Stay warm in winter, save money & the planet
Greece consumes more than double the amount of heating fuel used in Sweden, due to Greek homes being poorly built — substandard construction practices, outdated heating systems and a lack of proper insulation in most buildings.
Seventy percent of all domestic energy is used to power heating systems, with demand increasing steadily since 1990, which leaves Greece both dependent on other countries for constant supply and vulnerable to price increases.
An EU directive that requires all newly built buildings in Greece to have a “green card” to certify its energy efficiency has not been adopted. However, Brussels has set the deadline for January 4, 2009 and also provided guidelines on appliances, office equipment, water boilers, lighting and creating renewable energy.
With oil at a 14-month high and a 7 percent increase in DEH rates, how can residents of Greece stay warm without going broke?
If you’re a renter
There are measures you can take, even if you do not own your home.
In winter:
1. Choose a home carefully
The biggest determinant in whether you will be warm in winter and cool in summer is what house you choose to rent. Some things to consider:
- Location: Apartments lower to the ground or sandwiched between two floors keep a more consistent temperature than those at the top.
- Look at the windows/doors: Are they a tight fit or are there gaps around the frame? Is there double pane glass, and is it done right? Not all double pane windows or doors are constructed properly and therefore do little or nothing to insulate against weather or sound.
- Look for insulation: Don’t take the word of the landlord regarding insulation. While you’re looking at the windows and doors, does the wall even appear thick enough for the possibility of insulation? e.g. If there isn’t considerable wall thickness where the sliding door pulls back when open, there’s no insulation. (See additional tips in the homeowner section)
- Heating system: Choosing an individual (autonomi) heating system has benefits in that you can control the thermostat and pay only what you use, as opposed to being on the central (kentriki) system where someone else decides how long the heat is on/off and has you paying often unfair portions of the petrol bill.
2. Weatherstrip, caulk and foam
Leaks account for up to 30 percent of energy escaping from the home. Taking the time to visit a hardware store and picking up a few winterizing supplies for under 20 euros can go a long way to keeping you warmer, saving money on your petrol/electricity bills and even insulate against noise. The biggest leaks can be found around the front door, windows and sliding doors
3. Door sweeps
A decent door sweep attached to a door with gap at the bottom can stop cold drafts from blowing in. Or use an old towel, flokati or door sock.
4. Cover windows/sliding doors
Curtains and drapes with or without insulation can be used to cover one-paned or otherwise hopeless doors and windows. It doesn’t solve the problem, but it helps create a low-to-medium barrier.
5. Turn down/off the thermostat at night
Throw a down comforter or another blanket on the bed instead of letting the heat run at night. Some modern thermostats allow you to program it to come on a half hour before you wake up for work, so you’re not cold when getting ready or eating breakfast.
Year round:
6. Sign up for DEH off peak rates
The PPC or DEH offer reduced electricity rates during off-peak hours. See, “Save money with off-peak electricity rates for DEH” for details.
7. Use CFLs
Converting to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) is one of the easiest and quickest solutions. Only 10 percent of the electricity pulsing through a normal bulb is being used for actual light, with 90 percent generating unnecessary heat. On the other hand, a 26-32 watt CFL has the equivalent brightness of a 100-watt bulb without carbon emissions or wasted energy.
A CFL will cost more initially, but pay for itself in one year, last 8 years and save 12 euros a year on the electricity bill per bulb. i.e. If you have 10 bulbs in the house, that’s 120 euros savings a year without having to replace them for 8 years. IKEA has them; Philips and Osram have them available at various supermarkets. (Readers are encouraged to post a comment if they’ve purchased CFLs at a particular store).
8. Stop the standby
Put your TV, stereo, DVD player and computer equipment on a power strip that you can power off at night instead of leaving on standby or sleep mode. Why? Because if there’s a light on, they’re still using electricity and you’re paying for it. (e.g. We saw a 20 percent drop in our electric bill by doing this one simple thing).
Same with your charger. The charger is still using electricity when plugged in; it doesn’t know you’ve disconnected your iPod or phone.
9. Avoid space heaters
It’s tempting to use space heaters when the central heating system leaves you cold, but they’re huge energy burners that cause your electricity bill to skyrocket.
10. Choose energy efficient appliances
If your home came unfurnished, consider purchasing Energy Star appliances with the highest rating you can afford (’A’ being the highest). It may appear expensive to shell out an extra 100-200 euros for a higher rating, but it will quickly pay for itself, especially if it’s a refrigerator.
If you’re a homeowner
In addition to the 10 tips given above, homeowners have greater freedom and ability to save significantly more by making long-term improvements.
1. Add insulation
Most homes in Greece are brick and cement based and don’t have insulation, even many newly built ones. Unless you personally oversaw the construction of your home or had it inspected after purchasing it from a previous owner (who probably claimed it had insulation), it’s safe to assume there isn’t any.
How can you tell if your home has insulation?
a) If you hammer a nail into an outer wall to hang something and dust falls, the wall is solid or filled with plaster and has no insulation inside.
b) If you can’t hear the TV or stereo when a family member or roommate is using the shower down the hall, there’s no insulation in the walls of your home. Insulation would deaden the sound of pipes, a washing machine, etc.
c) If you put a hand up to an outer wall of your home on a cold day and can feel it’s cold, there is no barrier or insulation inside. The temperature should be neutral.
2. Upgrade heating system to natural gas
By getting away from a liquid gas and oil heating system and upgrading to natural gas, it will cost approximately 4,000 euros. But if you intend on owning this property for a long time, it will pay for itself quickly with a 25% to 40% savings annually on heating and electricity costs, plus a tax credit of up to 700 euros. Natural gas not only costs less, but also heats the home more quickly and efficiently so you will use less.
3. Put a water heater blanket on the water heater
Insulating the water heater helps water to warm up faster after flipping the switch (if it’s not already on a thermostat) and retain warmth.
4. Replace old appliances
Major kitchen appliances that are older than 10-15 years old are less energy efficient than those made today and are the biggest energy wasters. New appliances have an initial cost, but quickly pay for themselves with up to a 20 percent savings per year.
Look for the Energy Star rating on new appliances when shopping. The highest rating is ‘A.’
5. Replace air filters
Replacing the air filters on air conditioning/heating units improves their efficiency
6. Upgrade to modern double pane windows and doors
Replacing outdated, single paned doors and/or windows would greatly improve energy efficiency by insulating against weather conditions and noise pollution. Even older double glass doors and windows could stand updating since many are not air tight or fitted properly. (i.e. The house we rent appears to have double pane glass, however the thickness, setting and fit are all done incorrectly, so cold air comes into the house and heat escapes).
Myths
√ False - Putting rugs on the floor help keep the house warm. (Rugs are purely a comfort item and do nothing to retain heat).
√ False - Natural gas is dangerous. (Installation by inexperienced, unlicensed “technicians” are often the cause of accidents, not the gas itself since countries worldwide use it without incident).
√ False - CFLs have a weird glow. (More modern technology has taken that glow away, creating a softer, more natural light without the inefficiency and emissions).
√ False - Putting the TV and stereo on a power strip will cause them to lose presets. (If they’re already shut off, powering off via the strip while they’re on standby does nothing; it’s true that a DVD player may lose its place when powered off, however).
No go out and save some energy! 
Related posts
Articles in “Environment” or “The cleanest energy is that we save.”
