Hasn't home energy been a horrible drain on our finances this last two years? If it isn't rising gas prices, or big bills for winter chills, it's the scandal of 2010 prices that refuse to fall. There's a nagging sense that the days of cheap fossil fuels are over, but with no affordable alternative. We're yet to have a cheap source of green energy on a national scale.
At a household level, you need to invest in the technology and home improvements before you see the savings.
However: what if green energy became a money saver in itself? If there was a way to hurdle the upfront costs, could going green be the ultimate way to beat the energy price rip-off? There could already be a way - four ways, in fact. If you're ready to act, green energy could really be about to save you cash.
1. Get paid to produce solar energy & solar thermal
Does this sounds almost too good to be true?
It's true. The UK has introduced a feed-in tariff, which means that if you install a solar panel that generates electricity (a.k.a solar PV), you can get paid for ever unit of electricity that you produce. Even for the units you use yourself!
The scheme rewards your initiative by paying you a generous price per unit for every unit you generate, and an additional payment for surplus units that you supply back to the National Grid.
The estimated return on investment is 5 - 8% a year, and of course there's the effect on your bills. You'll still use grid electricity when your solar panels are less productive (winter evenings being an obvious case in point) but your overall electricity costs will be slashed.
The government will be paying out a surprisingly large amount for every tonne of carbon saved and here's a scheme that will pay you back up to maximum of just over £1,650 a year for 25 years, that's over £41,250 — and you can't say fairer than that.
In April 2011, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will offer further financial support for a range of technologies, including ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal. It will work much the same as the FiT scheme, however, it is thought that the payments will not be as generous.
Until now, the high costs of renewable or low carbon heat installations would have deterred many. However, the RHI support levels will be calculated so there will be a financial return on any investment made.
Where will you find the money for the initial investment in the technology? See 'PAYS'
2. Fund a home energy makeover with Pay As You Save
Pay As You Save is a proposed way to fund a whole-house energy efficiency makeover.
It isn't happening immediately — the bill needs to get through Parliament first, and a general election could get in the way of that — but it's been announced, and pilot schemes have already been completed.
Here's how it should work. You'll have your house assessed for the necessary improvements that will reduce the energy you use, and you'll get the work done without paying upfront. Instead, you'll repay the cost over the long term (20 years) using the amounts you're saving on your bills.
Although the scheme's far from perfect, it does make sense on several fronts: it's an attempt to address the issue of making our ageing housing stock more energy efficient, and crucially, it's trying to address how we pay for it. If the bill passes through Parliament, the scheme should start running in 2012.
So if you're caught in an energy bill Catch-22, shelling out hundreds to heat a draughty old house but unable to pay out now for the necessary improvements, there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
3. Get your walls done
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) fund is something every British household has been indirectly paying into for several years, through a levy on energy suppliers — and now it's time to get your money back and save on heating as you do!
This means means grant money towards helping the country meet its CERT by giving you a big helping hand towards the cost of a better insulated home. More efficient, for most homes, means better insulated. If you have solid walls, cavity walls with no insulation, or a loft space with less than 270mm insulation, you're a prime candidate. The benefits are obvious: a warmer home, smaller bills, and much less to pay out for the work.
Better still, if you’re a family with children under 16, if you're in receipt of certain state benefits, or are over 70, you’re in the priority group and should get your insulation done for free.
To take advantage of CERT, contact your existing energy supplier (or your new one after you've switched — see point 4!)
4. Switch and save
If you're not ready to do any of the above (for example — if you're renting), are there other ways green energy could save you money?
Yes. If your gas and electricity bills are still with 'heritage' companies (i.e. British Gas for gas, and one of the local electricity board successor companies for electricity), you will save money by switching supplier — and this can be your chance to go 100% green on electricity too.
Look beyond the 'green' tariffs every company offers and opt for one of the companies promising 100% renewable energy sourcing (Good Energy and Ecotricity are two examples). Unlike the mainstream suppliers' green tariffs, which persuade customers to buy in to green power sourcing that they are duty bound to achieve anyway, switching to one of the specialist suppliers is meaningful contribution to extending Britain's renewable power generation.
You can use our energy supplier comparison calculator to work out what your likely savings will be, and initiate your money-saving switch online.
Reference: Modified from original article on moneyhospital.co.uk, author Mark Churchill
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Saturday 20 March 2010
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Considering Renewables?
Our guide to green, clean energy in the home. If you're considering installing renewable energy technologies at home, then there are several options available to you. However, not all will be right for your home. Read our guide to the different technologies available and find out about the government's Feed-in Tariff, also known as the 'Clean Energy Cashback Scheme'.
The UK is quite well suited to solar power. If you've done the basic things to stop wasting energy at home, such as installing loft and wall insulation and energy efficient lighting and appliances, then you might want to consider installing your own renewable energy technologies. Working out which technology is most suitable for your home is a good way to start.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines are the iconic renewable energy technology. At home, small turbines are only suitable in certain parts of the country, if they have clear sight-lines away from other buildings or trees and where there is a wind speed of no less than 5 m/s. Be aware that, in some areas, erecting a turbine will also need planning permission. You can see if your home is suitable for wind power at the Energy Saving Trust website.
Solar power
As contrary to popular belief solar photovoltaic (PV) cells don't need direct sunlight to work, so you can still generate electricity on a cloudy day.
Solar PV panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. In addition to Solar PV there are also solar water heating systems that use the sun's heat to warm up water, which can then be used directly. Both are best placed on south-facing roofs but other orientations can also work, though less efficiently.
Feed-in Tariffs (FiT's) will be introduced to the UK on 1 April 2010. The scheme requires energy suppliers to make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity (PV) panels or wind turbines.
The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system, as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to the grid. These payments are in addition to the bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site.
From April this year, every unit of electricity generated at home could earn up to 41.3p for a PV system – which could mean around £800 per year for 25 years for a typical-sized solar electricity installation, up to just over £1,650 per year for 25 years for an optimal south facing 4 kWp system.
Other technologies, such as wind, hydroelectricity and micro combined heat and power, will also benefit from the scheme, though with smaller payments than solar PV.
Air and ground source heat pumps
A ground source heat pump uses pipes buried underground (usually in a back garden) to extract heat from the ground and warm water for radiators in a home. A typical system costs around £12,000, with running costs of around £650 per year where the heat pump provides all heating and hot water. They can save around 540kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) and £160 a year if they replace an oil-fired central heating system, or more if replacing coal or electric heating.
Air source heat pumps extract heat from external air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside and these systems can operate with outside temperatures as low as -15C. They are cheaper than ground source heat pumps to install, £5,000 to £9,000 but are not always as efficient with running costs for heating and hot water at around £790 per year. The Energy Saving Trust says that the system could save up to 5,000 kg of CO2 and £700 per year if it replaced an electric heating system.
Wood fuelled heating
A stove burning logs or pellets could heat up a single room or, for full home use, a wood fuelled boiler can replace your current boiler/heating system. Because the boiler uses wood, it will only release the CO2 that was absorbed as the tree was growing in the first place. If the wood has been sourced responsibly and new plants are grown to replace the ones chopped down to make the fuel, wood fuelled systems are essentially carbon neutral.
A standalone stove costs around £3,000, while a typical automatically-fed boiler would set you back around £9,000. But wood fuel systems can save up to 9,600 kg of CO2 per year if they replace a coal-fired system.
Hydroelectricity
Finally, there is small-scale hydroelectricity. These use running water to turn a turbine that generates electricity. The faster the water flows and the more water there is, the more electricity can be produced. Clearly only suitable for people with a stream nearby, the advantage of this technology is that it is also eligible for the government's feed-in tariffs.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The UK is quite well suited to solar power. If you've done the basic things to stop wasting energy at home, such as installing loft and wall insulation and energy efficient lighting and appliances, then you might want to consider installing your own renewable energy technologies. Working out which technology is most suitable for your home is a good way to start.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines are the iconic renewable energy technology. At home, small turbines are only suitable in certain parts of the country, if they have clear sight-lines away from other buildings or trees and where there is a wind speed of no less than 5 m/s. Be aware that, in some areas, erecting a turbine will also need planning permission. You can see if your home is suitable for wind power at the Energy Saving Trust website.
Solar power
As contrary to popular belief solar photovoltaic (PV) cells don't need direct sunlight to work, so you can still generate electricity on a cloudy day.
Solar PV panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. In addition to Solar PV there are also solar water heating systems that use the sun's heat to warm up water, which can then be used directly. Both are best placed on south-facing roofs but other orientations can also work, though less efficiently.
Feed-in Tariffs (FiT's) will be introduced to the UK on 1 April 2010. The scheme requires energy suppliers to make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity (PV) panels or wind turbines.
The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system, as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to the grid. These payments are in addition to the bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site.
From April this year, every unit of electricity generated at home could earn up to 41.3p for a PV system – which could mean around £800 per year for 25 years for a typical-sized solar electricity installation, up to just over £1,650 per year for 25 years for an optimal south facing 4 kWp system.
Other technologies, such as wind, hydroelectricity and micro combined heat and power, will also benefit from the scheme, though with smaller payments than solar PV.
Air and ground source heat pumps
A ground source heat pump uses pipes buried underground (usually in a back garden) to extract heat from the ground and warm water for radiators in a home. A typical system costs around £12,000, with running costs of around £650 per year where the heat pump provides all heating and hot water. They can save around 540kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) and £160 a year if they replace an oil-fired central heating system, or more if replacing coal or electric heating.
Air source heat pumps extract heat from external air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside and these systems can operate with outside temperatures as low as -15C. They are cheaper than ground source heat pumps to install, £5,000 to £9,000 but are not always as efficient with running costs for heating and hot water at around £790 per year. The Energy Saving Trust says that the system could save up to 5,000 kg of CO2 and £700 per year if it replaced an electric heating system.
Wood fuelled heating
A stove burning logs or pellets could heat up a single room or, for full home use, a wood fuelled boiler can replace your current boiler/heating system. Because the boiler uses wood, it will only release the CO2 that was absorbed as the tree was growing in the first place. If the wood has been sourced responsibly and new plants are grown to replace the ones chopped down to make the fuel, wood fuelled systems are essentially carbon neutral.
A standalone stove costs around £3,000, while a typical automatically-fed boiler would set you back around £9,000. But wood fuel systems can save up to 9,600 kg of CO2 per year if they replace a coal-fired system.
Hydroelectricity
Finally, there is small-scale hydroelectricity. These use running water to turn a turbine that generates electricity. The faster the water flows and the more water there is, the more electricity can be produced. Clearly only suitable for people with a stream nearby, the advantage of this technology is that it is also eligible for the government's feed-in tariffs.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Saturday 13 March 2010
The Case for Global Warming Stronger Than Ever
One of the many crimes that climate scientists have been accused of lately is that they claim absolute certainty in a field of research fraught with uncertainty. Sure, the planet is warming, say skeptics, but that's happened throughout Earth's history, long before humans were burning fossil fuels. So, how can we be sure this isn't just a natural phenomenon?
Yet a search through the much vilified Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports shows that absolute certainty is notably absent. In the most recent document, for example, published in 2007, the authors write: "Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG [that is, human-generated greenhouse gas] concentrations."
If that doesn't sound definitive, it's because, as the authors freely admit, it isn't: climate science continues to evolve as new evidence comes in. Indeed, back in 2006, even before the latest IPCC report was complete, researchers in Britain were already planning to launch an update. Helmed by the U.K.'s Met Office (formerly known as the Meteorological Office), the update, published March 5 in the journal Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, is based on more than 100 peer-reviewed post-IPCC studies. The new data may shift the evidence for climate change, but none of it weakens what the IPCC said three years ago.
By looking at a wide range of observations from all over the world, the Met Office study concludes that the fingerprint of human influence on climate is stronger than ever. "We can say with a very high significance level that the effects we see in the climate cannot be attributed to any other forcings [factors that push the climate in one direction or another]," says study co-author Gabriele Hegerl of the University of Edinburgh.
Plenty of these climate effects had already been observed at the time of the 2007 IPCC report, including warming temperatures, shifts in rainfall (wet regions getting wetter, dry regions getting drier) and the increase in summer meltback of Arctic sea ice. Those patterns have continued, and in some cases gotten worse.
Some entirely new observations have been recorded as well. In its 2007 report, the IPCC did not include the impact of Greenland's or Antarctica's melting glaciers in its estimate of future sea-level rise, saying it lacked sufficient data. But now the speed-up of flow from these glaciers has been documented. And while the IPCC noted in 2007 that every continent had warmed throughout the 20th century except Antarctica, that continent has now been shown to be warming as well — very likely due to man-made influences, says Hegerl. (See the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2009.)
There's plenty more evidence in the Met Office report to support global warming. But the question from critics remains: how can we be sure this isn't just a natural phenomenon? Scientists haven't done a good enough job of communicating how they distinguish human versus natural influences, says Hegerl. The answer lies in climate models — massive computer simulations that allow the scientists to project climate effects in various scenarios, including those in which humans do not emit any greenhouses at all. "We go out of our way to check out other explanations — by assuming it's all explained by solar activity, or by solar activity plus volcanoes, or by combinations of any of the other natural forcings known to affect climate," says Hegerl.
According to the models, none of those combinations can produce the climate patterns currently being observed in the real world. Add the greenhouse gases that we know humans are generating (and which we've known since the 1800s tend to warm the Earth, all other things being equal), and the simulations finally come close to matching the real world. Its possible, albeit far-fetched, that the simulations are defective. It is even less possible that all of them (and there are many) are defective in the direction of overstating humanity's contribution to warming.
Again, none of the evidence adds up to absolute certainty, a rare commodity in any field of science. On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that an independent panel of scientists, representing national science academies from around the world, would review the IPCC's research procedures — an effort to account for the 2007 report's mistakes, for which the IPCC has come under hard criticism. But while the U.N. group may benefit publicly from more transparency, it won't change the fact that more than 99% of the scientific details in the 2007 report have already withstood the most intense scrutiny. The fact that climate change evidence that was "very likely" a few years ago has now been declared likelier still by the comprehensive Met Office report suggests that the evidence for human-caused climate change is getting better all the time.
Reference: Time. Michael D. Lemonick is the senior science writer for Climate Central.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1971702,00.html#ixzz0i3FdVE7B
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Yet a search through the much vilified Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports shows that absolute certainty is notably absent. In the most recent document, for example, published in 2007, the authors write: "Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG [that is, human-generated greenhouse gas] concentrations."
If that doesn't sound definitive, it's because, as the authors freely admit, it isn't: climate science continues to evolve as new evidence comes in. Indeed, back in 2006, even before the latest IPCC report was complete, researchers in Britain were already planning to launch an update. Helmed by the U.K.'s Met Office (formerly known as the Meteorological Office), the update, published March 5 in the journal Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, is based on more than 100 peer-reviewed post-IPCC studies. The new data may shift the evidence for climate change, but none of it weakens what the IPCC said three years ago.
By looking at a wide range of observations from all over the world, the Met Office study concludes that the fingerprint of human influence on climate is stronger than ever. "We can say with a very high significance level that the effects we see in the climate cannot be attributed to any other forcings [factors that push the climate in one direction or another]," says study co-author Gabriele Hegerl of the University of Edinburgh.
Plenty of these climate effects had already been observed at the time of the 2007 IPCC report, including warming temperatures, shifts in rainfall (wet regions getting wetter, dry regions getting drier) and the increase in summer meltback of Arctic sea ice. Those patterns have continued, and in some cases gotten worse.
Some entirely new observations have been recorded as well. In its 2007 report, the IPCC did not include the impact of Greenland's or Antarctica's melting glaciers in its estimate of future sea-level rise, saying it lacked sufficient data. But now the speed-up of flow from these glaciers has been documented. And while the IPCC noted in 2007 that every continent had warmed throughout the 20th century except Antarctica, that continent has now been shown to be warming as well — very likely due to man-made influences, says Hegerl. (See the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2009.)
There's plenty more evidence in the Met Office report to support global warming. But the question from critics remains: how can we be sure this isn't just a natural phenomenon? Scientists haven't done a good enough job of communicating how they distinguish human versus natural influences, says Hegerl. The answer lies in climate models — massive computer simulations that allow the scientists to project climate effects in various scenarios, including those in which humans do not emit any greenhouses at all. "We go out of our way to check out other explanations — by assuming it's all explained by solar activity, or by solar activity plus volcanoes, or by combinations of any of the other natural forcings known to affect climate," says Hegerl.
According to the models, none of those combinations can produce the climate patterns currently being observed in the real world. Add the greenhouse gases that we know humans are generating (and which we've known since the 1800s tend to warm the Earth, all other things being equal), and the simulations finally come close to matching the real world. Its possible, albeit far-fetched, that the simulations are defective. It is even less possible that all of them (and there are many) are defective in the direction of overstating humanity's contribution to warming.
Again, none of the evidence adds up to absolute certainty, a rare commodity in any field of science. On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that an independent panel of scientists, representing national science academies from around the world, would review the IPCC's research procedures — an effort to account for the 2007 report's mistakes, for which the IPCC has come under hard criticism. But while the U.N. group may benefit publicly from more transparency, it won't change the fact that more than 99% of the scientific details in the 2007 report have already withstood the most intense scrutiny. The fact that climate change evidence that was "very likely" a few years ago has now been declared likelier still by the comprehensive Met Office report suggests that the evidence for human-caused climate change is getting better all the time.
Reference: Time. Michael D. Lemonick is the senior science writer for Climate Central.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1971702,00.html#ixzz0i3FdVE7B
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Monday 8 March 2010
Get a loan of up to £15,000 to green your house!
If you want to install solar panels on your roof and take advantage of lucrative new feed-in tariffs but have been put off by a lack of funds, you could soon get a loan to cover the whole cost.
This week the government unveiled plans to offer homeowners 20 year loans of up to £15,000 to allow families to invest in green technologies, safe in the knowledge that their loan would be taken over by the purchaser if they move before it's paid off.
This follows an announcement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that it will start paying feed-in tariffs (FiT's) to households installing green technologies such as electricity generating photovoltaic (PV) systems, which will set you back around £8,000 per kWp installed.
Households with south-facing roofs able to install a 4 kWp solar PV system will receive payments and savings totalling over £1,600 a year (Import savings £218.11 + FiT income £1390.16 + Export income £50.49 = £1658.76) from 1 April 2010.
Until now households wanting to introduce these carbon-reducing measures had to pay the upfront installation costs, or borrow the money, leading to accusations that they were only affordable for the well-off. Equally, spending thousands on solar power made little sense to anyone planning to move home a few years later.
The government has tried to answer both criticisms this week by introducing a pay-as-you-save (PAYS) scheme, which follows a pilot run in a number of cities.
- Although details of how the scheme will work are yet to be finalised we now have a rough idea:
The loans, typically between £10,000 and £15,000, are expected to come from commercial organisations rather than government funds. As well as the big six energy companies, Sainsbury's, B&Q, Co-op Bank and HSBC are among those expressing an interest.
- Once taken out, the loans would effectively become a charge against the house in the same way as a mortgage. They are expected to be paid back over 20-25 years, but, unlike a mortgage, if you move house before the loan is paid off, the new buyer would take over the payments. Of course, they also take over the savings, and any feed-in tariffs payable, which DECC says would always be greater than the repayments. It should make the home more attractive to any purchaser.
- The interest is yet to be determined – 6% has been mentioned, but as the loans will be coming from the private sector rates will reflect the market at the time. It is likely the rate would be similar to a long-term fixed-rate mortgage, typically 5%-6%. If you have lots of equity in your home, and you are remortgaging, you might find it cheaper to add the cost to your mortgage.
Households would be able to spend the money on a variety of technologies. Solar PV and Solar Thermal water heaters will be favourites, but so will solid-wall insulation which is aimed at homes that were built without cavity walls. It is much more expensive than cavity wall insulation, but can bring down energy bills significantly. Ground and air source heat pumps and wind turbines will qualify.
DECC says it is aiming for 7m households – owner-occupier and rented – to benefit by 2020. It wants to make the loans available to the widest possible group rather than just the well-off. It aims to have a single point of contact for those hoping to get a loan, pushing applicants to the most appropriate commercial supplier.
One option could see the power firms, which already have responsibility for paying the feed-in tariffs, also overseeing the loans and simply paying the customer the surplus at the end of each month. This would enable those with less-than-perfect credit histories to install carbon-reducing measures.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
This week the government unveiled plans to offer homeowners 20 year loans of up to £15,000 to allow families to invest in green technologies, safe in the knowledge that their loan would be taken over by the purchaser if they move before it's paid off.
This follows an announcement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that it will start paying feed-in tariffs (FiT's) to households installing green technologies such as electricity generating photovoltaic (PV) systems, which will set you back around £8,000 per kWp installed.
Households with south-facing roofs able to install a 4 kWp solar PV system will receive payments and savings totalling over £1,600 a year (Import savings £218.11 + FiT income £1390.16 + Export income £50.49 = £1658.76) from 1 April 2010.
Until now households wanting to introduce these carbon-reducing measures had to pay the upfront installation costs, or borrow the money, leading to accusations that they were only affordable for the well-off. Equally, spending thousands on solar power made little sense to anyone planning to move home a few years later.
The government has tried to answer both criticisms this week by introducing a pay-as-you-save (PAYS) scheme, which follows a pilot run in a number of cities.
- Although details of how the scheme will work are yet to be finalised we now have a rough idea:
The loans, typically between £10,000 and £15,000, are expected to come from commercial organisations rather than government funds. As well as the big six energy companies, Sainsbury's, B&Q, Co-op Bank and HSBC are among those expressing an interest.
- Once taken out, the loans would effectively become a charge against the house in the same way as a mortgage. They are expected to be paid back over 20-25 years, but, unlike a mortgage, if you move house before the loan is paid off, the new buyer would take over the payments. Of course, they also take over the savings, and any feed-in tariffs payable, which DECC says would always be greater than the repayments. It should make the home more attractive to any purchaser.
- The interest is yet to be determined – 6% has been mentioned, but as the loans will be coming from the private sector rates will reflect the market at the time. It is likely the rate would be similar to a long-term fixed-rate mortgage, typically 5%-6%. If you have lots of equity in your home, and you are remortgaging, you might find it cheaper to add the cost to your mortgage.
Households would be able to spend the money on a variety of technologies. Solar PV and Solar Thermal water heaters will be favourites, but so will solid-wall insulation which is aimed at homes that were built without cavity walls. It is much more expensive than cavity wall insulation, but can bring down energy bills significantly. Ground and air source heat pumps and wind turbines will qualify.
DECC says it is aiming for 7m households – owner-occupier and rented – to benefit by 2020. It wants to make the loans available to the widest possible group rather than just the well-off. It aims to have a single point of contact for those hoping to get a loan, pushing applicants to the most appropriate commercial supplier.
One option could see the power firms, which already have responsibility for paying the feed-in tariffs, also overseeing the loans and simply paying the customer the surplus at the end of each month. This would enable those with less-than-perfect credit histories to install carbon-reducing measures.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Installation of Solar Systems & Extreme Weather!
If you reside in a region that has extreme weather, you might question whether or not it is worth even installing a solar panel system.
Studies have shown that the danger of lightning strike does not increase with the installation of a PV system on the roof. However, the electronics and in particular the inverter of the system are very sensitive. This means that with lightning strikes in the vicinity there is a risk of damage. Such incidents are referred to as indirect lightning strikes.
The risk of damage due to induced transients from load switching is low, but when it happens, the damage is considerable. A short circuit as a result of a lightning strike can destroy a lot of equipment. However, often damage due to induced transients is included in home insurance - in which case your solar installation would be covered.
It is very common to be concerned with damage that can occur to the solar panel glass because of wind & hail. The best thing you can do for this is to make sure you that you use only MCS approved installers and MCS approved equipment, the solar panels should have high impact tempered glass integrated into the system.
If you are going to install solar panels, install durable, quality panels. Quality solar panels can handle up to a constant sixty m/p/h, and hail stones up to ¾”.
Before installing your solar panels, make sure your installation specialists confirms that your house’s roof will be able to withstand and support the solar panels that are going to be installed. Once installed, the solar panels should remain tightly in place. In cases of extreme weather, like a tornado, your solar panels will usually stay intact, attached to your roof.
Once installed the solar panel becomes part of your home, you should check your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most of the time you will find that solar panels are included in the policy covered at no extra cost. If not, considering how costly a solar panel system is, you might want to consider upgrading to a policy that accommodates coverage of your solar installation.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Studies have shown that the danger of lightning strike does not increase with the installation of a PV system on the roof. However, the electronics and in particular the inverter of the system are very sensitive. This means that with lightning strikes in the vicinity there is a risk of damage. Such incidents are referred to as indirect lightning strikes.
The risk of damage due to induced transients from load switching is low, but when it happens, the damage is considerable. A short circuit as a result of a lightning strike can destroy a lot of equipment. However, often damage due to induced transients is included in home insurance - in which case your solar installation would be covered.
It is very common to be concerned with damage that can occur to the solar panel glass because of wind & hail. The best thing you can do for this is to make sure you that you use only MCS approved installers and MCS approved equipment, the solar panels should have high impact tempered glass integrated into the system.
If you are going to install solar panels, install durable, quality panels. Quality solar panels can handle up to a constant sixty m/p/h, and hail stones up to ¾”.
Before installing your solar panels, make sure your installation specialists confirms that your house’s roof will be able to withstand and support the solar panels that are going to be installed. Once installed, the solar panels should remain tightly in place. In cases of extreme weather, like a tornado, your solar panels will usually stay intact, attached to your roof.
Once installed the solar panel becomes part of your home, you should check your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most of the time you will find that solar panels are included in the policy covered at no extra cost. If not, considering how costly a solar panel system is, you might want to consider upgrading to a policy that accommodates coverage of your solar installation.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Friday 5 March 2010
Solar Aid: enabling some of the poorest communities on the planet to receive clean, free energy!
Urban Energy actively supporting Solar Aid, enabling some of the poorest communities on the planet to receive clean, free energy:
Hi all at Urban Energy!
During my recent trip to Kenya and Tanzania last month, my colleagues and I made a series of short films about our work on the ground and how our donors and supporters are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of people. I’d love you to watch this short film. Please simply type: urbanenergy.mysolaraid.org into your web browser to view the special web page and to watch the short film. I hope you enjoy it! I look forward to catching up soon.
All the best,
Anna
Marketing Manager
SolarAid
http://defaultrecord1.mysolaraid.org/links/Microsites/8f9a5b31_fe4c_4056_9c05_a40fed929aa8/www/index.html?enc=5e6zaFEYMp2YYTDybwVAt/nvcnURQhK020/eECFlH6vHCX/dRH3w/7znXH9cNDzs7AXY3ug2BgQxdW4PJBfuXIQfcydyvoufunwoibyzTHVEFiTrvbTTS/wLZOLuXyksTG0Ny5VpY4SN93RY4Bdy9BMZxNmDnaqRzjrWh6UQIwURLCOWTnyEbxNJy4CyrxRq2KaLM4RjAAwcUpIXk1FRsEdpdTay7BxtU5BgR3uDJces0KJeluvdKGd2a8ArhEKSRyRzfTE3W1OhJDePILJzabs4I27GE7QGhBOhcJooibg=&
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Hi all at Urban Energy!
During my recent trip to Kenya and Tanzania last month, my colleagues and I made a series of short films about our work on the ground and how our donors and supporters are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of people. I’d love you to watch this short film. Please simply type: urbanenergy.mysolaraid.org into your web browser to view the special web page and to watch the short film. I hope you enjoy it! I look forward to catching up soon.
All the best,
Anna
Marketing Manager
SolarAid
http://defaultrecord1.mysolaraid.org/links/Microsites/8f9a5b31_fe4c_4056_9c05_a40fed929aa8/www/index.html?enc=5e6zaFEYMp2YYTDybwVAt/nvcnURQhK020/eECFlH6vHCX/dRH3w/7znXH9cNDzs7AXY3ug2BgQxdW4PJBfuXIQfcydyvoufunwoibyzTHVEFiTrvbTTS/wLZOLuXyksTG0Ny5VpY4SN93RY4Bdy9BMZxNmDnaqRzjrWh6UQIwURLCOWTnyEbxNJy4CyrxRq2KaLM4RjAAwcUpIXk1FRsEdpdTay7BxtU5BgR3uDJces0KJeluvdKGd2a8ArhEKSRyRzfTE3W1OhJDePILJzabs4I27GE7QGhBOhcJooibg=&
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Tuesday 2 March 2010
Green Loans Q&A: How does Pay As You Save (PAYS) finance work?
Q). When can I apply for a loan to improve the energy efficiency of my home?
A). Pay As You Save green finance, with repayments linked to the property, will require primary legislation and we'd expect them to be in available by 2012.
Q). What is the most I can borrow?
A). Our current measures are tackling the easy-to-achieve measures, like loft insulation, so the point of making green finance available in the future is to remove the upfront costs of relatively expensive improvements. The cost to each household will be different depending on which measures they install, which will in turn depend on the type of property but the average upgrade could be about £8,000-£10,000.
Q). What measures are eligible for funding?
A). By an eco-upgrade we mean the installation of a set of measures that goes significantly beyond basic insulation to include more expensive improvements such as solid wall insulation or a form of renewable energy generation. Small-scale renewable electricity (photovoltaic solar electrical panels) and heat technologies (solar thermal panels) will also be eligible for the additional incentive provided by the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) from April this year and April 2011 respectively.
Q). You say my combined payments for the loan and my energy bills, will be lower than my old energy bills? Can you give me an example?
A). If you spent £4,200 installing a typical solar thermal hot water system on the roof of a 3-bed semi, you would expect to get over £500 a year from savings on your energy bill and income from the Renewable Heat Incentive. If you chose a Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) loan over 25 years to cover the installation costs, you would repay about £330 a year. So even after making your PAYS repayment you would be about £170 a year better off.
Q). What happens when I move home?
A). On average people move house every 12 years, which may not be long enough a period for the bill reductions to cover the upfront costs. So the point of attaching PAYS finance to the property is that householders would only be responsible for the repayments while benefiting from the measures. When you move house, responsibility for repayments would pass to the new owner.
Q). Won't that mean my house is less desirable to potential buyers?
A). No - anyone buying a property with repayments attached to it would benefit themselves from the moment they move in from lower energy bills than they otherwise would have been. Sellers would be able to make a virtue of improvements through the advice contained in their Energy Performance Certificate.
Q). I rent my home. How can you make my landlord increase the energy efficiency of my home.
A). Energy suppliers have obligations now to improve the energy efficiency of all homes, and today we've said we'll extend that obligation beyond 2012. For the private rented sector, we've said for the first time today that we'll be consulting on regulation to require standard insulation measures (loft and cavity insulation) to be a condition of renting out a property.
Reference: Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes, PAYS loans, FiT's, RHI's and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
A). Pay As You Save green finance, with repayments linked to the property, will require primary legislation and we'd expect them to be in available by 2012.
Q). What is the most I can borrow?
A). Our current measures are tackling the easy-to-achieve measures, like loft insulation, so the point of making green finance available in the future is to remove the upfront costs of relatively expensive improvements. The cost to each household will be different depending on which measures they install, which will in turn depend on the type of property but the average upgrade could be about £8,000-£10,000.
Q). What measures are eligible for funding?
A). By an eco-upgrade we mean the installation of a set of measures that goes significantly beyond basic insulation to include more expensive improvements such as solid wall insulation or a form of renewable energy generation. Small-scale renewable electricity (photovoltaic solar electrical panels) and heat technologies (solar thermal panels) will also be eligible for the additional incentive provided by the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) from April this year and April 2011 respectively.
Q). You say my combined payments for the loan and my energy bills, will be lower than my old energy bills? Can you give me an example?
A). If you spent £4,200 installing a typical solar thermal hot water system on the roof of a 3-bed semi, you would expect to get over £500 a year from savings on your energy bill and income from the Renewable Heat Incentive. If you chose a Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) loan over 25 years to cover the installation costs, you would repay about £330 a year. So even after making your PAYS repayment you would be about £170 a year better off.
Q). What happens when I move home?
A). On average people move house every 12 years, which may not be long enough a period for the bill reductions to cover the upfront costs. So the point of attaching PAYS finance to the property is that householders would only be responsible for the repayments while benefiting from the measures. When you move house, responsibility for repayments would pass to the new owner.
Q). Won't that mean my house is less desirable to potential buyers?
A). No - anyone buying a property with repayments attached to it would benefit themselves from the moment they move in from lower energy bills than they otherwise would have been. Sellers would be able to make a virtue of improvements through the advice contained in their Energy Performance Certificate.
Q). I rent my home. How can you make my landlord increase the energy efficiency of my home.
A). Energy suppliers have obligations now to improve the energy efficiency of all homes, and today we've said we'll extend that obligation beyond 2012. For the private rented sector, we've said for the first time today that we'll be consulting on regulation to require standard insulation measures (loft and cavity insulation) to be a condition of renting out a property.
Reference: Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes, PAYS loans, FiT's, RHI's and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Ed Miliband unveils 'green loan' energy plan for homes!
Pay As You Save green finance, with repayments linked to the property, will require primary legislation and we'd expect them to be in available by 2012.
Plans to encourage householders to make their homes much warmer and cheaper to run have been announced by ministers.
Consumers will be offered long-term loans to install insulation, solar panels or other green technology, which they can repay through energy bills.
The government wants to save 29% of carbon emissions from UK homes by 2020.
Ed Miliband, energy and climate secretary, said: “The Warm Homes, Green Homes Strategy will remove the deterrent of upfront costs and reduce the hassle of the move to greener living.”
The government says its plans will allow seven million British households to benefit from upgrades and create up to 65,000 jobs in the green homes industry.
Mr Miliband told the BBC: "If you're potentially buying the house, what will you find? "You'll find that the energy bills are significantly lower so, say, you'll be having a few hundred pounds off your energy bills and offsetting that you'll have a couple of hundred pounds in payments. "So you'll think, well I'm better off, actually, because this house has significantly lower energy bills, although it's got this repayment built into it."
The whole house energy makeovers, which the Government wants to roll out to improve the energy efficiency of the UK's 22 million existing homes, will provide a range of technologies including insulation and small-scale renewables such as solar panels or ground source heat pumps to provide energy.
Mr Miliband said: "Helping people save energy at home can make it easier and cheaper to keep homes warm and appliances running. It is also the best way to cut our carbon emissions.
"This new approach will allow people to pay for home improvements after they have had them installed rather than before," he said. "More people will be able to get the work they want done. That means less energy used, which is good for the environment, and lower bills, which is good for families, particularly when we have cold weather like we did this winter."
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has already been in discussions with a number of sectors including retail and banking over how the loans can be delivered, while the Government will introduce legislation to allow for the loans to be attached to homes.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Plans to encourage householders to make their homes much warmer and cheaper to run have been announced by ministers.
Consumers will be offered long-term loans to install insulation, solar panels or other green technology, which they can repay through energy bills.
The government wants to save 29% of carbon emissions from UK homes by 2020.
Ed Miliband, energy and climate secretary, said: “The Warm Homes, Green Homes Strategy will remove the deterrent of upfront costs and reduce the hassle of the move to greener living.”
The government says its plans will allow seven million British households to benefit from upgrades and create up to 65,000 jobs in the green homes industry.
Mr Miliband told the BBC: "If you're potentially buying the house, what will you find? "You'll find that the energy bills are significantly lower so, say, you'll be having a few hundred pounds off your energy bills and offsetting that you'll have a couple of hundred pounds in payments. "So you'll think, well I'm better off, actually, because this house has significantly lower energy bills, although it's got this repayment built into it."
The whole house energy makeovers, which the Government wants to roll out to improve the energy efficiency of the UK's 22 million existing homes, will provide a range of technologies including insulation and small-scale renewables such as solar panels or ground source heat pumps to provide energy.
Mr Miliband said: "Helping people save energy at home can make it easier and cheaper to keep homes warm and appliances running. It is also the best way to cut our carbon emissions.
"This new approach will allow people to pay for home improvements after they have had them installed rather than before," he said. "More people will be able to get the work they want done. That means less energy used, which is good for the environment, and lower bills, which is good for families, particularly when we have cold weather like we did this winter."
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has already been in discussions with a number of sectors including retail and banking over how the loans can be delivered, while the Government will introduce legislation to allow for the loans to be attached to homes.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Monday 1 March 2010
The Clean Energy Cashback, or Feed-in Tariff, explained in video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvRf1yw659w&feature=player_embedded
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Is it time to generate your own domestic power?
Will the government's feed in tariff scheme which guarantees a rate of payment for renewable energy sold back to the grid tempt you to install your own solar panels or wind turbine? Here are some thoughts from members of the public:
It would appear that now is possibly the best time ever to consider installing some form of domestic microgeneration, be it solar photovoltaic panels for electricity, solar thermal energy for hot water or even wind turbines in some circumstances.
Economically speaking? Yes. There has never been a better time, and there will probably never be a better time in the next couple of decades, to make a profit from domestic micro-renewables in the UK.
We believe microgeneration has the potential to deliver significant amounts of energy, helping increase the UK's energy security, reduce its carbon emissions and, importantly, to influence consumer behaviour surrounding energy use. We've found that if you are generating your own power you tend to be far more careful about how you use it.
So far the uptake of microgeneration technology has been low in the UK compared with, say, Germany. Our research shows that this is due to several barriers: economics, planning, access to good information and consumer confidence. The introduction of feed in tariffs 'FiTs' certainly make the economics of microgeneration far more attractive, particularly with interest rates currently so low in the UK.
However we'd always recommend that before you invest in microgeneration technology you first address the energy efficiency of your property. It's also important to make sure you choose the right technology for it to be effective - there's no point installing a wind turbine unless you live somewhere windy (which rules out most urban locations) and the best results for solar pv are south-facing roofs.
Micro-generation isn't silver bullet to fight climate change, but it is a step in the right direction. More importantly, it is about taking responsibility for your own actions.
It is all to easy to flick a switch, and power arrives. If you generate your own, it is amazing how frugal you can be in your energy use. Even if it is renewable.
However, I work on a more important principle. The Government admits that power cuts are coming, and fuel prices are set to rocket. Given the winter we have just had, I think it could actually be about having a modicum of heat whilst the rest of the country shivers.
Currently around 100,000 people in the UK generate their own power - around 90% through solar thermal. If the government's target of 750,000 is to be reached, however, we think it'll take more than feed-in tariff, they'll also need to look at removing some of the other obstacles, especially planning.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
It would appear that now is possibly the best time ever to consider installing some form of domestic microgeneration, be it solar photovoltaic panels for electricity, solar thermal energy for hot water or even wind turbines in some circumstances.
Economically speaking? Yes. There has never been a better time, and there will probably never be a better time in the next couple of decades, to make a profit from domestic micro-renewables in the UK.
We believe microgeneration has the potential to deliver significant amounts of energy, helping increase the UK's energy security, reduce its carbon emissions and, importantly, to influence consumer behaviour surrounding energy use. We've found that if you are generating your own power you tend to be far more careful about how you use it.
So far the uptake of microgeneration technology has been low in the UK compared with, say, Germany. Our research shows that this is due to several barriers: economics, planning, access to good information and consumer confidence. The introduction of feed in tariffs 'FiTs' certainly make the economics of microgeneration far more attractive, particularly with interest rates currently so low in the UK.
However we'd always recommend that before you invest in microgeneration technology you first address the energy efficiency of your property. It's also important to make sure you choose the right technology for it to be effective - there's no point installing a wind turbine unless you live somewhere windy (which rules out most urban locations) and the best results for solar pv are south-facing roofs.
Micro-generation isn't silver bullet to fight climate change, but it is a step in the right direction. More importantly, it is about taking responsibility for your own actions.
It is all to easy to flick a switch, and power arrives. If you generate your own, it is amazing how frugal you can be in your energy use. Even if it is renewable.
However, I work on a more important principle. The Government admits that power cuts are coming, and fuel prices are set to rocket. Given the winter we have just had, I think it could actually be about having a modicum of heat whilst the rest of the country shivers.
Currently around 100,000 people in the UK generate their own power - around 90% through solar thermal. If the government's target of 750,000 is to be reached, however, we think it'll take more than feed-in tariff, they'll also need to look at removing some of the other obstacles, especially planning.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
