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
Showing posts with label MCS accredited. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MCS accredited. Show all posts
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
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
PowerRouter – Self-Generating Solar Energy
The PowerRouter is the ideal solution for the use of self-generated solar power (self-use). Why sell your surplus energy to the grid at a lower price, when you can store it for later use and receive a higher incentive for generating and using your own solar energy? Just connect solar energy and batteries to the PowerRouter and monitor and control where and when you use it. The PowerRouter allows you to optimize, control and manage yourself-generated energy. The PowerRouter is perfectly equipped to make the most efficient use of the self-use regulations. Use your own energy whenever you need it most.
http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/solar-energy/self-generating-solar-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
http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/solar-energy/self-generating-solar-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
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Solar Feed in Tariffs from November 2012
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced that it's official deployment figures for the period from the 1st May 2012 to the 31st July 2012 are available to the public. This announcement is particularly significant, as it is these figures that will determine what the solar Feed-in Tariff rates are from November.
DECC has split installations into 3 size-based categories. Domestic scale installations (0-10kW), have totalled 164MW of capacity in the 3 month period. This falls within the 100-200MW threshold and so a 3.5% reduction will be implemented on the two tariff bands within this category. ≤4kW installations will receive 15.44p per kWh produced (down from 16p) and the >4-10kW rate will be 13.99p (down from 14.5p) from November 1st.
Small commercial installations (10-50kW) hit 57MW. The threshold here was just 50MW and so a 3.5% degression will also affect these tariff rates. As of November, the >10-50kW FIT rate will be 13.03p/kWh down from 13.5p.
The final category, large commercial installations (50kW-5MW), capacity only reached 14MW, which is less than the degression threshold. As a result the tariffs for larger installations will remain untouched, at least until February 2013.
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
DECC has split installations into 3 size-based categories. Domestic scale installations (0-10kW), have totalled 164MW of capacity in the 3 month period. This falls within the 100-200MW threshold and so a 3.5% reduction will be implemented on the two tariff bands within this category. ≤4kW installations will receive 15.44p per kWh produced (down from 16p) and the >4-10kW rate will be 13.99p (down from 14.5p) from November 1st.
Small commercial installations (10-50kW) hit 57MW. The threshold here was just 50MW and so a 3.5% degression will also affect these tariff rates. As of November, the >10-50kW FIT rate will be 13.03p/kWh down from 13.5p.
The final category, large commercial installations (50kW-5MW), capacity only reached 14MW, which is less than the degression threshold. As a result the tariffs for larger installations will remain untouched, at least until February 2013.
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
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Welcome to 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
Friday, 30 March 2012
UK government loses Supreme Court case against solar feed-in tariffs
The UK government’s doomed case against the challenge to its
planned cuts of solar feed-in tariffs has been rejected by the Supreme Court.
The last ditch attempt by the government to overthrow
previous decisions by the High Court and the Court of Appeal that its action to
cut solar feed-in tariffs during the consultation period as “legally flawed”
failed on Friday 23 March 2012.
The Supreme Court’s rejection of the government’s appeal
marks the end of the legal wrangle and leaves the thousands of homeowners and
businesses who installed solar panels after the 12 December cut-off date and
before 3 March better off.
The lucky ones will now receive the higher FIT rate of 43.3p
per kWh, instead of the lower rate of 21p.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said he was
“disappointed” that the Supreme Court did not to grant permission to hear the
case, but said that the ruling “draws a line under the case”, which was
instigated by his predecessor Chris Huhne.
“We will now focus all our efforts on ensuring the future
stability and cost effectiveness of solar and other microgeneration
technologies for the many, not the few,” he said.
Andy Atkins, the executive director of Friends of the Earth, which
brought the challenge along with other solar installers, welcomed the ruling
that the government’s “botched… solar plans are illegal”.
“[The] landmark decision which will prevent ministers
causing industry chaos with similar subsidy cuts in future,” he added. “The
Coalition must now get on with the urgent task of restoring confidence in UK
solar power.”
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, 27 March 2012
Urban Energy Electrical ltd
Urban Energy Electrical Ltd has assimilated over 40 years of
experience of all aspects of electrical installation and design.
All electrical work is undertaken to the highest standard,
and fully in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Institute of
Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the 17th Edition Electrical Regulations BS7671
(2008).
Urban Energy Electrical Ltd is proud to have built up the
high profile client list including a large domestic client base, local
businesses, schools, churches and hospitals all of which receive and benefit
from our service range.
Urban Energy Electrical Ltd offer a first class professional
service where customer care is our number one priority. We understand that
communication is key to offering a first class service. Our in house customer
liaison team ensures that every client has a designated administrative officer
who will take ownership of the work. This means that clear concise
communication will occur at all times between the Urban Energy office and you
our valued customer.
Urban Energy Electrical Ltd offers:
- Free friendly advice
- Extensive experience
- Professional and reliable service
- Free no obligation quotations
- Careful and clean installation
- Excellent aftercare service
- All domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial installation, repair and maintenance
- High quality Solar PV installations
- Periodic inspection reports for landlords and businesses
- Portable Appliance Testing for domestic and business premises
- Fire alarm and emergency lighting installation, repair and maintenance
- Specialist church lighting, heating and power design#
***Come and join us on Saturday 28th April for our Family
Fun Day at our new Eco Barn at Stratford-sub-Castle***
For further information about Urban Energy products and
services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Come and meet the Urban Energy team face to face!
Urban Energy - Green Solutions
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading
renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the
initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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.
Our experienced surveyors can carry out a free, no
obligation survey of your house or business that can help you save thousands of
£’s per annum. We have our own fully qualified installers, electricians and
plumbers who oversee every aspect of every installation.
We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to
either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With
our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the
customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our
number one priority.
Come and meet the Urban Energy team face to face at the
following locations/events:
Wednesday 28th March
Saturday 31st March
Saturday 31st March
Sunday 1st April
For further information about Urban Energy products and
services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
***Come and join us on Saturday 28th April for our Family Fun Day at our new Eco Barn at Stratford-sub-Castle***
Monday, 28 November 2011
Renewable energy industry welcomes UK heat scheme
The renewable energy industry has welcomed the government’s scheme to subsidise renewable heat production, which opens today.
The world’s first Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) provides payments for heat generated from renewable technologies, including biomass boilers, solar thermal equipment and heat pumps installed since 15 July 2009.
Recipients will be paid up to 7.9p per kWh for biomass boilers, 8.5p per kWh for solar thermal and up to 4.5p per kWh for heat pumps.
The government estimates the RHI will cut UK carbon emissions by 43 million tonnes by 2020 — equivalent to the annual carbon emitted by 19 typical new gas power stations.
Up to 112,000 installations of renewable heat technology in the commercial and public sectors are expected by 2020, as well as 14,000 industrial installations.
The world’s first Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) provides payments for heat generated from renewable technologies, including biomass boilers, solar thermal equipment and heat pumps installed since 15 July 2009.
Recipients will be paid up to 7.9p per kWh for biomass boilers, 8.5p per kWh for solar thermal and up to 4.5p per kWh for heat pumps.
The government estimates the RHI will cut UK carbon emissions by 43 million tonnes by 2020 — equivalent to the annual carbon emitted by 19 typical new gas power stations.
Up to 112,000 installations of renewable heat technology in the commercial and public sectors are expected by 2020, as well as 14,000 industrial installations.
Organisations will be able to apply to Ofgem for support under the scheme from Monday 28 November and will receive payments on a quarterly basis for heat generated over 20 years.
Urban Energy
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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 to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
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
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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 to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
2020 Renewable Energy Targets & The Green Investment Bank
Europe has set itself a target share of energy usage from
renewable sources of 20% by 2020, with the UK’s target contribution 15%.
But by 2010, we had reached just one fifth of our target.
To hit this target, the UK is adopting a three pronged
approach – increasing electricity production from renewables to 30% of total
capacity from the current 8.6%; growing renewable heat to 12% from its current
1.5%, and quadrupling the use of renewable fuels in our transport sector.
But do we have the right policy mix to drive the switch to
renewables and do consumers still have the appetite for change, given the
stuttering economic recovery and rising energy bills?
The Renewables Obligation (RO), which forces energy
suppliers to source an increasing percentage of generation from renewables, has
succeeded in raising the percentage of electricity generated from renewable
sources to 8.6% from 1.8%, when first introduced.
Things changed again last year with the introduction of
feed-in tariffs for small scale renewables, with generous tariff payments
prompting rapid growth in solar PV developments. The success of this scheme has
seen the government reduce the tariffs.
Renewable heat is less advanced. The government announced
the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which makes payments to renewable heat
installation owners and bio-methane producers over a 20 year period, with the
tariffs delivering a healthy 12% return. However, its introduction was delayed
after wrangles with Europe over state aid rules and tariff levels.
All of these renewables policy measures have a unique
context in the UK, given the Climate Change Act 2008, which sets a legally
binding target to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050 – perhaps an
opportunity for the UK to ‘lead from the front’ internationally.
The UK created the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme to meet the
EU target to save 20% of primary energy consumption by 2020 through energy
efficiency. It encourages large energy consumers to adopt energy management
strategies to reduce consumption and although criticized for being over
complex, it has certainly enlivened the energy efficiency debate.
We need hard cash to provide new energy infrastructure, but
will the new Green Investment Bank deliver? With £3bn initial government
funding, it will invest in green projects and hope to attract £15bn private
sector investment to accelerate the de-carbonisation of energy production - a
modest start towards the estimated £110bn needed to de-carbonise the power
sector.
Urban Energy
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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 to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
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, 24 October 2011
Five Ways to Cut Energy Bills
The political battle over energy bills intensified after David Cameron met with the main energy
providers in the UK to discuss ways that households could save money on fuel this
winter.
But consumer groups say that the plans discussed, such as
setting up a new government website with advice on the cheapest tariffs and
clearer bills, will add little to the existing options.
Since 2004 the average annual bill for a duel-fuel energy
customer has risen by 117 per cent, to £1,293.
Providers say that they are simply passing on the
increase in wholesale energy prices, which were pushed up this year after
unrest in the Middle East and the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.
Five of the largest energy companies in the UK: SSE,
Scottish Power, E.ON, npower and British Gas have promised to hold prices
steady until next year. In the meantime, there are a number of ways that
households can act now to save money on gas and electricity bills.
● Switch tariff and pay by direct debit – save £350
The government has warned that consumers are confused by
the sheer scale of tariffs available and are not given the correct information
by providers about the cheapest deals available.
Scottish Power, for example, has the most expensive
standard plan on the market at the moment. Its dual-fuel tariff, which
consumers pay on receipt of the bill, costs on average £1,391 a year. If
customers switched to the same company’s Online Energy Saver 16 plan, an
online-only offer, they would pay £1,045 – saving themselves £346. (These
figures are based on a user consuming 3,300 kWh electricity and 16,500 kWh gas
each year).
Despite the size of savings on offer, Ofgem says that
only 15 per cent of households switched their gas supplier last year, and only
a fraction more changed their electricity provider.
Consumer groups say this may be down to the complexity of
tariffs, rather than inertia.
And providers don’t always make it easy to move. After a
provider announces a price increase, consumers have just 30 days to switch
their supplier. If they want to move after this, they may find themselves
slapped with a £50 exit fee.
● Insulate your home – save between £175-£300
Installing insulation to stop heat escaping through the
roof costs between £50 and £350 and could save the average non-insulated
three-bedroom semi-detached house £175 a year, according to the Energy Saving
Trust.
Even if a house already has insulation of 100mm
thickness, topping it up to the recommended 270mm could save an extra £25 each
year.
Homes built before 1920 may find they have a gap between
their inner and outer walls. Filling this could snip another £135 from annual
bills.
Some companies, such as British Gas, offer free loft and
cavity wall insulation, so check with your provider before you get a quote.
● Use an energy monitor – save £135
Energy monitors are cheap, wireless gadgets that check
how much energy you are using – they won’t make an automatic difference to your
bill but they can help households understand where they might be able to make a
saving.
The average monitor costs about £40 and some providers
such as E.ON and npower offer free monitors with certain tariffs, although these
are not always the cheapest deals available.
Energy monitors should not be confused with smart meters,
which send accurate energy use information to providers and are the gizmos that
the government wants all homes to have by 2020.
● Turn down the thermostat, switch boiler, install
glazing, replace lightbulbs – save between £50-£450
Making a series of changes to your home, not all of them
expensive, can dramatically cut the size of your fuel bill. Official government
figures say that reducing the temperature in rooms by 1C can cut heating bills
by 10 per cent, and turning off radiators in rooms that aren’t used can save another
£50 or so on average.
The EU has already banned incandescent lightbulbs in
favour of low-energy bulbs but opting for the most energy-efficient products on
the market can trim about £11 from the average bill, according to green
campaigners.
For a little more outlay homeowners can save even more.
Fitting energy-efficient glazing on windows should save the average home £165 a
year. The cost will differ according to the number of windows and their size
but will often start at about £3,000. Those thinking of replacing their old
boiler with a condensing boiler will spend £500 more but could save £300 each
year, although some users have reported problems with frozen pipes in winter.
● Install renewable energy – save between £70-£1,200
The unpopular hikes in energy bills this year threaten to
derail the government’s plan to spend £200m on renewable energy infrastructure,
which would also be passed on to customers. But for the moment, subsidies for
those who adopt green energy sources remain intact.
Households that install solar panels, wind turbines or
hydroelectricity systems are all eligible for the government’s feed-in tariff
scheme, whereby your energy supplier pays you for the electricity you generate.
A typical domestic solar electricity system with an
installation size of 2.9kWp could earn about £1,200 a year from the government,
in addition to any reduction in energy bills that the system generates.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change will be
reviewing feed-in tariffs before the end of 2011.
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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 to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Automotive Manufacturers Race to Corner Green Market
Nissan will produce a plug-in hybrid vehicle as part of its
on-going efforts to become the world leader in low-carbon motoring by 2016.
The manufacturer launched its new five-year environmental plan
today, reiterating its goal of selling 1.5 million electric cars by 2016 and
introducing new targets to improve fuel economy across its fleet by 35 per cent
against 2005 levels, reduce CO2 emissions per vehicle produced by 20 per cent,
and increase the use of recycled materials to 25 per cent by the same date.
"More consumers are demanding products in line with
their values, including cars and trucks with a lower carbon footprint,"
Carlos Ghosn, Nissan president and chief executive, said in a statement.
"At the same time, we are using technology to make our factories greener and
more efficient."
More than 16,000 LEAF electric cars have been sold worldwide
to date and the Japanese company, along with French partner Renault, plans to
add another three electric models to its fleet by the end of fiscal year 2017.
Nissan also said it aims to release a new plug-in hybrid and
lead the development of an all-new fuel cell electric vehicle in conjunction
with Daimler.
Toyota announced over the weekend
that it will produce hybrid vehicles and key components in China by 2015 as it
bids to close ground on GM and Nissan, which will respectively launch the
Chevrolet Volt and the LEAF in the country over the next few months.
Volkswagen, also popular in China, is similarly set to begin
local production of pure electric cars in 2013 or 2014.
The plug-in version of the Prius is expected to be available
in China from 2013, and Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president, told reporters that a
pure electric vehicle would also be launched that year. This is likely to be an
electric version of its RAV 4 compact SUV.
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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 to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
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, 3 October 2011
UK: Solar panels are looking good
Renewable energy
sources such as wind turbines and solar PV panels sometimes get a bad press
because of their aesthetic appearance. Now the results of a new survey should
finally put this argument to bed - for solar PV panels at least!
Over 700 people from across the country completed an online
survey, which asked them to describe the look of solar PV panels on domestic
roofs. Only seven percent of respondents described them as an
‘eyesore’. The majority of respondents gave the panels a thumbs up
describing them as ‘eye catching’ (12 percent), ‘futuristic’ (25 percent) and
‘green’ (56 percent).
Solar panels are now much more common, and across the UK are
the most popular method of generating small scale renewable power, sales have
largely been driven by the Government’s current feed-in-tariff, which is very
generous. With traditional energy prices continuing to soar, people can
expect to see a lot more solar PV panels over the coming years.
Regionally, people in the East Midlands were most likely to
find solar panels an ‘eyesore’ – though that was still only a minority of eight
percent. Yorkshire looks to have really embraced solar PV panels as more people
here than elsewhere described the panels as ‘green’ (48 percent). This comes
hot on the heels of another report which listed Sheffield and Leeds as top of a
UK renewable energy installation list.
Since the Government introduced the feed-in-tariff, over
38,000 domestic users have benefited from solar PV panels. The soaring price of
traditional energy sources coupled with what is a very generous feed-in-tariff
has seen canny purchasers make an investment, which some describe as giving
better returns than an ISA.
The current feed-in-tariff will be reviewed in April 2012 – so now is the best time to invest in solar and make your home eye catching,
futuristic and green!
Urban Energy
Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.
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 to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
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