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How can I prevent my solar PV panels being stolen?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 17 April 2013 at 9:32 am
Q: I have a holiday home in France and I'd love to install solar. my concern, however, is the risk of theft. The property is quite isolated and we won't be there a lot of the time. Is it easy to take down solar panels? Are there more portable panels that lend themselves to this bette…
And the winner is .....
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 16 April 2013 at 9:30 am
YouGen's energy saving and renewables photo competition has ended, and with a great selection of submissions from across the country. We had photos of DIY, wood-burning stoves, solar panels and windmills. Some of the photos were funny, and some artistic, but they all inspired energy effi…
Key things to consider before installing a heat pump
Posted by John Barker-Brown on 16 April 2013 at 8:52 am
Unlike fossil fuel boilers, heat pumps are unforgiving when it comes to sizing. With a fossil fuel boiler increasing the size to add a safety factor is generally acceptable. The cost difference between a 20kW or 30kW boiler is not large. However, increasing the size of a ground source heat pump c…
Miscanthus: a sustainable alternative to wood fuel
Posted by FairEnergy . on 15 April 2013 at 9:27 am
Concerns that we will eventually run out of biomass wood fuel have been refuted by the Forestry Commission which says it that the wood fuel industry will be sustainable for many years yet. It estimates that the woodfuel industry could generate £1 billion and support more than 15,000 job…
Fear and cost are the main barriers to investment in renewable energy
Posted by Jennifer Arran on 11 April 2013 at 9:48 am
Awareness of microgeneration has increased since last year, but fear has become a much stronger barrier to uptake according to our new research. Our Microgen Insight Service team held focus groups of owner occumpiers last month as part of our ongoing research programme. Some customers said fe…
Why people choose their renewable energy installer (infographic)
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 9 April 2013 at 8:10 am
Customers are looking for installers who are: Knowledgeable about the product Provide information about the products and the installation Are good value for money Seem experienced at installing Seem friendly when discussing the quote / install …
I'm ringing on behalf of the government says rogue Green Deal company
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 8 April 2013 at 9:44 am
MPs receive more letters and emails about unwanted phone calls than anything else, culture minister Ed Vaizey told Parliament last week. Well Ed and my MP are about to get another one about the dodgy callers that pretend they are calling with the government's blessing. Last week I had a c…
Radiator reflectors and boosters can keep you warmer
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 5 April 2013 at 4:21 pm
More efficient heating doesn’t always have to come with a big investment, as these two simple devices for your radiators show. Radiator reflectors* work by reflecting the heat emitted from the back side of the radiator toward the wall back into the room. Depending on your circumst…
How do I pay for energy efficiency improvements to my home?
Posted by Adam Hewson on 5 April 2013 at 12:36 pm
This is a very simple question and, a bit like Murphy’s Law, a pretty complicated answer. But, here are a few, hopefully helpful, thoughts. When we go to buy something, we all make conscious and subconscious decisions about why, when and how we do this. We often don’t realise that…
Eco showerhead can save money, energy and water
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 4 April 2013 at 9:14 am
While most of us are aware that we’ll pay higher water bills for longer showers, many people don’t realise that heating water for taps and bathing represents close to a third of the average home’s heating bill, or around £200 per year (Energy Saving Trust). Simple water sa…
A bad week for renewable energy
Posted by Stewart Boyle on 3 April 2013 at 3:54 pm
Last week was a bad week for renewable heat, and biomass especially. The announcement that there would be a significant further delay to the introduction of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI-2) scheme finally came. With RHI payments due to start no earlier than Spring 2014, this will mak…
Underfloor insulation can dramatically improve comfort
Posted by greentomatoenergy . on 2 April 2013 at 10:04 am
Now that we’re (almost) through winter, we have had a number of calls from clients who felt the cold through their wooden floors and have asked us about insulating them. The first thing to say is that underfloor insulation can make a dramatic difference to comfort levels, particular…
One way to find out where your home leaks heat and stay warm
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 28 March 2013 at 9:17 am
Heat loss is one of the main causes of higher than necessary energy bills in the UK. In a survey NASA did of its buildings, 50% of heat loss was attributed to 5% of the surface area, what they referred to as like a prick in a balloon - all of the heat will eventually leave from even the smallest …
Special offer: Heat pump manufacturer offers free site survey, system design and handover meeting
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 28 March 2013 at 9:11 am
Sponsored blog post For over 80 years in 72 countries Stiebel Eltron has been one of the world’s leading manufacturers of green heating technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels and energy saving water heaters. With a wide range of products designed for the UK market we provide unma…
New blow to domestic renewable heat as RHI is delayed (again)
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 27 March 2013 at 10:29 am
The domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI), which was first announced in 2009, has been delayed again. Following last year's consultation, an announcement on the detail of how it would work was expected now, with the scheme starting this summer. However, yesterday it was delayed again. Y…
Manufacturers can play a key role in preventing problems with heat pumps
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 27 March 2013 at 10:13 am
Heat pumps can be a great way of heating a building if (and it's a big if) they are designed, specified, installed and commissioned right, and the building owner is given good, clear instructions about how to use the system and what the different controls do. The reason I say it's a b…
Feed-in tariff increases by RPI from 1 April 2013
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 26 March 2013 at 9:08 am
Most existing recipients of the feed-in tariff and the renewable heat incentive will receive an increase in their tariff rates in line with the retail price index from 1 April 2013. However, for some recent recipients of the feed-in tariff of solar PV the first RPI increase will not happen …
Is my roof strong enough to take solar PV?
Posted by Chris Rudge on 25 March 2013 at 9:33 am
Q: I live in an old stone cottage (c 1830) with roof rafters that I'm sure wouldn't pass current building regs for strength, even though they're not the original ones. The walls seem sound enough though. Would it be possible to put up a solar pv array that was supported on the 2 end w…
Why heat pumps are ideal for underfloor heating
Posted by Jason Hobbins on 22 March 2013 at 9:46 am
Heat pumps are the most efficient way to power wet underfloor heating systems. Unlike a gas or oil boiler, which heats water to between 65 and 85°C, a heat pump generates hot water at around 40 degrees. Walking on a 65°C floor will scald your feet and crack your floor coverin…
Five reasons why now is a really good time to install solar PV
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 21 March 2013 at 9:46 am
If you want to generate your own electricity there's not likely to be a better time than now to install solar PV panels. Global oversupply of solar panels has led to tumbling prices - but experts predict that this may not last. The feed-in tariff - the government's incentive for the t…
Find out how well solar PV works in bad weather
Posted by Chris Jardine on 19 March 2013 at 9:11 am
Snow in March? Last summer was dreadful, and seemed to rain constantly. Seems like we’ve had bad weather for ages now, and a period of prolonged sunshine seems eons ago. So we might expect the performance of solar PV systems to be equally poor over the same period of time. But j…
Enthusiasm and a warm welcome at Renewable Energy Marketplace
Posted by Alison Griffiths on 19 March 2013 at 9:02 am
Walking around the Renewable Energy Marketplace at Westpoint in 2012 I was struck by the sheer energy and enthusiasm of the exhibitors. As a business writer covering a myriad of subjects I have visited many shows and almost without fail the exhibitors tend to be a mix of the enthusiastic, the &qu…
The shock of the new: a poet's response to a solar field
Posted by Chloe Uden on 18 March 2013 at 9:27 am
Those of us who think renewables are a good idea are usually really keen that everybody else would share our views, and often disappointed when they don’t for whatever reason. It can be tempting to think that if only we were more logical, or more convincing, or more impervious to detractors…
Find out what it's like to live in an energy efficient home this weekend
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 15 March 2013 at 10:16 am
The owners of energy saving homes throw open the doors to the public from tomorrow as part of SuperHomes week (from 16-24 March 2013). This is your chance to see eco renovation at its best as pioneering owners offer tours of their homes. Admission is free and, wherever you live, there is probably…
Why isn't energy efficiency higher up the business agenda?
Posted by Alison Griffiths on 12 March 2013 at 12:44 pm
When the Government issued the UK’s Energy Efficiency Strategy in late 2012, the measures received broad support from many including the CBI. Designed to "maximise the benefits of existing policy and to realise the wider energy efficiency potential across the UK economy" the strat…
Renewable technologies work together at Devon vineyard
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 11 March 2013 at 10:50 am
Different renewables technologies can complement each other when used in tandem, as Pebblebed Vineyard’s Clyst St. George Vineyard in Devon shows. A solar thermal system became the farm's newest renewable energy installation in November 2011, adding to solar PV and a…
Dishwasher vs hand washing: which is most energy efficient?
Posted by Ross Lammas on 6 March 2013 at 10:03 am
A simple internet search shows that the dishwasher versus washing up by hand debate can be the subject of much debate and heated argument. In the dishwasher’s favour, research carried out by Bonn University in 2003, found that, when used efficiently (ie run fully loaded) dishwashe…
How our air to air heat pump keeps the house warm and bills low
Posted by Keith Searle on 5 March 2013 at 9:04 am
Our entire house has been nice and warm since we installed our air source heat pump in December 2011, and on the odd hot day in the summer it has cooled the living room. We leave it switched on 24hrs per day and it keeps on blowing out warm air at about 35 degrees-even on below freezing…
Which energy saving measures qualify for lower VAT rates?
Posted by Colin Lothian on 1 March 2013 at 9:12 am
Q. I have had an air pump system installed by Ice Energy, very helpful and efficient company. However, to meet the radiator specifications I had to change all my radiators for larger ones. Ice Energy do not supply radiators so I had to buy locally. This did not qualify for the reduced VAT for ene…
Win a home energy saving pack worth £157 in YouGen's photo competition
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 28 February 2013 at 9:22 am
There's a reason for the old maxim that a picture is worth a thousand words. While we write lots about how to save energy in your home and businesses, we think that the stories told by people who've done stuff and what inspires others to give it a go. And pictures tell a great story. …
Readers tips of the month disagree about solar switching devices
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 28 February 2013 at 9:02 am
This month, our readers have given some conflicting tips about solar heater switching devices. Ted from Cornwall installed an Immersun system to route surplus power from the solar panels into the immersion on the cylinder. He is happy and says ‘even in February the panels are…
Don't limit your solar PV system to 4kWp
Posted by Gabriel Wondrausch on 27 February 2013 at 9:37 am
During a typical week at SunGift Solar I can visit a huge range of people. From young professional couples eager to gain an additional income from the feed-in-tariff, through middle aged families looking for security against increasing electricity costs, to Eco-warrior pensioners who want to save…
How solid wall insulation cut my energy bills to a fraction of the UK average
Posted by Eric Blakeley on 27 February 2013 at 9:10 am
My house is mid-terrace with three bedrooms and is south facing. It was built in 1920. Our solid walls were exterior insulated under a government grant scheme for the over 70s three years ago. The insulation is 50mm Phenolic foam, rendered then painted. Electricity consumed from 9/11/20…
Heat your home with passive solar energy
Posted by Tim Pullen on 26 February 2013 at 11:01 am
It is quite possible to benefit from solar energy without the need for external mechanical means such as solar panels. It is closely related to architecture and was well understood in the ancient world. The Chinese, Greeks, Romans and North Africans have been building houses that use solar energy…
Is the Green Deal right for me?
Posted by Chris Newman on 25 February 2013 at 9:13 am
Here at Parity, we are getting more and more calls from people who start the conversation with some variation on the theme of “is the Green Deal any good for me?”. Given the bad press it’s had over recent weeks and months, you’d be forgiven for thinking that was a pretty e…
How renewable energy installers can deliver better service (infographic)
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 21 February 2013 at 10:39 am
After warranties, an instruction booklet is the most important feature of after sales service that you can offer microgeneration customers according to research by Delta Energy and Environment. This offers installers a great opportunity to shine and to differentiate themselves fro…
Superhome status reached via 25 years of incremental home improvements
Posted by Keith Searle on 19 February 2013 at 3:20 pm
I was interested in saving energy long before I had ever heard of Superhomes. It just seemed like good old common-sense to me. My philosophy has always been to insulate first, reduce what you consume, and then worry about the power source. A lot of the early work I did mysel…
Get YouGen discounts for the South West's biggest renewables and energy efficiency event
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 18 February 2013 at 2:37 pm
The Renewable Energy Marketplace (REM) is the Southwest's biggest energy event covering renewables, energy efficiency and generation. It returns to Westpoint, Exeter on 19 March 2013. Whether you're a homeowner considering a solar installation, a business owner looking to cut energy …
Green Deal finance will work with FITs and RHI
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 18 February 2013 at 9:59 am
Mixed messages have been circulating about how - or whether - Green Deal will work with the government's financial incentives for renewable heat and electricity generation. Last week the Department of Energy and Climate Change confirmed in a letter to installers that householders can claim a …
How to optimise electricity supply in your business
Posted by Paul Hutchens on 18 February 2013 at 9:33 am
There are a number of technologies available to cut energy demand and reduce electricity bills for businesses. The first that I would like to talk about is one that optimises and harmonises your electricity supply. It is relatively straightforward and very robust technology with few moving parts.…
The business significance of the Government's solar step change
Posted by Phil Nelms on 14 February 2013 at 8:34 am
The addition of Solar PV to the government’s Renewables Roadmap is highly significant. After a year dominated by cuts, consultations and legal challenges in the solar industry, as well as rising fossil fuel prices for everyone else, that there has been an attitude shift within the corridors…
Air source heat pumps keep hotel guests happy, warm, and intrigued
Posted by NicoleYouGen on 12 February 2013 at 9:02 am
An air source heat pump system has proven a positive alternative to LPG at Wirral’s award winning Mere Brook House Hotel. Mere Brook is a converted Edwardian country house which offers high quality bed and breakfast and facilities. When they were renovating their premises, the owners …
Estimates of solar PV will improve with launch of new PV Guide
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 11 February 2013 at 9:46 am
The estimated performance of solar PV systems will be significantly more accurate in future, following the publication of the long awaited new PV Guide, and the newly updated standard MIS3002 issue 3.0. The new standards for solar PV installations were finally launched last week by Climate Ch…
What to do if your ground source heat pump costs too much to run
Posted by Jason Hobbins on 8 February 2013 at 10:22 am
Q. Hi wondering if anyone else has had huge problems with a ground source heat pump. Had mine installed when the house was built and have no end of problems......largest and most pressing is the fact that it is costing me around £20 per day to run - which is astronomical and unsustainable! …
Wise up when buying solar, double glazing and insulation
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 5 February 2013 at 9:22 am
Last month the Office of Fair Trading announced that it has written to 50 leading businesses in the energy efficiency sector asking them to ensure they are providing consistently good standards to consumers. This is because the watchdog is concerned about pressure sales techniques, unclear inform…
NIROC: the financial incentive for solar PV in Northern Ireland explained
Posted by Andy Baird on 4 February 2013 at 9:07 am
Since 2002, solar PV has been installed in Northern Ireland across schools, colleges, local council buildings and hundreds of social and private homes. Although Northern Ireland doesn’t have FiTs (Feed In Tariffs), there are still three ways you will save money and make money by going…
Is biomass heating suitable for urban flats?
Posted by FairEnergy . on 1 February 2013 at 12:10 pm
Q: Is it possible to install biomass heating systems into blocks of flats? A: The short answer to this is yes.So long as there is suitable space that can be allocated to the scheme, inside or outside, a suitable pellet, wood chip or even log system can be designed to supply heat through a cen…
Readers tips of the month - January 2013
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 29 January 2013 at 10:35 am
Keeping warm is a bit of a theme for this month's tips. Mark Griffiths lives in a solid-wall 1930s house and works from home. He writes: " we brought in a company to help us dry-line part of our home office - an upstairs bedroom. We lost ten inches of space, but gained immensely in heat …
Has EDF had a change of heart on feed-in tariff administration?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 29 January 2013 at 9:04 am
Edit: Please see below for updated information about this blog post Feed-in tariff (FIT) applications close the deadline for a rate change have always been a worrying time. Will the system be registered on time? Will you get the expected higher rate? With most companies it's just a matter…
Will cavity wall insulation prevent condensation?
Posted by greentomatoenergy . on 28 January 2013 at 3:14 pm
Q: I have what I believe to be a condensation problem in a bungalow bedroom semi outside wall. I have been offered free cavity wall insulation but a proper survey ( checking cavity snots) was not done. Would cavity wall insulation if done/surveyed correctly prevent condensation and who could I tr…
Let's not kill the Green Deal with negativity before it's had a chance
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 28 January 2013 at 10:05 am
Today, at last, the Green Deal is open for business. I struggle to think of any proposal that's been so talked about (and so derided) before it even started. So it's not surprising that its launch has been met with a tide of negativity too: it's not ambitious enough say some. Others f…
Why energy efficiency is important in non-domestic buildings
Posted by Paul Hutchens on 25 January 2013 at 9:16 am
The rising costs of energy in the UK are a major concern for businesses and households. 68% of the UK's biggest companies regard 'improving operational energy efficiency' as a 'major opportunity' for their business according to research carried out last year by Green Monday in…
Green Deal: Deal of the day or deal of the decade?
Posted by Adam Hewson on 24 January 2013 at 9:06 am
For those of you who are reasonably well read on all things energy efficiency and renewables, you could be forgiven for being confused about the success of the Green Deal. A simple search will give a plethora of articles, forum comments and blogs about the subject but my guess is that 80-90% woul…
Use carbon tax to eliminate fuel poverty, PM told
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 22 January 2013 at 5:17 pm
We're pleased to be one of the 100 signatories sent to Prime Minister – The Rt Hon David Cameron MP yesterday. If you agree, then please sign the Energy Bill Revolution petition, and tell your friends about it too. Dear Prime Minister Millions of households across the UK will st…
What is thermal bridging in insulation, and should I worry about it?
Posted by Chris Newman on 22 January 2013 at 2:10 pm
Q: I've been told to watch out for thermal bridges in solid wall insulation. What does that mean? A: Thermal bridging is often talked about as a major concern for anyone who has an interest in making their property more energy efficient, but what does the term mean? Put simply, it that oc…
Is the extension of my solar PV system eligible for higher rate FITs?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 21 January 2013 at 9:08 am
Q: We originally installed 7.23 kW Solar PV for our home a few years back that qualified for the higher band of feed-in tariff (FIT). Just this month we have installed an extension of an additional 15 kW. We understood this to be an extension to the original system and that the extension would be…
Consumer protection in the Green Deal 3: EPC standard occupancy
Posted by Linn Rafferty on 18 January 2013 at 10:38 am
The previous instalment of my blog about Consumer Protection in Green Deal covered Green Deal Finance and the role of Green Deal Advisor. I explained the Golden Rule, and how it depends on the calculated cost savings from installing the energy efficiency measure. We saw that the cost saving…
15 more measures added to Green Deal as launch date looms
Posted by Pete Roberts on 17 January 2013 at 9:56 am
The long awaited and much heralded Green Deal is fast approaching. The soft launch of the Green Deal took place on 1 October 2012 and the first Green Deal finance plans will be signed on 28 January 2013. Over the past few months, installers, advisors, advisory services and providers have bee…
Solar Power UK takes to the road again - coming soon to a place near you!
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 15 January 2013 at 9:25 am
How to improve the way you sell and promote your solar business will be the focus of this year's Solar Power UK Roadshows. In February, the series of seven, half-day events will take place in locations across the UK. I am delighted to have been invited to join the speaker panel again this yea…
Planning permission not needed for (most) external solid wall insulation
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 14 January 2013 at 9:04 am
In a welcome bit of joined-up government thinking, the departments of energy and climate change and of communities and local government have clarified that the installation of external solid wall insulation constitutes an 'improvement' to a house rather than an 'enlargement' or &#…
Thermodynamic panels: your questions answered
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 11 January 2013 at 9:12 am
This blog was updated in February 2014, 6 November 2014 and 10 March 2015. If someone told you that there's a new solar panel that could heat your hot water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year come rain, shine or snow, would you believe them? It sounds too good to be true, and that always mak…
Is Solar PV a fire hazard?
Posted by Paul Hutchens on 7 January 2013 at 9:50 am
Q: Are you aware of Times article and web site pvsolardoctor.com which claims PV panels are a fire risk if water enters the wiring system? A: This question has resulted in a lot of research and investigation and the answer is, unfortunately, a bit involved. Generating your own electricity…
Over 70% of E.on customers have problems getting FIT payments
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 21 December 2012 at 9:10 am
Earlier this year we found E.on had more disgruntled feed-in tariff customers than any other energy company. New research by Which?, with a bigger sample of 1,700 respondents, has come to the same conclusion. More than a third of their members had problems with their FIT supplier, and of thos…
Gas or electric heater with solar panels?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 20 December 2012 at 11:25 am
Q: In discussions of draught proofing a room I realise that a lot of heat must be drawn up the flue behind my gas fire & therefore wasted due to its inevitable escape to the environment. Would it be worth it to replace my gas fire in the lounge by an electric fire with resultant minimal loss …
Why are wind turbines so ridiculously expensive?
Posted by David Hunt on 18 December 2012 at 3:22 pm
Q: For £5,995+VAT (advert NFU Farmer & Grower page 69 July 2012) I can buy a 34kW diesel generator (four cylinder Cummins diesel engine, Stamford alternator, diesel tank, radiator, frame, controls etc) whereas a 6kW wind turbine costs >£20k. Why are wind turbines so expensive - the mast? - the …
Review of Amelec Intelligent Solar Switch
Posted by Chris Rudge on 17 December 2012 at 9:27 am
For the cost, this looks to be really good value. The Amelec Eco2 Solar Switch is housed in a standard electrical housing such as used for consumer units and the like. As can be seen from the photo, it also has a standard DIN rail for fitting your selection of MCB/ RCD depending on application …
Is fleece or board best for underfloor insulation?
Posted by greentomatoenergy . on 14 December 2012 at 10:37 am
Q: Underfloor insulation: good access to 126sq m underfloor but joist widths vary from 32 to 40cm. Fleece or boards best? (it arrived via Twitter, hence the brevity) A: In terms of insulation there's little to choose between them: insulation boards are generally thinner for the same perfo…
Ban deal on the day: open letter to Greg Barker MP and Jo Swinson MP
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 13 December 2012 at 2:16 pm
An open letter from Mike Stephenson, H2Eco to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Jo Swinson MP, and the Energy Minister, Greg Barker MP and the wider Renewable Energy Installation industry. Help reduce pressure selling in the home by banning ‘deal on the day.’ I would …
Seven top tips for selling renewable heat technologies in the domestic market
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 13 December 2012 at 12:23 pm
A lot of work is needed to raise awareness among the British public of renewable heat technologies such as solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass boilers according to research by Delta Energy and Environment. Speaking at Renewable Energy Installer's business strategy conference in November…
Will the domestic RHI incentivise installers to invest in training?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 13 December 2012 at 10:14 am
Renewable heat zones led by local authorities would provide the incentives necessary for heating engineers to invest in training and skills for renewable heat installation, according to Kelly Butler of BEAMA. Speaking at the Westminster Forum on Progress of the RHI last month, Butler pointed …
What is the most profitable best kept secret in renewable energy?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 11 December 2012 at 12:17 pm
Developing a sustainable business in a field as dominated by politics as renewable energy is a hazardous undertaking. So how do you pick the route to the most stable market? Ask what the strategic policy drivers are, is the advice of Erich Scherer, an assistant director in the renewable energ…
How to get the best out of solid wall insulation
Posted by Chris Newman on 10 December 2012 at 10:45 am
A few years back, it would be common to hear people say “I’ve got solid walls so there’s not a lot I can do about them”. With over a third of our houses having solid walls (or ‘hard to treat’ cavities), that represented a big slice of the UK’s domesti…
Have you been subject to pressure sales for solar?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 7 December 2012 at 2:30 pm
A small minority of renewable energy companies are ignoring the rules on selling set down in the REAL Assurance consumer code, to which all MCS accredited installers must adhere. This is the relevant section of the code: Sales employees and representatives, whether employed di…
Join our campaign to ban 'deal on the day' for renewable energy
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 6 December 2012 at 4:20 pm
If you don't like being pressured to buy in your own home, then support our campaign to to stop renewable energy companies being able to sign up customers on the day of a sales visit. These are substantial investments which are not suitable for a 'deal on the day sale', and most reput…
Why we are calling on ministers to ban 'deal on the day' for renewable energy
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 6 December 2012 at 4:16 pm
There are occasions when signing a contract on the day with the first sales person you come into contact with is a good idea, but they are few and far between. An example might be when your boiler has broken down, and the plumber you know and trust comes to replace it. However, when a company has…
Should I cancel my contract for solar panels?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 6 December 2012 at 12:32 pm
Q: I had a visit Thursday evening from Ecohome Renewables. They quoted me £15,560 for a 16 panel 230w system, gave me a discount down to £10,560 but guaranteed me a tariff inflator to inflate my PV FIT system to 40p for 20 years. I had to agree then and there and signed a contract for…
Introduction to biomass boilers for heating and hot water
Posted by FairEnergy . on 4 December 2012 at 12:23 pm
With the price of fossil fuel rising, people of the UK groan as they reluctantly turn up their thermostats, as temperatures plummet for the festive season. I know this as I speak to these folks daily through my role at Fair Energy. There is no hiding from the pain of this rise in energy costs. So…
Consumer protection in the Green Deal 2: green deal finance
Posted by Linn Rafferty on 3 December 2012 at 10:19 am
In this second instalment of my blog about Consumer Protection in Green Deal, we’ll cover Green Deal Finance, and particularly the Golden Rule and savings estimates, and the role of Green Deal Advisors in explaining this to their customer. The Advisor needs to …
Review of IntellyGreen PV Kit: intelligent solar power monitoring
Posted by Chris Rudge on 30 November 2012 at 11:16 am
The IntellyGreen PV kit setup is not just a power saving device to send excess power to an immersion heater or similar, but has a comprehensive large LCD display to provide information on your power usage too. The complete set I tested comprised of a radio transmitter unit to be installed n…
Biomass boiler means house is warm for the first time
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 27 November 2012 at 4:10 pm
"It's the first time in the history of our house that we've had a warm house. Last year we were scraping ice off the inside of the windows." Anyone who lives in an old, leaky farmhouse and heats it with oil will probably prick up their ears at a quote like that and want to k…
Review of ImmerSUN: using solar electricity to heat water
Posted by Chris Rudge on 27 November 2012 at 9:28 am
This relevant newcomer to the market of power optimisation of solar PV systems seems to have taken off in a big way due to facilities, design and marketing. Certainly this little unit is well packaged and documented. Unlike most of the other PV power optimisation units currently on the …
YouGen wins WWF Green Game-Changer award
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 26 November 2012 at 2:16 pm
YouGen was announced the winner of the WWF Green Game Changer Award in the International Green Awards 2012 last week in a glitzy presentation at Battersea Power Station. The Green Game-Changer category was new this year in a tie up with WWF-UK. It was looking for innovations in products, serv…
The benefits of using solar PV energy to power your immersion
Posted by Nick Mills on 26 November 2012 at 10:27 am
We all hate the though of giving something away for nothing, and, although we get paid to generated solar electricity, and get an additional nominal sum for exporting the surplus, do you ever dream of getting a little bit more from your solar PV system? There are now a few systems on the mark…
A 100% renewable future: Yes we can
Posted by James Page on 23 November 2012 at 8:43 am
So President Obama gets a second shot at cutting carbon. It will be a tough call, but he should remember that some of the leading renewables manufacturers are from the USA, and the export potential is huge. At least three other leading economies have their work cut out keeping the lights on, neve…
Government's new energy efficiency strategy is flawed
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 22 November 2012 at 10:31 am
The Government published its new Energy Efficiency Strategy earlier this week, setting out its ambition to save up to 22 power stations-worth of energy by 2020. The Strategy is aimed at saving energy in housing, transport and manufacturing. New energy saving initiatives announced toda…
Consumer protection in the Green Deal 1: the oversight body
Posted by Linn Rafferty on 20 November 2012 at 8:59 am
This is part one of a series of blogs introducing the key aspects of consumer protection in the Green Deal, including: The role of GD-ORB - the oversight and registration body – the Green Deal Code of Practice and Green Deal Mark; Green Deal finance, the Golden rule, …
5 small tweaks for a greener (more energy efficient) lifestyle
Posted by Cindy Liu on 19 November 2012 at 9:38 am
As a member of a younger generation, I feel that I’m far more acutely aware of just how much our lifestyle choices and energy consumption affects environmental change and global warming. For me, there’s definitely enough scientific evidence to suggest that if we don’t change the…
Will customer awareness of the domestic RHI be great enough?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 16 November 2012 at 9:16 am
Government needs to take action to ensure customer awareness of the renewable heat incentive (RHI), said Peter Connor, senior lecturer in renewable energy policy at the University of Exeter. He was speaking at the Westminster Forum seminar on delivering the RHI earlier this week. This was somethi…
Metering is biggest challenge to RHI
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 15 November 2012 at 3:09 pm
The biggest challenges in the RHI are around metering, according to Lindsay Goater, senior manager, RHI generation at Ofgem. Speaking at the Westminster Forum seminar, Delivering the Renewable Heat Incentive, earlier this week he said that the main problem is meters not installing them to the man…
Delivering the Renewable Heat Incentive - speech to Westminster Forum
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 15 November 2012 at 9:44 am
This is my speech to the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum seminar on Delivering the Renewable Heat Incentive: controlling costs suppporting new technologies and moving towards the domestic roll out on Tuesday 13 November 2012. YouGen is a information website for home and sm…
Voltage spikes cause drops in solar PV performance
Posted by Rob Palgrave on 12 November 2012 at 10:36 am
A members of my local Friends of the Earth group installed solar PV on her roof at the start of the year. This is in Surrey. The generated energy is much lower than expected, and the installer has not been able to resolve the issue so far. Suspicion falls on the compatibility of…
Do you know what the best options are for improving the energy efficiency of your home?
Posted by Chris Newman on 9 November 2012 at 8:37 am
With winter approaching and energy prices rising again, you may be thinking about how to make your home warmer. But where do you start? Our mantra at Parity is that every “home is different”, and by that we don’t just mean the physics of the house, we mean th…
Domestic or not? Where's the divide for the Renewable Heat Incentive?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 8 November 2012 at 9:03 am
Businesses that run from home can experience complications when claiming the renewable heat incentive. Do they count as domestic or commercial for the purposes of the RHI? It's an important question, as the two versions of the scheme are quite different. The non-domestic renewable h…
How to measure your energy consumption
Posted by greentomatoenergy . on 6 November 2012 at 2:19 pm
Most householders are made aware of the energy efficiency of their home using energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings. While EPC ratings are relatively simple and are useful for providing high level information, they are not very transparent, not possible to measure without outside help and…
Free, comprehensive guide to farm energy saving
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 5 November 2012 at 9:57 am
Keeping the costs of energy down is a must for most farms, but the challenge is often knowing where to start. As in most businesses it's easy to let the urgent take priority over the important, but as the writers of a detailed new guide to energy efficiency say, if you don't start planning change no…
Feed-in tariff for solar PV falls, but ROI increases
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 2 November 2012 at 10:09 am
The first automatic degression of the solar PV feed-in tariff rate occurred yesterday. To put that in plain English, the rate for new installations fell by 3.5 per cent for all installations of 150kW and below. For a 4kW installation that meant a reduction in tariff from 16p per kWh to 15.44p.&nb…
How can we best use our solar generated electricity?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 2 November 2012 at 9:34 am
Q: We have just installed PV solar panels, rated at max output of 2.25 kW. Very pleased so far (3 weeks). Careful use of daytime electricity and a woodburning stove for cooking means our energy is only costing an average of around 50p per day. (We collect waste wood to burn and we do most of our co…
I'm on mains gas, am I eligible for the domestic RHI?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 1 November 2012 at 3:06 pm
Q: I am very interested in the RHI (renewable heat incentive) but a little confused! I would love a biomass boiler or air source heat pump but I have read somewhere that if I have gas and disconnect from the gas mains I still can't claim RHI? Is this true? Are biomass and ASHP RHI payments only for …
How to choose an installer - October's reader tip of the month
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 31 October 2012 at 11:15 am
Wise words on choosing an installer from Dax: "Beware the cold callers and their convenient ability to reduce the cost by a) working locally so can install at a reduced cost b) ringing the director when you continue to say 'NO' as there are commercial installations at business …
Should the RHI aim to raise performance of renewable heat technologies?
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 30 October 2012 at 8:58 am
If the renewable heat incentive (RHI) is to meet its stated goals of generating more energy from renewable sources and reducing carbon emissions, it is important that the installations subsidised by it are efficient and high performing. This requires good design and installation and owners who know …
