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YouGen Blog
Smart switching: will it transform the way we hunt for cheaper energy bills?
Posted by Anna Carlini on 30 January 2019 at 11:43 am
Switching energy providers We all know that switching can save us money, but it can also be such a hassle to do. Many of us simply do not have the time to wade through comparison websites or wait on the phone with providers for a quote. For others it can be an overwhelming or confusing experi…
The best 5 ways of saving energy whilst driving
Posted by Giles Kirkland on 23 January 2019 at 10:41 am
Constantly rising fuel costs along with the scarcity of resources and people’s increasing environmental awareness make the concerns for fuel efficiency greater than ever before. More and more people have started minding their ecological footprint and recognising the need for a change in the…
The cheaper more sustainable home of the future - decentralised generation.
Posted by John Thompson on 16 January 2019 at 1:41 pm
Your future home could be 50% cheaper to run and 100% more sustainable thanks to a clever mix of solar, home batteries and software that will allow these systems to integrate seamlessly into your life. The basic technologies, solar and battery-storage, are nothing new, but thanks to economies…
Artificial & Alternative Trees Guide
Posted by Louise Hyde on 21 December 2018 at 5:01 pm
If a natural tree is not for you, you could consider an artificial tree or an alternative tree. This post provides some suggested considerations and alternative ideas. 1) The Artificial Tree Considered Benefits The artificial tree has benefits that some households wi…
The Real Christmas Tree Guide
Posted by Louise Hyde on 19 December 2018 at 10:21 am
Following last year’s blog post on the sustainability of Christmas trees, we wanted to provide more guidance on how to be mindful of the resources used to bring a tree to your home. There is much to consider along the supply chain of a christmas tree, from the resources used to grow it, emi…
Scotland eclipses rest of UK in green energy transition
Posted by Alison Vickers on 12 December 2018 at 4:34 pm
Previously we highlighted how Scotland created 68% of its electricity via renewable energy in 2017, making it a world leader in sourcing electricity from renewables. This figure was an increase of 26% on the year before. With many projects still awaiting completion, we argued then that it’s…
Solar panel Feed-in Tariff deadline looms
Posted by Duncan McCombie on 5 December 2018 at 5:15 pm
Homeowners considering switching to solar panel systems should do it now before a cut-off point next year that could strip the opportunity for large financial incentives. For a long time, the solar technology available to the public for turning sunlight into electricity was beyond the financ…
Four Ways Our Energy System is Changing for the Better
Posted by Heleana Neil - Innovate UK on 29 November 2018 at 9:05 am
Constantly evolving technology will change our lives for the better. It’s time to take a glimpse into the future. More specifically, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the energy system of tomorrow. Large, inefficient power stations will make way for smaller, local plants –…
What can we learn from Costa Rica?
Posted by Alison Vickers on 21 November 2018 at 9:01 am
The Central American nation has an impressive track record in green electricity generation and is seen by many as a world leader in terms of its environmental reputation. Indeed, Costa Rica is in many ways an exemplar in the green energy transition. Although it is uniquely placed to take advantag…
How will the grid cope with the addition of electric vehicles?
Posted by John Thompson on 14 November 2018 at 8:09 am
The future of cars is electric. Globally, governments are laying out plans to end the sale of petrol and diesel powered cars, while falling battery prices will contribute towards making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable and more profitable. With a range of technology on …
Withdrawing RHI for urban biomass - what you need to know
Posted by Sam Tonge on 1 November 2018 at 9:55 am
What’s happening? Last month, The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched a consultation which wants your views on whether the Renewable Heat Incentive should be paid for new biomass installations in urban areas. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a UK …
Five tips before you buy loft insulation
Posted by Dave Raval on 24 October 2018 at 9:13 am
It's easy to forget about your loft when you're looking at your home's energy efficiency. But the Energy Saving Trust point out that a quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. With low levels not keeping enough heat in, it can have a serious impact. But th…
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…
