With all the hype surrounding green energy and efficiency it is difficult to decide what is the right choice for your home, especially with contractors quoting extortionate amounts of money for certain jobs. Most of us follow the logic that heat rises and so loft insulation is the first important step in insulating your property. But what is next? Do you double-glaze your windows and is it worth double-glazing? This blog looks into the benefits of double-glazing your home and possible alternatives that may be just as affective.
A Guide to Harvesting Rainwater
Water feels like a luxury we take for granted. It comes through our taps and we don’t really have to understand where it comes from and how it gets to us. We just get to use it whenever we choose and pay for it when the bill comes through. The fact of the matter is, we are actually not as rich in water as you would expect from a rainy country like England and we should be much more aware of our water use as well as the process it goes through before it reaches us. Read on to understand water distribution in the UK and how you might want to consider harvesting your own water.
Is First Choice EPC worth the risk?
There has been a storm of protest from both assessors and customers over the business practices of online EPC provider First Choice EPC, and complaints are said to have been made about the organisation to police and Trading Standards.
According to posts on this blog, not only is the panel often failing to pay assessors or produce EPCs, but it is accused of using bullying tactics and threats to try to enforce additional payments, such as ‘cancellation fees’ from customers who, in some cases, say they had simply made an enquiry or asked for a quote – which the firm’s website claims is free.
5 Reasons You Should Replace Your Storage Heater with a Modern Electric Radiator
When it comes to removing those clunky old night storage heaters you’ve had hanging around the house for years, the process is simple and straightforward thanks to the easy process of replacing them with a trendy new electric radiator.
How your smartphone could reduce your heating bills
Technology is getting more and more complex and helpful everyday and new to the market in the UK are a number of systems that give you a way to control your heating with your smartphone. These systems claim to save you up to £400 a year on your energy bills and all because you can switch off lights and turn on the heat remotely. Some of the giant corporations in the world are snapping up the opportunity to be involved with this new technology, including Google who just purchased Nest for around £2bn.
LED lighting and how it will impact your electricity bills
This blog addressed the advantages of using LED lighting in your home and outlined the impact LED will have on your electricity bills. With LED you will not only save money but you will reduce your carbon footprint on the earth.
Important aspects – the new UK Solar PV Strategy – Part 3
A closer look at the Principles outlined in Part 1: Principles Three and Four.
In Part 1 and Part 2 we looked at the general outline of the objectives laid out by the Government for solar in the UK between now and 2020 and the first two principles from the solar PV strategy. This blog looks at the last two principles, why each one is important and what the next steps are to achieve the goals outlined in the strategy. The government has very ambitious goals for solar in the UK with the hope of achieving 15% renewable energy by 2020. Here are the final two principles of the Solar PV strategy and the steps the UK needs to take to become a decarbonised society.
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Keep your boiler and heating in shape ready for winter
When the sun is shining in the height of summer the last thing people think about is their heating system, however the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) are reminding homeowners to plan ahead to book in boiler maintenance and look after their boiler and heating system throughout the summer months to avoid breakdowns and problems when the cold weather returns.
A Biomass Perspective on the RHI
The long awaited domestic part of the Renewable Heat Incentive has finally launched in the UK and with it comes a multitude of opportunities for homeowners to gain sustainable technology for their home as well as financial reward. One such sustainable system is biomass boilers and this blog is focused on looking in detail at the features of the scheme in relation to biomass and woodfuel and the possibilities it offers to homeowners. If you are interested in finding our about other parts of the scheme read our blog here or visit the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.
What are the new MCS Standards and how will they affect me?
There are new standards set by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme that every installer of renewable energy will have to complete for every installation. Each installer will have to complete a compliance certificate to meet these new standards and this certificate is just one of several measures introduced by the MCS to help cope with the Renewable Heat Incentive released earlier in April 2014.
What you need to know about the new UK Solar PV Strategy – Part 2
A closer look at the Principles outlined in Part 1: Principles One and Two.
In Part 1 we looked at the general outline of the objectives laid out by the Government for solar in the UK between now and 2020. This blog dives a little deeper into two of the four principles, why each one is important and what the next steps are to achieve the goals outlined in the strategy.
Differences between the EPC heatload and Renewable Heat installer’s Heat loss Calculations
In my seven years of producing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) I have been contacted more than once by clients telling me that the heating costs on their EPC is too high and that the EPC will put off potential buyers or tenants. But recently I have been getting calls from clients telling me that my heat demand figures (on the last page of the EPC) are too low.
5 Easy Ways To Tackle Soaring Home Energy Costs
It goes without saying that times have been tough in recent years, and it’s had an enormous impact on household finances. One area that seems to have particularly spiralled out of control is energy costs – with a rising dependence on foreign resources, we’ve seen a 131.1% rise in costs over the last 10 years.
What is the cheapest way to improve insulation in my home?
One of the best ways to insulate your home is to install cavity wall insulation. Generally speaking, most homes built after 1920 come with a gap between the external and internal walls that can cause your home to be significantly less insulated. Consumer group Which? actually reported that if you leave this gap untreated then you are wasting 35 per cent of all heat loss from the home through your walls. Even so, many homes in the UK are leaving this improvement on the wayside because they simply can’t afford to install the cavity wall insulation. This blog explores the different types of cavity wall insulation you can use that are most cost-effective.
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