Reducing heat consumption does not always require large investments. Use the temperature adjustment options of the heater – do not operate it in the maximum mode unless necessary.

Use the maximum mode to heat the room quickly but lower it later. By lowering the temperature by 1 °C, it is possible to reduce the consumed electricity by up to 5%.

To reduce energy consumption, it is recommended to provide regulated ventilation during the operation of ventilation equipment which works only when necessary. It is possible to reduce the operating time, for example, in rooms that are not used regularly.

Equipment maintenance also plays a big role in the efficiency of ventilation equipment. If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it is recommended to ventilate by opening the windows fully for a few minutes.

Most of the heat in buildings is lost through windows and exterior doors. If a cool airflow is felt near the window or door, most often, the seal needs to be replaced.

From the moment of installation, the seal is exposed to various conditions, therefore, over time, it no longer performs its functions and undesirable airflow occurs. The effectiveness of the window seal can be checked by inserting a piece of paper between the frame and the window. If it can be easily pulled out, heat flows out and cold flows in just as easily. However, even when replacing the seal, it is important to consider the coefficient of thermal insulation "U", which indicates how much heat escapes through a certain area of the structure in a given time and is usually indicated on the manufacturer's label. Attention should be paid not only to the U-value of the window package but also to the total U-value, which includes the window frame.

Seasonal weather changes, improper installation, and poor-quality materials are some of the reasons why heat escapes through windows and doors and you should think about replacing them.

When selecting windows, you should pay attention to several performance characteristics:

• heat insulation,
• air permeability,
• wind load resistance,
• acoustic properties,
• safety class.

The options for adjusting the heating system can be different. One of the easiest ways is to control heat consumption mechanically by installing manually adjustable radiator valves. In this case, the water supply to the radiator can be completely or partially closed, but it is impossible to set the desired room temperature exactly.

The second option is to install thermostats. They react quickly to temperature changes, so they use energy and heat efficiently. The body of the controller valve is designed to be mounted at the radiator inlet, considering the direction of water flow. The required temperature in the rooms is set by turning the tuning scale of the thermostat.

Another measure to increase the energy efficiency of the heating system is its balancing. The purpose of balancing the heating system is to allow the water to be distributed between the radiators in such a way that each radiator receives the calculated flow and temperature. Balancing is done by dividing the water between:

• radiators,
• mains and risers,
• various heating loops.

If the heating system is not balanced, individual radiators receive too much flow, the power of these radiators is too high and the room temperature is too high. At the same time, other radiators receive too little flow, as a result of which they have a lower heat output and a lower temperature in the rooms.

Heating systems equipped with thermostats are partially balanced, but these valves can be in such poor condition that the system needs to be balanced to operate energy efficiently. Advantages of thermostats:

• They are easily adjustable and maintain a constant temperature in the room.
• They contribute to a better distribution of water flow in the system, as they balance oversized radiators to a certain extent, different use of rooms, and a generally unbalanced system.
• Reduced thermal energy losses during room ventilation, even without closing the thermostatic valve.

More complex measures require more time and financial investments. One of these investments is building insulation. To do this, an assessment made by a specialist is required, determining the current state of the building to create an individual set of insulation measures. The methods of insulating exterior walls, basements, and attics differ, so it is important to use the appropriate materials for the intended construction. When insulating a building, the benefits can be not only the reduction of heating costs but also a comfortable environment to be in.

Before deciding to renovate a building, it is necessary to assess its technical condition and carry out a detailed evaluation of the house. It is necessary to be able to carry out correct and suitable renovation of the building. To start construction works, it is necessary to prepare and submit the necessary documents to the construction authority. It should be remembered that construction works can only be carried out by registered contractors.

To avoid disagreements with the construction company, attention should be paid to the preparation of a high-quality contract, determining the deadline for the work to be performed, payment conditions, as well as actions in situations when the amount of renovation work, price, etc. changes. During the construction process, it is important to monitor the proper execution of the works. Proper maintenance of the building after renovation is a basic condition for long-term financial economy and maintenance of microclimate.

One of the most popular materials is mineral wool. There are two types of wool depending on the ingredients – glass and stone. Rock wool is made from volcanic matter by heating them, then forming them into fibres, and finally adding various binders and allowing them to harden. Glass-wool is similarly produced from quartz sand and recycled glass. Mineral wool is most often chosen for thermal insulation due to its low thermal conductivity. Stone wool is used for the thermal insulation of walls, partitions, attics, roofs, and floors, while glass wool is more often used for the technical insulation of pipelines.

Ecowool is a natural material that is produced from cellulose fibre by recycling wastepaper and adding antipyrines and antiseptics. No harmful or health-threatening additives are used during its production. One of the advantages is that the material fills building structures well, especially hard-to-reach places. Two types of installation are used – dry (horizontal or vertical) and wet. Wet installation of ecowool is used in open wall constructions, while dry installation is used in horizontal (walls, etc.) and inclined (attics, roofs, etc.) constructions.

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate as a material has been known for a long time. It is obtained by heating clay in a rotary kiln up to about 1200 °C. During this process, the organic components of the clay, which are evenly dispersed, are burned. Weight, size, and strength can be precisely controlled during the manufacturing process. Due to its low weight and durability, it is used for light filling in engineering structures, as well as in gardening. Most often, lightweight expanded clay aggregate is used to warm basements, attics, and mezzanine floors. Available both in bulk and as blocks.

Fibreboard plates are produced from raw materials of natural origin. The main ingredient is curled chips, to which the binder – Portland cement and mixed water are added. These components make fibreboard plates mechanically strong and also increase fire resistance. The thickness of the curled chips determines the wide and diverse possibilities of the use of the material. They are mainly used for thermal insulation, in enclosing structures, in premises where it is necessary to provide sound insulation, as a decorative element, etc.

Polystyrene foam is a dense inorganic material that is filled with air during processing to obtain the desired properties of the material. As a result, the material contains 2–4% polystyrene foam and 96–98% air. Available in both bulk and panel form. White polystyrene foam is the best known, but grey with graphite particles is also gaining more and more popularity. One of the most available materials in terms of price. It is most often used for external wall and foundation insulation.

Heat recovery ventilation has been widely used already for several years. Air exchange takes place without losing thermal energy, namely, outgoing warm air masses warm up (in winter – cool down) incoming ones, giving away their heat.

This technology makes it possible to recover up to 90% of the thermal energy that is conveyed through the ventilation shafts together with the used air.

The two most common types of recovery equipment: using a plate heat exchanger and a rotary heat exchanger.

A lesser-known solution is a reclamation from sewage. The principle is quite simple – wastewater heat is used to heat water. Before the wastewater gives off heat, it needs to pass through various types of filters that separate impurities.

For the system to work effectively, an accumulation tank is installed, because the flow of wastewater does not always coincide with the amount of water required. If water is not needed at a particular moment, for example during the night hours, it is stored.

Heat recovery from sewers is most useful for buildings with a lot of hot water use, pools and showers, laundries and dry cleaners, the textile industry, food factories, residential homes, etc.

Heat recovery can also be used in the opposite direction – to cool the building from the outside cold source. Since Latvia is located in the northern part of Europe, we have not had a great need for cooling solutions, but as the summers get hotter, the demand will only grow. The cold energy in the ground and water bodies is most often used as a source of cold because using it has low production costs and greater energy savings compared to other cooling methods. In groundwater is chosen as the resource source, it is necessary to consider the drilling to obtain water at a temperature of 6–12 °C, which in some cases can then be used as technical water.