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Heat - Insulation - Buildings - Cost-effectiveness.
Of the methods used to
insulate buildings,
some are more effective than others.
Cavity wall
insulation will save more
energy than water tank
insulation
but it is more expensive to
install.
We can calculate the cost-effectiveness of
building insulation
by looking at the initial cost and the
annual saving (yearly saving).
For example, cavity wall
insulation might cost £600
and provide an annual saving of
£60.
At this rate, it will be 10 years
before any money is saved.
After 10 years there is a real saving of £60 per year.
Draught proofing is relatively inexpensive.
The initial cost may be £50 with an annual
saving of £50.
The saving in the first year pays for
the draught proofing.
After 10 years there is a saving of (10 x
50) - 50
pounds
(10 years savings minus the
initial cost)
(10 x 50)
- 50 = £450.
Double glazing is relatively expensive and it may take 40 or 50 years
before the annual saving covers the
initial cost.
However double glazing also
reduces the amount of noise
entering (or leaving) a building.
Cost-effectiveness is
not the only consideration
in deciding the type of insulation used for buildings.
Any insulation makes the building more
energy efficient.
Using less energy (conserving energy) has an environmental benefit
and may reduce pollution and conserve fossil fuels.
This is not the same as the "conservation of
energy".
Cost-effectiveness is not the same as efficiency.
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