Home Energy Kits available to borrow at Offaly libraries

EIGHT home energy savings kits are now available in libraries throughout Offaly. With the war continuing in Ukraine and the rise in energy costs, energy saving kits are a good way to monitor energy usage in the home.

Speaking at last week's Tullamore Municipal District meeting Mary Hussey, Senior Engineer with Offaly County Council, said the kits can be borrowed from the library just like a book.

''People can bring them home and see what areas they can improve on their energy usage within the house,'' said Mary.

Each kit contains 5 tools and 6 practical exercises. The tools include a Thermal Leak Detector - The thermal leak detector can detect energy leaks in your home by showing you the temperature differences with a coloured LED spot. This helps to spot thermal air leaks and identify areas for additional insulation and/or draught proofing.

Plug-in Energy Monitor - The plug-in energy monitor contained in the Home Energy Saving Kit helps you calculate the energy consumption and cost of the appliances in your home.

Temperature & Humidity Meter - The Temperature & Humidity Meter helps to identify both the temperature as well as the humidity levels in the home.

Fridge/Freezer Thermometer - Measure the temperature of your fridge and freezer accurately and adjust accordingly so that you are not wasting energy needlessly.

Radiator Key - Use the radiator key to bleed radiators if a wet central heating system is in place by releasing trapped air and making the radiators run more efficiently.

You can borrow the kit for three weeks at a time with the option to renew if there is nobody else waiting to borrow it.

The tools are easy to use and they provide an interactive and tangible way to introduce the concept of energy usage into your home and a perfect way to get the whole family involved.

There is also a booklet included with energy saving tips and exercises.