Isolated house saves three times more energy than classic house

Level of energy power spent on heating in standard isolated house can be used in 3 or 4 economical houses or even 8 passive houses.

Old buildings spend 250 kWh energy power per m2 in just one year, new buildings 150kWh and economical ones up to 90 kWh. With 8 to 10 cm of thermo-isolation on external wall, energy consumption decreases for four times.

Numbers are cruel. Buildings spend more than 40 % of total energy power, and thermal losses through windows and external wall make 70 % of total thermal losses.

According to new technical regulations, constructors have to build economical houses, so investors must have thermal protection project of building in order to get construction permit. That means that no longer is allowed to construct buildings without facade thermo-isolation and double-glass windows because only these products guarantee power savings.

Experts claim that stories about thick walls and double-glass windows, that isolate better than new constructions, are fake. Old 60 cm brick wall isolates better than 30 cm wall or concrete one, but 30 cm brick wall with 10 cm of thermo-isolation is much better protection than the old, thick wall.

When we talk about thermo-isolation, it's very important to isolate inner space from external part and other, cold spaces.

If living room is above the basement, you need to isolate living room floor, that is basement ceiling. But if the flat roof or cold attic is above the ceiling, you have to isolate it also to prevent heat loss in winter, and space overheating in summer, when you spend a lot of energy power on cooling.

Besides materials, for good thermal isolation are also important layout and house position. Whenever is possible, you need to build house orientated towards the sun, so the house is not in shadow and also is protected from strong winds.

Professor Jasenka Bertol-Vrček, head of Architectonic Construction and Building Department at University of Architecture in Zagreb says that economical house must not have too many open external surfaces in order to prevent heat losses. Living room should be faced south, and house must be as much compact as possible.

Željko Štromar, director of Building Institute at Croatian Construction Institute says that house isolation depends of house location. In Nothern Croatia, wall isolation and entire building isolation is very important, and in Southern Croatia, window shading is important because in south you spend more energy power on cooling than on heating.

Štromar alerts that is the best for good house isolation to hire experts who will exactly determine how big is energy loss and how to save energy.

Isolation blinds

Passive house sets strict demands for carpenter work and good isolation. Plastic carpenter work filled with foam is the most corresponding. It is a product of Thyssen Polymers company, known for steel production, and is offered in combination with tripple glass, in colours, and blind boxes are also with isolation.

How to save money with little investments?

* seal the windows and outside doors
* isolate radiator receptors and blind boxes
* isolate ceiling below non-heating attic
* install thermostatic valves on radiators
* install saving electric bulb
* buy economical household contents (class A)

How to save money without investments?

* turn heating off at night and when nobody is at home
* drop the blinds at night and close the curtains
* do not cover radiators with curtains
* use natural light whenever is possible
* turn the light off in rooms you don't stay in
* turn washing machine on at night