The Green Deal could be set for a boost after a government study found improving the energy efficiency of a home could increase its value.
Research by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on over 300,000 homes found that improving the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of a house could add up to £41,808 to its value.
The increase in value was different depending on the location of the property. Properties in the North-east with a EPC rating of G could expected to see price increases of 38% if improved to an A or B rating. Properties in London could expect to see a 12% price increase for the same improvement.
Energy minister Greg Barker said the study was evidence of the “huge potential rewards” of taking-up energy efficiency.
He added: “The Green Deal is helping more people make these types of home improvements, reducing high upfront costs and letting people pay for some the cost through the savings on their bills. The Green Deal is a great option for anyone wanting to improve the look, feel and potentially the value of their home.”
John Alker, director of policy at the UK Green Building Council, said the study provided “evidence that the retrofit industry has been craving for a long time”.
He added: “It also provides a timely boost for the Green Deal, which will bring down the upfront cost of a retrofit package for those who choose to use it.”
James Brooks, director at Brooks Estate Agents, said energy efficiency was become a serious concern for house buyers.
He added: “With fuel bills continuing to rise, buyers are becoming more and more conscious about the energy efficiency of their prospective new homes and are willing to invest more in a property now if they know it will cost them less to run in the future.”
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Wednesday 11 September 2013
Get the Most Out of Your Solar PV Installation
Installing solar PV on your home is a great way to reduce your electricity bills and your carbon footprint and there are easy ways to get the most out of your system, therefore maximising your savings and also doing your bit to help save the world! Some small lifestyle changes and planning ahead can make all the difference to your savings.
Some of these actions are small changes you can make to your lifestyle, and others are things that may need some investment in time or money. When this is the case, it is vital to keep in mind how much these products/actions could save you in the long run, and you can guarantee that it will be worth it.
- Use appliances during the day: Solar panels work by converting the energy in sunlight into electricity. This is done mostly during optimum conditions – the daytime. Therefore by using appliances during the day, the electricity being generated is used straight away. Washing machines, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners especially use a lot of power. When using them in daylight, even a low light day will supplement the energy usage, and a sunny day may power the whole operation.
- Pull the plug: many electrical appliances run in the background when they are not switched off at the plug, and this can use more electricity than you realise. Switch off your TV, chargers, and any other items that could be running on standby.
- Stagger your electricity usage: Using electricity during the day is the most effective way to get the most out of your solar panels. However if you use everything at once, you may still be importing the extra electricity needed from the grid. Stagger your energy usage throughout the day to maximise your solar energy; and keep this in mind when setting timers too
- Generate hot water from solar: By installing a solar immersion switch alongside your solar PV system, you can use the excess electricity generated by your PV to power your immersion heater. This means that you would get as much of the free energy generated by your system as possible. The switch works with intelligent controls which react to household demand, which means that is more electricity is needed somewhere else in your home, the electricity will be diverted there.
- Monitor your electricity: you can use a system monitor to access your generation and electricity consumption. Some monitors will work with your computer, smart phone or tablet so that you can access these figures easily. By utilising this information, you can work out how much energy you are generating at a given time, and then tailor your electricity usage to this so that you only use the energy your solar is producing.
- Convert your lighting to low energy: as most lights are used at night when the PV system is not generating, it is beneficial to install low energy or LED light bulbs. This will reduce the amount of energy the light needs to power itself, which will save you money on your bills.
Some of these actions are small changes you can make to your lifestyle, and others are things that may need some investment in time or money. When this is the case, it is vital to keep in mind how much these products/actions could save you in the long run, and you can guarantee that it will be worth it.
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Tuesday 10 September 2013
Solar PV Myth Buster
Here we bust the top 6 myths that surround solar panels.
Myth #1: It’s too expensive.
The Reality: There are a number of government backed schemes that are designed to ease the burden on households.
The recently launched Green Deal gives families the chance to install solar panels in their homes through a loan that is paid back from the savings made on energy bills – essentially making them free – while the Feed-in Tariff (Fit) incentive scheme means that a well designed solar panel system can pay for itself in a fraction of its life span.
Myth #2: They don’t work in cloudy and cold climates.
The Reality: Energy producing technology that relies on sunlight sounds as though it might struggle somewhat in the UK, however it is the radiation from the sun rather than temperature that allows for photovoltaic generation.
Although it is true that they work better in the sunniest regions they still work effectively in cloudy conditions so there is no reason UK residents can’t enjoy the benefits of solar panels.
Myth #3: Solar panels are hard to maintain.
The Reality: With no moving parts solar panels in fact require hardly any maintenance at all.
The only thing you do need to ensure is that they stay free of dust, but as long as you live in a rainy climate such as the UK, they should stay clean.
Myth #4: The efficiency of solar panels is still too low.
The Reality: Solar panel technology is improving year-on-year, so although this may have been true when the systems first came on the market, today solar PV is an effective way of generating your domestic energy.
Myth #5: Solar panels won’t last 20 years.
The Reality: The standard accepted lifespan of solar panels is approx. 25 years, however there are some installations that were first constructed in the 1970s that are still in operation today.
Myth #6: Solar panels are unattractive.
The Reality: Of course this comes down to peoples’ own personal preferences somewhat, but modern solar panels don’t have to look unsightly, appearing more like sky lights when they are fitted flush to the roof.
Their sleek and contemporary styling will actually look right at home on many properties.
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Myth #1: It’s too expensive.
The Reality: There are a number of government backed schemes that are designed to ease the burden on households.
The recently launched Green Deal gives families the chance to install solar panels in their homes through a loan that is paid back from the savings made on energy bills – essentially making them free – while the Feed-in Tariff (Fit) incentive scheme means that a well designed solar panel system can pay for itself in a fraction of its life span.
Myth #2: They don’t work in cloudy and cold climates.
The Reality: Energy producing technology that relies on sunlight sounds as though it might struggle somewhat in the UK, however it is the radiation from the sun rather than temperature that allows for photovoltaic generation.
Although it is true that they work better in the sunniest regions they still work effectively in cloudy conditions so there is no reason UK residents can’t enjoy the benefits of solar panels.
Myth #3: Solar panels are hard to maintain.
The Reality: With no moving parts solar panels in fact require hardly any maintenance at all.
The only thing you do need to ensure is that they stay free of dust, but as long as you live in a rainy climate such as the UK, they should stay clean.
Myth #4: The efficiency of solar panels is still too low.
The Reality: Solar panel technology is improving year-on-year, so although this may have been true when the systems first came on the market, today solar PV is an effective way of generating your domestic energy.
Myth #5: Solar panels won’t last 20 years.
The Reality: The standard accepted lifespan of solar panels is approx. 25 years, however there are some installations that were first constructed in the 1970s that are still in operation today.
Myth #6: Solar panels are unattractive.
The Reality: Of course this comes down to peoples’ own personal preferences somewhat, but modern solar panels don’t have to look unsightly, appearing more like sky lights when they are fitted flush to the roof.
Their sleek and contemporary styling will actually look right at home on many properties.
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Monday 3 June 2013
Solar Energy Can Compete
Renewables have seen such dramatic price falls in the past few years that they are threatening to upset the world as we know it and usher in an almost unprecedented boom in the spread of cheap, clean, home-produced energy.
Solar will be the cheapest form of power in many countries within just a few years. In places such as California and Italy it has already reached so-called "grid parity". Onshore wind, on a piece of land not constrained by years of planning delays, is already the cheapest form of energy on earth. These are not wild claims – those are figures from General Electric, Citibank and others.
Solar PV is a case in point. Three years ago firms were paying about €3,600 per installed kilowatt of solar capacity on barn roofs in Germany. Today it can be done for just over €1,000 – a staggering 70% fall.
Thanks to a surge in global production to 60 gWp annually, (enough to supply British households – not offices or factories – with all their electricity) solar power has dropped dramatically in price. But there is more to come. Cambridge IP, a global innovation and intellectual property firm, says there is a surge of interest and R&D into two new forms of solar power which are likely to be available commercially by the end of this decade.
Newly built solar plants are already considerably cheaper than new nuclear plants per kilowatt hour of electricity produced and because of this solar energy can and will compete head on with conventional energy.
True, there is an ongoing cost from the German government's previous support for solar, but is much lower than the subsidies pumped by the western world into nuclear, coal, oil and gas over the past decades.
Solar is starting to pay its subsidy back. Germany now has more than 30 gigaWatt peak (gWp) of solar plants installed, such that on almost all days in the spring, summer and autumn, solar energy surges into the grid at a time when demand is at is strongest (air conditioning etc) and when spot market energy prices are at their highest.
This peak price is being forced down by solar, helping to reduce wholesale prices. The big energy companies hate this because this peak is where they make their money. Solar in Germany is almost down to wholesale prices – in sunnier countries it already is.
Germany (Europe's biggest economy) now gets 25% of its electricity from renewables – a proportion that is increasing by the month. This is twice the level of the UK, although, interestingly, similar to that of Scotland on its own. Germany is also leading on figuring out how to overcome the problems of "intermittency" by storing renewable energy.
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Solar will be the cheapest form of power in many countries within just a few years. In places such as California and Italy it has already reached so-called "grid parity". Onshore wind, on a piece of land not constrained by years of planning delays, is already the cheapest form of energy on earth. These are not wild claims – those are figures from General Electric, Citibank and others.
Solar PV is a case in point. Three years ago firms were paying about €3,600 per installed kilowatt of solar capacity on barn roofs in Germany. Today it can be done for just over €1,000 – a staggering 70% fall.
Thanks to a surge in global production to 60 gWp annually, (enough to supply British households – not offices or factories – with all their electricity) solar power has dropped dramatically in price. But there is more to come. Cambridge IP, a global innovation and intellectual property firm, says there is a surge of interest and R&D into two new forms of solar power which are likely to be available commercially by the end of this decade.
Newly built solar plants are already considerably cheaper than new nuclear plants per kilowatt hour of electricity produced and because of this solar energy can and will compete head on with conventional energy.
True, there is an ongoing cost from the German government's previous support for solar, but is much lower than the subsidies pumped by the western world into nuclear, coal, oil and gas over the past decades.
Solar is starting to pay its subsidy back. Germany now has more than 30 gigaWatt peak (gWp) of solar plants installed, such that on almost all days in the spring, summer and autumn, solar energy surges into the grid at a time when demand is at is strongest (air conditioning etc) and when spot market energy prices are at their highest.
This peak price is being forced down by solar, helping to reduce wholesale prices. The big energy companies hate this because this peak is where they make their money. Solar in Germany is almost down to wholesale prices – in sunnier countries it already is.
Germany (Europe's biggest economy) now gets 25% of its electricity from renewables – a proportion that is increasing by the month. This is twice the level of the UK, although, interestingly, similar to that of Scotland on its own. Germany is also leading on figuring out how to overcome the problems of "intermittency" by storing renewable energy.
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Sunday 27 January 2013
Green Deal: energy saving for your home or business
Householders are to be offered long-term loans to help make their homes more energy efficient and cut bills under a new government scheme launched today. Under the scheme, households can use cheap loans to spend on energy-saving improvements, such as insulation and new boilers, with no upfront cost.
The move to insulate the UK's aged housing stock is designed to save carbon emissions, keep people warm, and make energy affordable, the government said.
Anyone joining the scheme would first have their home reviewed by an independent assessor, advising on possible upgrades, costs and energy saving time scales.
Green Deal providers would then calculate quotes for the proposed work - with households free to get multiple quotes - before carrying out the changes.
Under the deal, improvements are installed at no initial cost. Instead, charges are covered with cheap loans via the not-for-profit Green Deal Finance Company, and recouped gradually over up to 25 years through customers' electricity bills.
How the Green Deal works
You can make energy-saving improvements to your home or business without having to pay all the costs up front through the Green Deal.
Energy-saving improvements include:
- insulation - eg loft or cavity wall insulation
- heating
- draught-proofing
- double glazing
- renewable energy technologies - eg solar panels or wind turbines
What you need to do:
Get an assessment of your property to see what improvements you can make and how much you could save on your energy bills.
Choose a Green Deal provider to carry out the work. You discuss with them what work you want done and whether the Green Deal is right for you.
If you go ahead with the improvements you must sign your Green Deal Plan - this is a contract between you and the provider stating what work will be done and how much it will cost. The provider will then arrange for a Green Deal installer to do the work.
Once the work is done, you’ll pay off the money in instalments through your electricity bill.
Urban Energy
We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.
We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
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