T-Zero tool provides valuable aid to assessment of energy efficiency of existing homes

• Posted by Ian Eggleton on 28th Jul ’10 at 15:45 UTC
• 0 comments

New web tool to assess energy efficiency of dwellings

I visited the BRE Innovation Park back in May to find out more about the BRE sponsored tool for homeowners, T-Zero.

TZERO is a web based tool designed to give homeowners and indeed anyone considering the refurbishment or upgrade of a dwelling an assessment of the potential costs and paybacks of renewable energy. Aswell as looking at solar panels, PV cells and heat pumps the tool also factors in less “Eco bling” solutions such as upgrading insulation and draught stopping.

Whilst I am a little sceptical as to the capital costs assessments I do feel this is a really useful tool for homeowners to make sense of the myriad renewable technologies currently being championed. In particular I feel the payback cost projections were useful and realistic when one compares them to recent RICS research and guidance.

I also feel that this could be a useful tool for surveyors in communicating the likely benefit (or not) of these technologies to a client as the results are presented in a very consumer friendly format.

My only word of caution is that there is no particular mention of the potentially detrimental effects of some of the measures i.e. the installation of additional insulation leading to intersitual condensation and, of course, I would still suggest that homeowners take the advice of a Chartered Building Surveyor before proceeding with all but the most minor of the works listed.

I am pleased to say the site is free to use. To take a look visit www.tzero,org.uk.

Alternatively, if you require more specific advice email Evans Jones Building Consultancy Team for more specific advice.