Subsidise better insulation, not fuel prices

Sir,

Hearing the recent horror stories about heating costs for houses in the mountains, I like would to suggest that, instead of subsidising fuel, the government should give advice and assist in financing investments for improving the energy economy of houses. By having proper insulation in the walls, roof and floor, and by making windows and doors tight, the heating costs could be brought down to a fraction of current levels.

Very few houses in Cyprus are insulated, and economically it would make sense to insulate all houses, not only in the mountains, but everywhere. Insulation, especially in the roof, would also keep houses cooler in summer. All windows should be double-glazed, preferably triple-glazed in the mountains. Doors and windows should be absolutely tight (no sliding-glass windows, no gaps under doors), and chimneys should have dampers so they can be closed when there is no fire.

People used to say that if a house was really sealed people would suffocate. But with the windows and doors used in most Cypriot houses you don’t get enough ventilation unless there is wind, and when there is you end up getting 20 times too much, making it impossible to heat up. The necessary ventilation can be obtained by opening windows for a few minutes, say twice a day, or by installing a ventilation system with a fan and air ducts to each room.

When installing heating systems, conventional central heating should be replaced by modern systems i.e. heat pumps or other electricity-based systems. Compared to central heating, modern heat pump systems have lower installation, lower operation and lower maintenance costs. The risk of trouble is also smaller.

These features are naturally easiest to install in new houses, but can also be accommodated in existing houses. Today, it may be difficult to find the necessary expertise and equipment in Cyprus, but builders and importers should be encouraged to bring in them from abroad – and I speak about the Scandinavian countries, first and foremost of Sweden, which, as far as I know, is the leading country when it comes to energy efficiency and heating systems.
Henrik Öhquist, Amargeti, Paphos

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.