Business
Being green
HOME MAKEOVER
A new fair aims to help residential building owners reduce energy consumption, and qualify for government subsidies in the process. Text: Aaron Grunwald — Photo: Julien Becker
With growing concerns about carbon footprints and rising energy prices, the time is ripe for Luxembourg’s first home energy renovation fair, say “Myenergy days” organisers. It launches at the end of this month, with a focus on helping residential buildings reduce energy consumption by up to 70 percent. The event will also help attendees access the thousands of euro in government subsidies available to individual owners who undertake approved projects. More than 50 firms will display everything from roofing materials to ecofriendly heating systems and energy efficient lighting--“everything that has to do with renovations,” according to Jeannot Behm, energy advisor at the trade group myenergy. The exhibits will focus on renovation best practices and just as importantly, “what could happen if it is not done right.” Banks such as BCEE and Banque Raiffeisen will also be on hand to answer questions about financing. Behm believes the dozen or so energy consultants on hand should prove to be a popular part of the show. That is because building owners who complete an energy consultation by an approved firm are eligible for government subsidies. For example, installation of modern exterior wall insulation typically costs about 100 euro per square metre, explains Behm. However, the subsidies can cover 20 euro per square metre. To properly insulate a roof “you will need a budget of approximately 50 euro a square metre,” for which a subsidy of 15 euro per square metre is available. Behm says a typical energy review costs 1,000 euro. The govern-
SNHBM: bringing 1950s buildings up to modern energy efficiency standards
ment scheme covers 870 euro, but only if an owner acts on at least recommendation given during the official audit. “So the energy consulting will be nearly completely paid ” by the programme, enthuses Behm. The consultants play an essential role in securing government grants, says Behm. To qualify, homeowners must use the correct quantity and quality of materials, for example a certain thickness of insulation for each different type of wall. They also provide advice on how to avoid pitfalls that might run the owner afoul of their town hall, such as maintaining minimum sidewalk widths. Behm says he often meets sceptics who say they do not need an upgrade, because for example they have heavy stone walls.
In fact, “old houses with thick concrete walls have very, very bad insulation.” He says one to one and a half centimetres of modern material can be the equivalent of 60 centimetres of concrete. Social housing developer SNHBM is currently renovating nine of its buildings in Bonnevoie. At a total cost of 12.8 million euro, the group will “completely renovate” the structures to bring them up to today’s energy efficiency standards, says the group’s chief, Guy Entringer. Since 1950s era structures had “practically nothing” in terms of efficiency, he expects the project will yield up to 90 percent energy savings. Myenergydays takes place April 29-May 1 at Luxexpo, Luxembourg-Kirchberg. For more information, go to www.myenergydays.lu
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01.04.2011 12:44:01 Uhr