Green renovation made easy with snap-on insulation and solar panels

The Netherlands' Energiesprong is retrofitting homes with modular, snap-on fittings that can be deployed quickly and cleanly.

Green energy alternatives are now well known, and governments provide various incentives to get homeowners to invest in them. However, the time, effort and expense is still stopping the average consumer from switching. We’ve already written about the easy-to-install Ecodrain, a device that heats up shower water with the hot water going down the plug hole. Now the Netherlands’ Energiesprong is retrofitting homes with modular, snap-on fittings that can be deployed quickly and cleanly.

Insulation can be difficult to install and solar panels require a fair amount of planning. Energiesprong claims it can retrofit any home or office in 10 days, thanks to its snap-on devices. Quick fit solar panels are placed onto the roof, while heat pumps, hot water tanks, and ventilation units are installed in a small standalone construction near the home or in a garden. Instead of placing insulation indoors, the company wraps buildings in an external facade that works to trap heat. The company has experience of working on a number of design projects, and the new facades typically end up giving the building an attractive new look.

Energiesprong has already retrofitted approximately 111,000 projects in the Netherlands and the company hopes to expand the concept to neighboring countries. Without the headache of totally renovating the house, this type of quick-fit renovation could get more consumers turning green and cutting their energy bills. Are there other ways to encourage homeowners to consider eco alternatives?