“Savings of up to 70% is feasible!”

According to the findings incorporated into the “Heating and Thermal Insulation” report, undertaken by the  Energy and Natural Resources Ministry’s Renewable Energy Directorate General, a four-member family living in a 120-square meter house consumes electricity in the range of 6,000 kilowatt-hours (kwH) per year, predominantly on the cooking and storage of foodstuffs and meals, cleaning and washing of the dishes and laundry, the utilization of entertainment and recreational equipment, devices and implements, and also illumination-lighting.

Some 82% of the energy consumption taking place in the buildings is assigned to heating purposes, and the energy utilized for heating buildings and structures constitutes 26% of the aggregate energy expended in Turkey. According to the primary observations of the survey, heating and thermal insulation emerges as the single and most effective means of accomplishing energy efficiency and productivity in the energy realm with respect to heating and cooling in Turkey, which is disadvantaged by the fact of satisfying 70% of its energy requirements through imports. The study makes a poignant point by indicating that the heated air eventually ascends and is emitted through the roofing; for this particular reason, there is a pressuring necessity to apply insulation cover and sheathing across the roofing plank, in the initial stage, stressing that over 20% savings could be attained solely through roof waterproofing and insulation, and that insulation, layering and waterproofing is essential for the entirety and integrity of the buildings and structures.

The report makes further sharp reference to the possibility of generating an approximate savings to the tune of 50% by solely applying façade sheathing, jacketing and thermal insulation. Thus, the bill of a family who spends about 500 liras on heating every year would gradually decrease down to 500 liras.

The report reveals that the energy consumption of households in Turkey possessing similar climatic conditions and same utilization and habitation domains is 2 to 3 times more, with respect to benchmark countries of France, Germany, United Kingdom and Sweden, as this outcome appears as a reconfirmation and a token testimony that heat and thermal insulation is not accorded the due attention and significance in Turkey that it duly warrants. The report, specifically, set forth the following key recommendations for a plausible energy efficiency and productivity in the heating of the households and residential units:

–          Benefit from more external and exogenous heat by opening the windows constantly exposed to Sun, and make sure that the curtains and draperies are closed off after the sunset. Closed curtains and draperies prevent heat loss at the rate of nearly 25%; never use long, stretched and wall-length curtains and draperies that would block and choke the heat transmission by the radiators.

–          Never place or hang materials, clothes, marble, fixtures, objects or fabrics on or in front of your heaters or radiators.

–          The heat emitted and exuded from the radiators heats up the wall behind; therefore, place insulation and heat-conducive plates behind the radiator in order to ensure the prevention of heat loss.

–          Window and door frames account for approximately one-fourth of heat depletion. Nearly 20% of the loss incurred in a house lacking any proper insulation or sheathing originates from single-glass window frames, as predictably the installation of double-layered glass frames will certainly mitigate and reduce the loss by half.

–          Repair, adjust and mend the cracks, holes and fissures around the periphery of the door and window frames, and employ protective window weather strips-bands or foam-strips to prevent air leaks and seepages.

–          Never dry laundry in closed premises or chambers during winter months, if practicable and feasible.

–          Always and definitely turn off your heater when ventilating your chambers.

–          Make sure that there is no leakage or dripping of water in and across the radiator’s connective and junction piping and grid.

–          When not at home for longer periods, turn down the valve of your heater or radiator a bit or close off completely.