SA Roofing June 2018 // Issue 101 | Page 31

REGULARS: QUALITY MATTERS Upgrade solution for external wall insulation (EWI) retrofit. EPC ALSO PROVIDES: • Loft insulation • Wall construction and insulation • Age of construction • Glazing • Fuel type • Boiler make and mode Ordinarily insulation is the most cost- effective way to target energy savings and therefore offers users the quickest payback. It is appropriate to mention that a staggering 42% of energy input (for heating or cooling) is lost through a roof or ceiling, with 24% lost through external walls. Even living conditions in properties without outside energy source for heating or cooling can be improved using insulation, and by insulating a property properly, you can slow down the rate at which the sun heats your living environment during the day and reduce the rate at which the day’s residual heat dissipates from your property in the evening. It is of course advisable to plan and design a comprehensive, whole-house approach to energy efficiency, but while it’s easier to install insulation during the build phase, there are many methods to retrospectively fit insulation to existing or older buildings. It’s another reason why choosing the right insulation expert is essential to your building project and helps to reduce the reliance on appliances such as geyser timers or blankets, gas heaters, underfloor heating, air conditioning, heat pumps and solar systems. This is increasingly relevant especially when you take into consideration the likely introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) arriving in South Africa in future. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) What are EPCs and why are they important to domestic or commercial property owners? EPCs tell you how energy efficient a building is and provide you with a rating from very efficient to inefficient. They give an indication on how costly a building will be to heat, cool and light and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be. For example, all domestic and commercial buildings in the UK that are on the market to buy or rent must have an EPC. The energy performance survey that is carried out for this purpose highlights the ways building owners can save money on their energy bills and improve the comfort of their home or commercial property. The EPC also identifies what the energy efficiency rating will be if improvements are made and highlights cost-effective ways to achieve a better rating. REGULARS: PERSONALITY PROFILE Trevor Williams – getting joy from helping others Trevor Williams, owner of TJ Roof Rooms, is in business and the industry for more than the money and passion, he’s in it to improve his employees’ lives. By Ntsako Khosa “W e are in business to grow people and in turn those people grow our company,” Williams shares. TJ Roof Rooms was started in 2006, when Williams teamed up with a contractor, John Mthimunye, who did structural work at his home. “We were talking, and he shared some challenges he faced with client non- payment which lead to staff not being paid. Mthimunye sought to go into business so RESIDENTIAL // COMMERCIAL // INDUSTRIAL JUNE 2018 29