Older Danish homes are energy pigs. According to a study done by Analyse Danmark for the energy authority Energistyrelsen, homes built in the 1960s are energy-inefficient and as many as one fifth of homeowners have no idea how much more than are spending on their heating and hot water bills.
"Many houses went on the market at a time when the energy regulations were very low,” Energistyrelsen's chief consultant Hanne Lind Mortensen told TV2 News. “If they have not been continuously upgraded, there are probably opportunities to save some money by doing it today.”
Ole Michael Jensen, a senior construction researcher, called the period between 1961-72 the "most critical" in terms of energy use.
Older houses, bigger bills
The Analyse Danmark study reveals that 90 percent of those living in 1960s-era homes pay over 10,000 kroner annually for heat and hot water – approximately twice as much as those living in homes built after 1998.
Energistyrelsen has launched a plan in which homeowners can pay for a consultant to come and give advice on energy upgrades and renovations.
A counsellor is simply worth the money,” Torben Kaas from building industry group Dansk Byggeri told TV2 News. “They can help homeowners navigate a complex process and avoid stupid mistakes and bad investments.”
READ MORE: Half of Denmark to enjoy cheaper energy at night by 2015
Kaas said the cost of the consultant would be recouped by having a more energy-efficient home.
