30% of a home’s heating and cooling costs
• insulation does not stop air leakage

Overseas research has proven that air leakage control is the cheapest way to reduce energy loss from homes and—in combination with properly installed insulation—is the highest priority item for reducing energy use in buildings. Energy Imaging's results reveal that Canberra homes lose much of their winter heating and summer cooling via air leakage and improperly installed insulation.