Three ways to save energy and money in the home through your heating

Not only does conserving energy help the environment, it helps save your money too! That’s why we’ve put together a short list of ways to be more green and economical with your energy usage.

Take a look through this guide, and see what changes you can make at home to benefit your household.

Insulate

Without proper insulation, valuable heat can be lost through the walls or the roof of your home. What does this mean for you? Well, the more heat is lost; the more likely you are to keep your heating on, your boiler running and your costs rising.

To increase the efficiency of your house, consider improving your insulation to keep the heat in – this means you need less energy to warm your house to begin with!

Here are three different forms of insulation to consider:

Loft insulation: Don’t want to lose 25% of heat through your roof? Loft insulation can save hundreds of pounds of energy being wasted and is relatively cheap to install.
Wall Insulation: Very similar to loft insulation, internal or external wall insulation prevents energy loss through your walls. A well-known example is cavity wall insulation which traps heat within walls. Install both loft and wall insulation to optimise energy efficiency in your home!
Double, or even Triple Glazing: Particularly important in older homes where it is not installed as standard, double glazing helps to stop your money going to waste on escaping energy you will never receive.

Upgrade your heating system

Were you aware that heating uses up to 50% of total energy usage in houses?

Radiators are needed to keep your house warm, but there are many ways in which you can control the level of heating in order to save energy, and save money. Take a look:

Air source heat pump: Easy to install and supported by the RHI government scheme, heat pumps are an incredibly eco-friendly way to heat your hot water and lower energy bills. Consider installing a heat pump to store the excess energy and further reduce your carbon footprint. They are up to 4 times as efficient as the average gas boiler.
Underfloor heating: This can be 25% more efficient than the standard radiator and 40% more when combined with a heat pump! With the right level of insulation you can make your home an environmental dream!
Smart thermostats: An ideal way to control the amount of heat you’re using throughout the home – smart thermostats learn your behaviours and therefore understand when to power on, and when to power off. You can also set your heating to power on if the app senses you’re close to home!

See a further article here as to why it is important you install a heat pump now!

Take control of your heating controls

As we mentioned above, learning to become more savvy with your heating controls can contribute to a more energy efficient home and save you massive amounts of money in the process!

See below for tips to optimise your thermostat:

Timers and Selective Heating: Use a timer to ensure that your heating is on for no longer than necessary but that you are still cosy in your home at all times. Similarly, if you know which rooms you are in at certain times of day, make sure you only heat those rooms then.
Remote Control: Smart thermostats today are possible to use from outside the home, so it is easier to switch off the heating if for example no one is home.
Reduce the maximum temperature: Even reducing the heating by 1°C can help reduce yearly energy usage by 10%, so it is definitely worth considering not automatically turning up the heating to the maximum on cold days.

Our team of experts can talk you through the importance of energy efficient heating and the solutions available to you.

As the world becomes more energy conscious, it is important to do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint – but to also future-proof your home.

There are a range of renewable energy solutions available; which in the long-run, will benefit your household and your pocket.

To find out more, simply book a free phone call with the Energy Consultant of the Year 2021, Lorraine Clayton.

15th January 2022

How efficient are your solar panels?

Solar panels are a great way to conserve energy and save you money in the long run, but it’s very important to consider factors such as their efficiency when deciding whether to install them.

Keep reading to understand if solar panels are right for your household!

Why might solar panels be a good investment for you?

Although installing solar panels can be a major decision, installing solar panels has numerous benefits and rewards. Take a look at some key benefits:

They are easy to install and maintain compared to other renewable energy solutions
They often generate more electricity than you need, so you can export any extra back to the grid and make a little money
Source of renewable energy, so they help to reduce your carbon footprint – and therefore your home energy bills.

Why is the efficiency of your solar panels important?

How well your solar panels convert sunlight into electricity varies, based on the make of your solar panels, but they should generally maintain a good level of power output for 25-years.

More expensive panels can have a higher performance guarantee, however you might not actually need the extra energy produced, so the cost is not always worth it.

As solar panels have been around for a long while now, it is important to remember how advanced the technology has become. Even on the dullest of days, where no sunlight is shining, solar panels will still generate electricity. Many have been built to capture light in all weathers; no matter how bright or dull – so you can rely on your solar panels all year round.

Could the efficiency of your solar panels drop to lower than 100%?

There are so many ways in which solar panels vary. The levels of efficiency could be impacted in so many different ways, such as:

The material they are made of, e.g. mono-crystalline or poly-crystalline.
The direction they are facing
Weather and geographical location

Speaking with the experts here at the Renewable Energy Advice Line, we’d advise you on the right solution you’d need for your home. Carrying out a free home assessment, we’d be able to determine the size you’d need to provide enough power to your home, which direction is best and leave you with information on how to make the most of your new system.

What else can you do to power your home when efficiency is low?

If you have pre-existing solar panels, but aren’t quite ready to replace them, installing a solar powered battery is a great way to ensure that excess energy is not wasted but instead stored for the times you do need it.

This way, if your solar panels are not performing as well, you can rely on energy stored in your battery. Even if you don’t use it yourself, the Smart Export Guarantee tariffs can pay you for any energy you export to the National Grid.

Alternatively, if you chose to store your energy, in the event of a power outage your home will still have power!

Now that you’ve had a crash-course in the efficiency of solar panels, take a look at our website to learn more about how to install! Our team of experts can talk you through the full range of benefits, how the solution would work at your home and arrange an installation.

As the world becomes more energy conscious, it is important to do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint – but to also future-proof your home.

There are a range of renewable energy solutions available; which in the long-run, will benefit your household and your pocket.

To find out more, simply book a free phone call with the Energy Consultant of the Year 2021, Lorraine Clayton.

15th January 2022

UK government announces major expansion of heat networks to power homes with green energy

The UK government has announced its plans to expand the number of homes with smart heating systems to help meet the country’s renewable energy goals.

The expansion will see an additional 1 million households connected to heat networks by 2035, in addition to the 12 million already connected today. Heat networks use recycled heat from industries, sewage plants, and power stations, and distribute it directly to homes and businesses via underground pipes.

This reduces reliance on fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil, which are used in more traditional heating systems such as boilers and radiators.

Heat Networks Can Save Hundreds on Heating Bills

If you live in a house or apartment, then heat is essential to your everyday living. It’s also an expensive commodity. In the UK alone, billions of pounds are spent heating residential and commercial properties every year.

Fortunately, newer technologies are making it easier than ever before for people to save on their heating bills — all while they remain warm and comfortable. The latest form of heating technology available is known as a heat network. Heat networks can be built over time if properly planned out, allowing them to last longer than traditional methods that don’t always last as long as expected.

Heat from nearby buildings (like a school or hospital) can be used during off-peak hours when everyone isn’t using air conditioning and warming themselves up at once; these excess resources can then be utilised by other homes, thus maximising utility usage all around.

Heat network systems don’t require homeowners to make any changes to their current property either: They can simply tap into existing infrastructure already set up by heat networks and benefit from cheaper utilities all around without having to do much work themselves!

Heat Networks Cut Carbon Emissions

Heat networks are a way of distributing heating evenly across an area and can be used to generate renewable energy.

The UK government recently announced plans for a series of new heat network projects, including over 150 miles (240km) worth in Manchester alone. A big part of their appeal is that they can significantly cut carbon emissions and help households save money on their bills.

Green energy is no longer just about solar panels and wind turbines — heat grids are increasingly becoming part of our arsenal against climate change, as well.

Heat networks are an essential technology for cutting carbon emissions in a cost-effective way while reducing bills and tackling fuel poverty, forming a key part of the government’s landmark.

Government Commits £19 Billion for Renewable Heat Targets

The UK Government announced a £19 million government cash boost announced to supply low carbon heating for thousands of homes and buildings across the country.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey said: “I’m committed to a massive expansion in renewable heat, which will create more jobs and business opportunities, while making our country greener and more secure.

“Our £19 billion programme has already helped reduce household bills by almost £70 on average – but there is still work to do. With all parts of government working together we can go further than ever before in improving our energy security, creating jobs and helping hard-working families.”

The investment for fuel efficiency, renewable energy, and low carbon innovation in microgeneration will help people make their homes more energy efficient by installing things like solid wall insulation and loft or cavity wall insulation.

It will also support them in making their properties warmer by installing a renewable heating systems such as biomass boilers, solar thermal water heating panels or underfloor heating.

In addition it aims to help local businesses increase productivity and save money by providing them with innovative finance support to install small scale combined heat and power plants – which generate electricity and hot water from a single source.

Heat Network Installation Boosts UK Economy by £2.5bn

A new report from Ofgem and Imperial College London has revealed that investment in energy network infrastructure has helped boost UK productivity by £2.5bn a year and support almost 30,000 jobs over five years.

The research shows that funding for heat and electricity networks has also made a significant contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by reducing demand for gas.

Our team of experts can talk you through the importance of energy efficient heating and the solutions available to you.

As the world becomes more energy conscious it is important to do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint; but to also future proof your home.

There are a range of renewable energy solutions available; which in the long run will benefit your household and your pocket.

To find out more, simply book a free phone call with the Energy Consultant of the Year 2021, Lorraine Clayton.

19th December 202119th December 2021

What is the best renewable heating solution?

What Is The Best Renewable Heating System?§

When it comes to heating your home, you want a long-lasting system, at a reasonable cost. Many households are turning towards more sustainable heating; to achieve this – a renewable heating solution is needed.

With so many available options when it comes to renewable heating – each with many advantages and disadvantages – it can be a difficult task. Whatever you choose will need to keep your house warm, continue to run smoothly, but also keep your energy bills down.

The Renewable Energy Advice Line aims to provide you with the information you need to choose the best renewable heating solution for your home. We’ll cover what renewable heating is, the options you have, costs and how we can help further.

What is renewable heating?

Before you invest in a renewable heating system, you need to know what renewable heating is. As the world becomes more aware of climate change, more sustainable solutions and how the average household can contribute towards a greener environment, many are making the shift to renewables.

As the name suggests, renewable heating measures take advantage of renewable resources which can be replenished over time. One of the biggest positives of renewable heating is that your carbon footprint is reduced, so you can live in a greener way.

Using renewable sources, opposed to the standard gas and electric, can supply your home with a constant source of heat, which requires less energy than you are used too. Renewable heating is a highly beneficial option and can be made possible with schemes such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The Renewable Heat Incentive?

To encourage more homeowners to take the leap into the world of renewable heating, the Renewable Heat Incentive was created. Following the installation of your renewable heating solution, if you have met specific criteria, you will then begin to receive quarterly payments over 7-years.

These quarterly payments will soon add up and in most cases, you will be reimbursed for your initial spend on installing the system.

To find out more about the Renewable Heat Incentive, book a free chat with the Renewable Energy Advice Line experts.

Is an air source heat pump right for your home?

An air source heat pump takes heat from external air, converts it to liquid and pumped around your property when the liquid is heated.

Even in temperatures as low as -15 degrees, an air source heat pump can provide an excellent level of heating to your home. As it is such a modern solution, the heat can be pumped around your home via piping and radiators, or a fan system. Of course, it depends on how modern your home is.

With a potential to operate for as long as 20-years, air source heat pumps are often a cheaper source of renewable heating. With fast and easy installation, they’re safe to run, provide a consistent level of heating to your home and of course; reduce your heating bills .

Other sources of renewable heating include biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps and solar thermal systems. To find out what solution is best for your home, send our experts a message and we’ll be only too happy to help.

How can the Renewable Energy Advice Line help you?

There are so many benefits to installing a renewable heating solution in your home. There isn’t an ultimate solution which is the best renewable heating system for everyone’s needs, but there are solutions which are highly effective for your unique requirements.

Perhaps you’ll find the best option to be the one you get the most heat put of and gain the most money through using schemes such as the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Working with the Renewable Energy Advice Line, we can assist you in finding the best solution for your home, which solution will require the least amount of maintenance and how you can benefit from RHI.

Don’t delay installing a renewable heating solution in your home; the Renewable Heat Incentive will come to a close in Spring 2022. We provide free home energy assessments, surveys and suggestions on how you can improve your home energy.

As the Renewable Energy Consultants of the Year, as awarded by the Energy Efficiency Awards; we’re able to provide you with advice on the best solution for your home, your budget and your future.

Talk to us today!