John O’Sullivan is an environmentalist and conservationist with a particular interest in promoting the sustainable use of older buildings. Having just completed an MA on Peak Oil and Global Warming, he is also acutely aware of the need to reduce the energy we use in heating and running our homes – to reduce our carbon footprint. While it is now possible to build new homes which are ‘carbon neutral’, 95% of the houses we will be living in in 2050 have already been built, and so upgrading our existing housing stock is critical.
 
With carbon dioxide being the main cause of global warming, heating our houses and our hot water represents a serious use of carbon fuels and should be reduced as near to zero as possible.
 
Furthermore, with oil production having probably already peaked, the price of oil, (and gas, coal etc.) is set to increase exponentially over the next few years, once the world economy comes out of recession. This will make heating our homes and water increasingly expensive and make uninsulated houses a millstone around peoples’ necks, as well as being uncomfortable places to live in.
 
Also, with the advent of BER ratings for domestic houses, the public awareness of the difference between warm and cold houses, efficient and inefficient houses, can only get greater.
 
We are not agents for any particular product or service, and so will be offering independent advice. We will propose a ‘menu’ of possible actions to take to insulate, draught-proof, ventilate and efficiently light and heat your house, as well as behavioural changes which can both reduce your carbon footprint and save you money.
 
There are a myriad of companies offering ‘green’ services to consumers and an abundance of ‘green’ products on the market, which all claim to help us reduce our footprint. EcoWiseHomes will independently sort through all these and recommend the right mix for you.