Green Energy
February 27 2007
GREEN ENERGY
Look into green power suppliers. My favourite is www.ecotricity.com Ecotricity promise to match the supply of electricity from each regional supplier, but you can make an even BIGGER DIFFERENCE. If you quote WWF5, ecotricity will donate 15 to the World Wildlife Fund. In addition each ecotricity customer has their own tree planted and maintained, just for them.
Many councils provide grants for solar panels and wind turbines. Contact your local council to find out what is available to you.
Many brand new boilers operate at 90% efficiency and so you do not save by holding on to an old model. Check out www.saveenergy.co.uk for more information
Energy Efficient Advice Centres can help you take energy efficient measures and give details of any local grants. They have a freephone telephone number of 0800 512 012 or visit their website on www.est.co.uk/myhome
Solar for London can give information regarding grants for London which are in addition to national grants. Phone them on 020 7820 3156 or visit their website on www.solarforlondon.org
Solar panels
It is possible to build and install your own DIY solar panels from around 500. The Centre for Alternative Technology publish a booklet explaining how to do this, called Solar Water Heating:A DIY Guide. They are based near Powys and you can contact them on 0845 3308373 or visit their website at www.cat.org.uk
If you would rather not DIY it, the Solar Trade Association is a trade body that will give you details of reliable members in the industry. They can be contacted on 01908 442 290 or visit their website at www.solartradeassociation.org.uk.
Is solar heating for me?www.solartradeassociation.org.uk.
First of all there are two types of solar heating one to heat water and the other to produce electricity, and they involve different technologies. Generally, producing solar electricity is much more expensive option than solar water heating
Solar Water Heating
Solar panels collect heat from the sun and transfer it to the water in a hot water cylinder. They should provide most of the hot water needs of an average home for the sunniest five months of the year, and contribute to the heating needed for the rest of the year. Overall, around half of your hot water will have been heated by the sun. Some panels may need to be drained in the winter to avoid frost damage.
Ideally, the roof should face somewhere between south east and south west and be free of shade. You can add them to any existing hot water system, although you may have to change your existing water cylinder to a twin coil cylinder. It is more difficult with combi-boilers because they are designed to take mains high-pressure cold water and solar panels supply hot or warm low-pressure water. New combi-boilers may accept pre-heated water, but it is best to check with a solar engineer to see if your boiler is suitable.
If you need to replace your boiler, a condensing boiler is the most efficient. They are more expensive to buy, but you will save fuel and money within a few years. Remember to insulate it well.
The cost of a commercial flat plate solar system for an average home costs between 2500 and 5500. You would need to work out how much you spend on hot water throughout the year to estimate savings, although there will also be the environmental benefits to consider.
Solar Electricity
To produce solar electricity you need photovoltaic solar panels. Photovoltaic cells (PVs) are a very different technology from solar water heating, and use light to generate electricity. They are well suited to sites where a grid connection would be difficult or expensive or that are only used in the summer. For an independent power supply, solar works well with wind as there is a good balance of both over the year. Solar electricity, like electricity from other renewable energy sources, doesn't produce carbon dioxide or harm the environment.
Although start-up costs are higher than other renewable technologies, PVs have key advantages:
- there are no moving parts to fix so they are relatively easy to install and maintain
- they can be sited in urban areas and are not restricted in the way that wind and hydro-power systems are
- they can replace other roofing materials, for example tiles.
- they need not take up any additional land space.
It is hoped that efficiency gains will make PVs a very attractive proposition in the next two decades.
You can buy a fact sheet on photovoltaic panels from the Centre for Alternative Technology for 3 on this link: Centre of Alternative Technology
Special Offer
At the time of writing, Smart Energy UK Ltd were offering a subsidy on their solar energy systems and will refund the cost of installation. They can be contacted on 01206 516677 or visit their website on www.smartenergyuk.com
Wind energy
MINI WIND TURBINES FOR YOUR HOME Selling fast
I was amazed to find that you can have your own wind energy by buying a kit from B & Q. Fantastic!! Obviously not everyone has the space, but it is still a move forwards. Well done B & Q for helping some of us to do our bit!!
9 November 2006
This autumn, British householders have placed record orders for miniature wind turbines.
Manufacturers have reported huge orders of up to 15,000 in the last few months, with B&Q reporting that wind turbines are generating more in terms of cash sales than any other single item in the store. Almost a quarter of the turbines sold by B&Q were sold in London, the Home Counties and the Midlands. Windsave, one of the three biggest producers of the wind turbines, and who supplies B&Q, say that they will be doubling their production by the end of the year.
Although there are currently between 600 and 700 wind turbines fixed to British homes, the current trend may see the addition of a wind turbine as commonplace as satellite dishes have become over the last 15 years. The old stereotype of the sandal-wearing hippy as the lone campaigner for the environment is no longer applicable. Wind turbines are being installed onto the houses of bankers and businessmen, and even the home of David Cameron, the Tory leader, may be sporting one.
At the moment, any turbine attached to a home requires planning permission, although there are proposals by the Department for Communities and Local Government to relax this ruling, possibly allowing wind turbines on any home other than listed buildings or those in conservation areas.
The savings to a familys electricity bill will vary, but it is worth noting that additional savings can also be made by installing low energy bulbs, turning down the thermostat one degree, draught-proofing windows and doors, insulating the hot water tank and installing cavity wall insulation.
Jamie Oliver has applied for permission to install a roof turbine on his restaurant in Newquay, Cornwall, called Fifteen, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has commissioned a free-standing 11-metre turbine to power the cookery school at his farm. I would always advise anyone thinking of installing a wind turbine to check that the movement of the turbine will not cause any damage to the building.
Another good point to consider is how windy your area is!
There is some information on this on the DTI website. On the fact sheet at the time of writing this article (14 11 06) they advise you to write to the Renewable Energy Bureau with the Ordnance Survey grid reference of your site and name of nearest town or village. However, when I contacted the telephone number shown, it belongs to a different company called ADAS. They are not able to give specific wind information, but are doing some amazing work to help both farmers and the environment (see the article CLIMATE CHANGE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY HOW WILL IT AFFECT OUR LANDSCAPE?)
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