Category Archives: energy saving

Those who would be able to build a home by custom-building, or in the age-old folk tradition of building in a kalaka* (mutual house building by a community), and who are financially able to do so by incorporating natural materials that are cheap but environmentally friendly and energy-saving, face bureaucratic obstacles. As a result, they are forced to resort to more expensive prefabricated industrial solutions, even if they could, because of their practicality, create their own housing.

Balaton-Highlands-style thatched half-timbered house – inspiration picture (if you open the article you will find more fairytale houses!)

On the one hand, the bureaucratisation of construction is completely understandable, I believe that this is the way construction and housing security is supposed to be demanded, but on the other hand, if one can experience the bureaucracy of a prosperous country, i.e. as a way to imagine belonging to some developed country, whereas in contrast, for a good part of the population of such a country, it is an undue financial burden, or decades of indebtedness, in exchange for this construction security.

In the old days, people (family and friends) used to build each other’s houses, and the practice of building was passed down from father to son, using simple natural knowledge. True, with much less modern (but more natural) materials, with more puritan living conditions, but more environmentally friendly. Now, with advances in technology and bureaucracy, all this popular knowledge is disappearing. Whereas even in the 1980s it was quite natural to build a family house with a kalak, now those who dare to do so – are slowly becoming some kind of exotic caveman, admired by the people of the internet.

Continue reading The conflict between natural building materials and modern regulation: how to preserve tradition in the shadow of bureaucracy? →

This is a Balaton Highland-style thatched semi-timbered house, but the masonry could be straw, as it could be hidden under the moulded façade design.

Natural insulating materials, such as straw shavings or straw bales, have fundamentally excellent thermal insulation properties, but there are several barriers to their widespread use:

Continue reading What can we expect from the future of straw-based construction products? →

In explaining the advantages and disadvantages of cellulose insulation, the idea was raised that if the thermal insulation properties of blown cellulose insulation are provided by the cellulose structure itself, then cellulose straw has equally good properties.

With the growing demand for sustainable building solutions, alternative materials are gaining more and more attention. Straw insulation and straw bale construction technology both promise environmentally friendly and economical solutions, especially in agricultural areas where straw production is in surplus. This article shows how straw chips and straw bales can be used as thermal insulation and highlights the benefits and challenges of the technology.

Continue reading Straw bales and straw chips, can they be a modern insulation solution? →

Insulation plays a key role in the energy efficiency, comfort and sustainability of our homes. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on cellulose-based insulation materials as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional insulation. But is it still a good choice? In this article we look at the pros and cons of cellulose insulation to help you make your decision.

What is cellulose insulation?

The main raw material for cellulose insulation is recycled paper, which is treated with special flame retardants, usually borate* or boric acid*. Its consistency can be in the form of loose fill, which is applied by blow moulding, or it can be available in the form of hard pressed slabs.

Continue reading Advantages and disadvantages of cellulose insulation →

Many write that hydrogen is the energy of the future. The electricity produced by solar panels is used to break down water to produce hydrogen. Now this is where the two concepts of ENERGY PRODUCER and ENERGY CARRIER become separated. Because this hydrogen is just an energy carrier, but it is not the energy source. OK – you could say that the sun is the source of all energy, but you’d still be wrong if you said it’s the solar panel system, or the electricity it generates. So in fact green electricity is the energy of the future, green hydrogen is just an energy storage or intermediate device, a temporary energy carrier where we cannot use green electricity.

(Some abstract artwork about energy – I just put it here because it looks good.)

What’s wrong with this?

Continue reading Green hydrogen instead of green methane! The natural gas infrastructure is ready and the European Union should not ban gas boilers. →

When we think of a fireplace, we generally think of a wood-burning fireplace. Naturally, this is for a reason, as we have been burning wood in fireplaces for centuries. Nowadays, fewer people can do this, as in many cases we do not have the option to change the characteristics of a given apartment, or we simply do not have the time to deal with wood-burning. On the other hand, many people have a romantic desire for the sight of a burning fire, or they wish to experience the radiant heat of a fireplace.

Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages we need to consider when choosing between the experiences provided by a wood-burning fireplace, pellet fireplace, gas fireplace, electric fireplace, bioethanol fireplace, or steam fireplace:

Continue reading Wood-burning fireplaces, electric fireplaces, bioethanol fireplaces, and steam fireplaces – which is the best choice, where, and when? →

Increasing Comfort While Reducing Heating Costs. You can enhance your comfort while reducing heating costs. It is well-known that the lower the temperature of the water used by your boiler to heat the home, the more economical it is. This is especially true for condensing boilers. However, the lower the temperature of the heating water, the harder it is for the heat to be emitted, as the temperature difference between the room and the incoming water decreases. This issue can be resolved by increasing the surface area of the heater. Beyond a certain size, this would be impractical with radiators. Moreover, multi-panel radiators increasingly rely on convection (heating the air) rather than radiation to emit heat. This is not ideal, as radiative heat at lower temperatures provides a more pleasant and better thermal sensation. The following describes how to install wall heating in an occupied apartment with minimal mess and disruption, which can be done as a DIY project. 8mm diameter heating pipes are installed between strips of drywall, then one wall is covered with an additional layer of drywall and the other with porcelain tiles.

Here, the heating pipe is already in the living room wall:

• You will soon be able to read this article in English: hubpages.com
• You can read it in German here: Installation einer Wandheizung in einer bereits bewohnten Wohnung, unter Gipskartonplatten oder Steinzeug – Do-it-yourself-Methode
• You can read it here in Hungarian: Falfűtés utólagos kialakítása lakott lakásban, gipszkarton, vagy kőporcelán alá – csináld magad módszerrel

Two basic principles:

1. Produce the energy with highly efficient equipment!
2. Don’t let the generated energy go to waste!

The transformation of the living room:

As much as it’s a priority to steer the population away from gas consumption, let’s admit that in an apartment block without district heating (central heating), heating and hot water can primarily be provided by gas, and secondarily by electricity. If many people switched from gas to electric heating, it would also cause problems, as many apartment block infrastructure and stairwell electrical systems are not designed for mass electric heating. Therefore, the possibility of massively increasing the amperage of apartments would also face limitations. Naturally, heating with air conditioning could be an alternative to direct electric heating, as it represents roughly a quarter of the electrical load, but many people do not like the warm air blowing, and the numerous outdoor units attached to the façades are already a terrible sight. For this reason, I believe gas will remain predominant to a greater extent.

But what can we do to keep our gas bill low?
Continue reading Energy cost reduction in an apartment block – DIY – window replacement, internal insulation, underfloor heating →

Besides general home renovations – such as replacing cold and warm flooring, kitchen cabinets, and sanitary ware – a crucial point was to create a low utility cost home.

Because of this, modern plastic insulated glass windows with shutters were installed, and the previous convector heating, open combustion bathroom heating, and the open flow-through domestic hot water unit were replaced with a single condensing boiler.

Since there is zero chance for common facade insulation in the apartment building in the near future, 10cm thick glass wool internal insulation was installed on the enclosing walls, with a vapor barrier heat reflective foil and drywall covering.

Continue reading Do-it-yourself home renovation – window replacement, internal insulation, heating modernization, new bathroom, kitchen, wardrobe – cold and warm flooring →

Due to the increase in utility costs, many people are considering wood heating as a replacement for gas and electric heating. In reality, it’s normal to think about winter heating in the summer, but most people seek a solution in winter when the trouble has already begun. Be careful not to focus only on cheaper offers. With quality and attention, you can save on firewood. Wood heating can be economical, but it can also be environmentally polluting and wasteful.

When selecting our wood-burning device, it is important to consider the following:

Continue reading Before you buy a stove, fireplace, or stove-fireplace due to rising utility costs — it’s good to know… →