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A point of view: The problem with EPCs
Posted by Tim Tucker on 17 October 2018 at 10:13 am
If you want to update an out of date or expired Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), you may be in for a nasty surprise. You may get a worse one, even if you have added numerous improvements to your house. Five years ago, our children told us to downsize. So we did. We bought a 5 year old so…
Will Cars Ever Be Fully Green?
Posted by Giles Kirkland on 10 October 2018 at 9:16 am
The question of ‘will cars ever be fully green?’ has been asked many times over, specifically in this day and age of fuel-efficient hybrids, fascinating electric cars like the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, and advanced internal combustion engines like the Mazda Skyactiv-X. The pr…
An innovative approach to airtightness testing - the PULSE method explained
Posted by Sam Tonge on 1 October 2018 at 9:36 am
Air leakage is widely accepted as a major cause of thermal inefficiency within many of our homes in the UK, accounting for 30% of total heat loss on average. The uncontrolled flow of air through small gaps in our properties can rack up our utility bills as well as being very uncomfortable for us …
The London Community Energy Fund is open for applications - but not for long
Posted by Sam Tonge on 25 September 2018 at 11:41 am
Last week we highlighted the broad range of assistance available for community energy projects in the UK. In this article we bring you a real life example in the form of London Community Energy Fund and encourage those of you based in the capital to get involved. The London Community Energy F…
What assistance is available for community energy projects?
Posted by Sam Tonge on 19 September 2018 at 10:21 am
Earlier this summer, environmental law firm ClientEarth and YouGov surveyed more than 2000 UK adults on attitudes on climate change and sustainability. The survey should give policymakers some food for thought, with almost three quarters of those surveyed wanting to see greater investment in rene…
Should I clean my solar PV panels?
Posted by Sam Tonge on 12 September 2018 at 10:15 am
POLL CLOSED: Here are readers' responses to whether they clean their PV array. (The survey of 62 respondents was carried out between 12th September and 15th October 2018). Following the recent spell of dry weather in much of the UK, we’ve had a number of enquir…
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…
