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YouGen Blog
Are Infrared panel heaters a good way to heat a room?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 9 May 2017 at 2:50 pm
Infrared panel heaters are a relatively new way to heat your house. They work very differently to radiators, and have some advantages when it comes to energy efficiency. Infrared panel heaters use radiation to heat the room instead of convection. This means that they deliver heat directly to …
How green is Hydroelectricity?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 5 May 2017 at 4:24 pm
Large hydropower schemes account for the majority of the world’s renewable energy supply. Unlike wind and solar, hydroelectricity can provide a constant stream of renewable power, regardless of the weather or the time of year. Hydroelectric dams can be used to store power, and can quickly b…
Is it true that people in passive houses roast in summer?
Posted by Joanne Spurrell on 2 May 2017 at 2:45 pm
Passive House is a voluntary energy performance standard that results in buildings that are extremely airtight and have good levels of insulation. In such buildings, little energy is required for space heating and cooling so you can do away with conventional heating systems. But this begs the que…
Are sunnier days always the best for solar PV generation?
Posted by James Page on 28 April 2017 at 11:35 am
People often remark that solar panels do not need a sunny day to generate. Turns out a cloudy day can sometimes generate more than a sunny one. Three years ago, JoJu Solar installed a 10kW flat roof system on Artsadmin in Central London. It was the first project with panels facing East and We…
Energy efficiency labels are changing (again!)
Posted by Chloe Lloyd on 27 April 2017 at 10:03 am
Have you upgraded any appliances in your home lately? If so, you may have noticed that items such as refrigerators or televisions are rated in terms of their energy efficiency between A +++ to G. Everyone hoped that these ratings would allow you make an informed choice to buy the most energy effi…
Which devices are the most energy intensive?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 25 April 2017 at 3:31 pm
We live our lives surrounded by devices. We work on computers, carry phones and tablets with us wherever we go. Kitchens are full of fridges, freezers, microwaves and washing machines. Some are more energy intensive than others, but all of them are contributing to high energy bills, and higher ca…
How important is solar shading to passive solar building design?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 24 April 2017 at 12:10 pm
Trying to get indoor spaces to be the right temperature is a constant struggle. During cold parts of the year we use large amounts of energy for heating, but when warm weather arrives we suddenly want to cool down our buildings, either with fans or air conditioning. There seem to be relatively fe…
What cleaning and maintenance does a biomass boiler need?
Posted by Trish O'Flynn on 21 April 2017 at 2:26 pm
If you are thinking about installing a biomass boiler, you’ll want to know how much cleaning and maintenance is involved. A biomass boiler needs regular cleaning and servicing as build-ups of ash and clinker can stop it working efficiently and even cause damage. Some of these tasks you …
What is the most energy efficient form of transport?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 12 April 2017 at 1:40 pm
Many of you will be planning a long journey this bank holiday weekend and it’s worth considering which method of transport will be the most environmentally friendly. As you are probably aware, some transport methods are much more energy intensive than others and some have higher greenhouse …
Thermal Storage: How much could you save?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 10 April 2017 at 2:34 pm
Storing the energy produced by solar panels is a hot topic. Developments in battery storage for solar photovoltaic systems are constantly improving, but when it comes to storing energy, thermal systems have a lot of advantages. Solar thermal systems work by pumping a mix of water and antifree…
Soaring ahead: Gatwick Airport first in the world to turn waste into energy onsite
Posted by Richard Vale on 7 April 2017 at 12:03 pm
If you’re a fan of environmental waste management then fasten your seatbelt (and do not unbuckle until the landing light is switched off) because London Gatwick Airport and DHL supply chain have officially opened a new waste management plant, making it the first airport in the world to turn…
Sunny weekend breaks UK solar record
Posted by Chloe Lloyd on 5 April 2017 at 12:59 pm
With days becoming longer and sunnier afternoons on the rise, now is the perfect time to be generating electricity from your solar PV panels. Cast your minds back to the weekend of the 25th March 2017, temperatures were rising and you were dusting the cobwebs off the barbeque. However, that weeke…
Can living in a Smart House help us save energy?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 3 April 2017 at 3:30 pm
With the spread of smart phones a variety of options now exist to remotely control how electricity is used throughout your home. It is now possible to create a “smart house”, where all appliances and devices are connected to a wireless network, so that they can be monitored and contro…
What makes an energy-friendly garden?
Posted by Anna Carlini on 30 March 2017 at 3:01 pm
Don’t we all dream of having a green garden? I know I do. The thought of lush green grass, vibrant leaves and sheltering trees makes me want to retreat into that sweet haven for the whole of spring. But saving water and energy in your garden is something we should all take more care to do. …
Greenwashing: products that dont live up to the label
Posted by Anna Carlini on 29 March 2017 at 4:40 pm
Here at YouGen we love products that are environmentally friendly, and use less energy. But we do expect them to live up to expectations. We have a problem with products that do not match what they promise on the tin. We’ve covered cases where products are misleadingly advertised in our blo…
Can you charge your electric car from a lamp post?
Posted by Gabby Mallett on 27 March 2017 at 5:09 pm
Well actually you can’t, unless you happen to live in Onslow Gardens in Kensington, but some residents there can. Back in December the Government made £2.5m of funding available via its On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, which enabled Local Authorities to install charge p…
Show Homes will inspire domestic retrofit finds study
Posted by Gabby Mallett on 24 March 2017 at 2:40 pm
The main purpose of Show Homes is to inform and inspire. In a recent study, we found that they can be used very effectively to raise public awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, and generate interest among visitors who might then go on to install similar measures in their …
How Green are Biofuels?
Posted by Alex Barrett on 22 March 2017 at 5:15 pm
Our society is addicted to oil. The International Energy Agency estimates that the world will use 96 million barrels of oil (152 billion litres) a day throughout 2016 [1]. Our oil usage shows no sign of slowing down, so we desperately need an alternative for this non-renewable resource. …
Is it a problem that my solar PV reads 280 volts?
Posted by Chris Rudge on 17 March 2017 at 4:50 pm
Q. I have 12 solar panels, six facing east and six facing west. I have two inverters, one of which is a 'Sunnyboy', but I don't know which model. It was checked today and I was told its voltage is 281 when it should be around 240 volts. Is this a problem? Do I need something to reduce…
Are smart meters overcharging?
Posted by Gabby Mallett on 14 March 2017 at 11:23 am
I know I have written much about how great smart meters could be. They will help us to get rid of the antiquated idea of estimated bills, they will make is easier for everyone to see where they are using energy and they will make it much much easier for people to switch supplier. But all of…
