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What's new in heating controls? A 2018 update
Posted by Sandra Hayes on 5 September 2018 at 9:17 am
We recently received a question about whether thermostatic radiator values (TRVs) had to be installed when a new central heating boiler was being installed. The reader wanted to know whether his heating engineer was correct to advise that TRV’s had to be fitted to all radiators, including t…
Disney theme parks stride in the direction of solar
Posted by Alison Vickers on 28 August 2018 at 11:18 am
Last year we brought you news of the UK’s first eco-friendly theme park here in North Wales. GreenWood Forest features an innovative ‘people powered’ rollercoaster – using the weight of people queuing to power its exploits around the track - and a solar powered ride the &l…
Portugal reaps the rewards of renewables in 2018
Posted by Alison Vickers on 22 August 2018 at 9:30 am
Our recent blog series has drawn attention to the countless renewable records being broken over the past 12 months. We’ve looked at green energy milestones across parts of the UK and around the world and now it’s time to shine the (low-energy) spotlight on Portugal! It’s rec…
Renewable retailers - survey shows green energy important to consumers
Posted by Sam Tonge on 15 August 2018 at 9:09 am
What is it that leads you to choose one supermarket over another? Is it price, customer service, convenience, or all of the above? Or perhaps if you’re an aspiring ethical consumer, you may prioritise fair trade items or organic produce. A recent Ørsted survey has revealed that p…
Positive UK renewable energy percentage in Q2 2018
Posted by Shea Karssing on 8 August 2018 at 9:14 am
Earlier this year, we reported how wind power generated 14 gigawatt hours of electricity for the first time, making up nearly 37% of the UK’s energy needs. The country also managed more than two days without using any coal-fired power for the first time in more than a century. According…
Just how green are electric cars?
Posted by Jono Gilbert on 25 July 2018 at 9:07 am
The current electric vehicle climate Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is growing rapidly. In 2018 there is estimated to be over 160,000 of them in the UK, and it’s predicted that by 2040, 55% of all new car sales worldwide will be EVs. With Tesla leading the way in the electric car re…
5 frequently asked questions about solar electricity
Posted by Sam Tonge on 18 July 2018 at 9:32 am
Solar is arguably the most intuitive power source we can ever use, and since 2010 is has been contributing a significantly increasing proportion of electricity to the National Grid. Last month it was reported that the UK solar broke the record for weekly output between 21 and 28 June, producing 5…
Vertical wind turbine spun by moving traffic
Posted by Sam Tonge on 11 July 2018 at 10:50 am
Using the surrounding environment to optimise renewable energy generation is nothing new. Solar PV arrays are known to be most effective when placed in a south or south-westerly direction at an angle of 45 degrees, whilst wind turbines are best placed where there is a constant flow of wind throug…
Five ways you can accelerate the clean energy transition this summer
Posted by Sam Tonge on 4 July 2018 at 9:13 am
According to the meteorological calendar, summer is finally here! The ‘beast from the east’ is now nothing more than a distant memory, meaning that if we’re being optimistic, we can expect our usual dose of sunshine within the next few months. We have recently written about …
What you should do when your installer has ceased to trade
Posted by Faisal Hussain (HIES Scheme) on 26 June 2018 at 9:10 am
HIES is a consumer protection organisation and operates a Consumer Code for the renewable sector which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). Whilst systems are usually well installed, we appreciate that some consumers who purchased a renewable system, such as Solar …
Why should act now if you need loft or cavity wall insulation
Posted by Sandra Hayes on 21 June 2018 at 10:48 am
If you are one of the many people living in homes with unfilled cavity walls or less than 100mm of loft insulation you need to act now if you are not on means tested benefits. Over the last few years we have all become accustomed to these two energy efficiency improvements being available t…
Renewables in 2017 - national progress helps achieve global record
Posted by Alison Vickers on 14 June 2018 at 9:16 am
Following on from one of our previous blogs ‘5 green energy milestones reached in 2017’ we now want to talk more about a record-breaking year for renewables. Some of the headlines include: 70% of all new power additions were renewable projects, and investment in renewable power capaci…
The Energy to Sustain Bitcoin - Part 2
Posted by Shea Karssing on 7 June 2018 at 12:06 pm
The debate rages on as the energy consumption increases Earlier this year, we published an article on Bitcoin energy consumption, reporting how Iceland has become one of the top locations for cryptocurrency servers, which now exceed the consumption of private energy users. Now, the critic…
Switching to LED lighting: the financial, environmental and health benefits
Posted by Jono Gilbert on 30 May 2018 at 9:30 am
Perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of a home or business is its lighting. But what most people consider to be an unremarkable facet of modernity can actually have extensive implications, not just on efficiency and the environment, but also on personal wellbeing. Households and busines…
Does your energy supplier owe you money?
Posted by Sam Tonge on 23 May 2018 at 10:04 am
Earlier this month it was revealed that Npower are to raise their energy prices by an average of 5.3% (£64 a year) for consumers. This move follows earlier price rises announced last month by British Gas (5.5%) and EDF (2.7% for electricity). Npower blame the price increase on policy an…
Renewable Heat Incentive reforms come into force
Posted by Sam Tonge on 16 May 2018 at 9:31 am
During February 2018, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published a second round of draft regulations which covered plans to reform aspects of both the Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes. It's been announced this week that the…
Scotland's clean energy revolution
Posted by Alison Vickers on 9 May 2018 at 9:24 am
The Climate Change Act (2008) mandates carbon emission cuts of 80% (from 1990 baseline) across the UK by 2050. However, our current progress calls into question whether the UK will achieve this goal. We also have an additional EU target of producing 15% of total energy from renewables by 2020. Ho…
Green is now mainstream - record support for green energy in UK communities
Posted by Sam Tonge on 2 May 2018 at 2:50 pm
A UK Government survey has found that the number of people supporting renewables has hit record levels. The 25th survey of the Energy and Climate Change Public Attitudes Tracker (PAT) revealed that individual backing for the use of renewable energy reached a record of 85% - a marked increase …
Pigeons under the panels - what can you do to protect your roof-mounted solar PV?
Posted by Sam Tonge on 24 April 2018 at 9:34 am
So you’ve recently had solar PV installed on the roof of your home. It’s looking clean and shiny and is all ready to cut your bills and carbon footprint. You’d be justified in thinking that your new source of renewable electricity would be the envy of your neighbours. However, i…
Get smart about smart meters
Posted by Sam Tonge on 16 April 2018 at 10:36 am
A smart meter can provide you with a detailed breakdown of your gas and electricity usage and costs in real time, best viewed through a linked in-home display. The meter puts an end to the laborious process of estimated billing by feeding your supplier your usage data automatically, meaning…
