Planning for energy efficient replacements

electrofelix

Moved in January to a house built in 1996 and we've a few items that need to be replaced in the next year or two, so I'm trying to put together a complete plan as to what to improve and when in order to best benefit from any better efficiency grants. I'm guessing some of these could be asked in specific subforums, but it's possibility a bit difficult to keep an eye on the entire project and considering any questions in context with all the other plan steps.

My understanding is that most improvements need to be accompanied with taking an initial BER and then a subsequent BER after all of the improvements, and at least for some of the grants these need to be completed within a 6 month period. So first question, is that accurate?

Current list of improvements

• Replacing 20yr old oil boiler with combi boiler and removing existing immersion
• Install stove in fireplace to replace open fire - cracked flue near breast so can't use the current fireplace
• Replace attic insulation
• Install Solar panels
• Pump external walls with insulation

I've also placed these in order of what I think is the priority as the boiler is old so replacing it before it packs it provides better opportunities to put in place a better solution, the fireplace results in a draft and can't be lit, attic is insulated but needs replacing, solar panels will help reduce electricity bills and wall insulation may or may not be suitable.

Next set of questions is about finding out more information on understanding what the expected efficiency gains should be for each of the possible improvements, as well as whether they should be combined with any other changes.

Boilder - been recommended to replace the boiler as the current one is the original, and I'm trying to understand whether switching to a combi boiler would be better. Seen with a few posts that will need to look at potentially a larger tank in the attic as well as pump to maintain pressure. The combi would supply the main bathroom, kitchen and hot taps in the downstairs and master bedroom ensuite sink. The ensuite has an electric shower, so guessing that we generally don't need a immersion or boiler heating a hot water tank during the winter.

When switching the boiler, how difficult is it to be able to zone the house? Is that likely out of the question given the ground, upstairs and hot water tank are all currently linked? And by out of the question I mean that it's likely to be prohibit-ably costly to do so with a low ROI? At most I'm thinking ground and upstairs on separate zones.

How do I determine what sort of energy efficiency gain should be made by switching to a combi boiler? Thinking how to guessimate cost of water required for a full sink of washing up 4 times a week, and a bath once a week and how to work out the difference between standard boiler with hot water tank and combi. Basically looking to work out the ROI assuming the current boiler is <75% efficient.

Stove - the current open fireplace has a crack in the flue liner a little above the fireplace, so will have to either replace fully as it's at the required limit of 200mm, or replace with a stove with a narrower flue. As we've been quoted €2400 for a stove and flue installation versus €2900 to fully replace the flue liner for an open fireplace, it seems like a no brainer. The question on BER measurement and grants is the main one that applies to this item as to when to do it. I did have someone suggest installing a backboiler for better efficiency, but that seems pointless unless not going with a combi boiler. Also as this is a semi-detached it also strikes as likely quite invasive in order to retrofit something like this.

Also noticed that there doesn't appear to be anything in seai.ie around replacing fireplaces with stoves. Did I miss anything? As this might persuade me to focus on the other items that qualify for the grant first to have them all done in a 6 month period due to cost.

Replace Attic Insulation - Engineers report suggested it looks original and would be worth replacing. Does qualifying for any SEAI grants require installed by a recognized fitter or is self installation likely to be sufficiently cheaper that it negates any benefit from a grant?

Solar Panels - going with a combi boiler seems like it makes the ones that heat water pointless, so it only makes sense to use the ones that generate electricity. Is there a useful guide for Ireland around ROI on number of panels, orientation of house (back is almost directly south facing), size or panels, panel performance etc? I've found some general calculators, but tbh these had things like expected Wattage from panels and I didn't know how to get from roof size/space with panels and expected sun in Ireland to what the prospective Wattage per year should be.

Similar to the stove, it's not clear if there is any grant covering installation of this panels. Is it the case of the electricity generating panels don't have a grant scheme only the water heating ones, or are these covered under something else?

Pump external walls with insulation - hesitant on this as living in the west of ireland, see plenty of driving rain, which my current reading of most pumped wall insulation suggests that it's not supposed to be suitable for. Though it may be ok to pump the walls that aren't exposed to these types of conditions such as the north and east, however in our case the east wall is shared with the other half of the semi detached, so this seems like the benefits might be limited. Has there been any recent studies that could provide more light on this?

Besides switching appliances to A+++ and lights to LEDs (already mostly replaced) anything else I might be missing in my plans?


Thanks for any help, and understand if for some of the questions that I may be directed to post separately in a specific sub-forum.

mike_2009

Just bought a similar aged house and am undertaking improvements within my budget. Replaced all lights with LED (saves over 100 watts in kitchen / dining area alone!). Bought 200mm extra insulation to put over fibreglass (at 90 degrees) in attic. Bought extra ventilation solutions for attic to ensure good free flow of air (one holds back insulation at eaves, the other opens the felt a bit to let air flow through). Bought cold tank cover and lagging as attic will be colder now.
I looked at the SEAI grants and wanted to go External Insulation but the cost is too high for me for now. I'd agree that pumped insulation has it's drawbacks and External is going to be much better in your situation although check the render will withstand the rain you mentioned. Try the thread here for studies:

Get an Energy monitor - both the type that wraps around the mains supply, and the plugin type you put in the socket and then plug in the device. Understand the background load and the usage of each device in your house will help you spot issues, large background loads, energy wasting devices you can then plan to swapout over time. Tumble Dryers etc are going to eat up 'leccy always, even the heat pump types.
The External Wall Insulation would be higher on my list, with windows if I won the lotto (!).
The current SEAI grant is for solar thermal panels only, i.e. hot water. Doing a few SEAI things together makes more sense but in my case I'm hoping the changes I'm making myself will drive a better BER down the road - D1 at the minute. He said the 2 year old gas boiler made a hugh different in my case so a new combi will help you out even if the house leaks heat like a sieve!!

I'll PM you some solar panel stuff.