Study Finds More Energy Efficient Homes Command a Premium Price From House Buyers

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

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.

• 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

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

Urban Energy Solar Thermal

Providing Renewable Energy solutions from solar thermal systems to heat pumps.

Urban Energy are renewable energy specialists with many years of experience in the domestic market place, we can offer design, supply and installation of:

Solar water heating systems

Heat pump systems

With our technical knowledge we will guide you through your renewable installation from the initial survey, design and fit. We carry out all the plumbing work, which is required to integrate these systems into your property including under floor heating and heating distribution system design.

We pride ourselves on our customer service and after sales customer support.

We also offer solar health checks, repair, fault finding and annual servicing on any solar thermal installation, which will be carried out by our qualified engineers.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air and this is used to heat radiators, under floor heating systems and hot water in your home. Heat pumps work much more efficiently than a standard boiler system operating at a lower temperature, offering a co-efficient of at least 1:3 meaning for every 1kw of electricity used to run the heat pump it will provide at least 3kw of thermal heat energy.

Solar Thermal

We only install the highest quality equipment in our systems and can offer Evacuated tube and flat plate panels, which when fitted to a twin coil cylinder can provide up to 70% of your annual hot water demands.

The demands of mankind are increasing within our standard of living and the strains of our day-to-day consumption are exhausting our planets natural resources.

65% of our total water consumption is heated and over one year this amounts to a substantial energy cost. 

The sun was described by Thomas Edison as ‘The energy of the future’ in the 1900’s and remains a viable and cost sensitive energy source today.

Solar water heating is an effective solution to help care for the environment we live in and save money on energy bills.

***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/

Energy efficiency and renewable energy subsidies

The government wants to encourage everyone to think about how they can pay less on fuel - a pretty sensible idea when energy bills are rising and fuel poverty is on the increase.

It also wants to reduce the UK's carbon emissions to help it meet stringent and legally-binding climate change targets.

One way it is looking to achieve both these aims is by offering incentives for people to become more efficient in the way they use energy, and by encouraging them to start generating their own.

There are three main subsidies on offer.

Renewable Heat Premium Repayment

Under the Renewable Heat Premium Repayment (RHPR), anyone living in England, Scotland or Wales can claim a voucher to help pay for renewable energy generation in their home:

Solar panels to heat water - £300

Air source heat pump, which extracts heat from the outside air - £850

Ground source heat pump, which extracts heat from the ground - £1,250

Biomass boiler, which burns wood to provide heat and/or hot water - £950.

Every household is allowed to apply for one voucher per technology.

The scheme runs until the end of March next year.

Anyone can apply for solar panel funding, and if you do not use gas as your main heating fuel, you can apply for air and ground source pumps and biomass boilers.

So far, the scheme, which began at the beginning of August, has issued almost £2m worth of vouchers. It will be reviewed at £10m.

The Energy Savings Trust (EST), which is a charity offering advice on how best to take advantage of the subsidies on offer, is managing the scheme and can be contacted on 0800 512 012.

The RHPR was designed as an interim measure to keep momentum in the push for energy efficiency, and will be replaced in the autumn of next year with the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Feed-in tariffs

These subsidies, also available only in England, Scotland and Wales, mean you get paid for the electricity you generate from renewable sources - both the power that you use and that which you export to the national grid - up to a maximum of five megawatts.

They cover a number of different technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, anaerobic digestion, combined heat and power and hydroelectricity.

The so-called big six energy suppliers - British Gas, EDF, E.On, nPower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern - are required by law to pay you for the energy you generate, but some smaller providers are not. There are 21 registered providers in total.

Feed-in tariffs are designed to benefit you in three ways:

You will be paid a set amount for each unit of electricity you generate, depending on the technology you have installed, and these are set for the full term of the tariff - between 10 and 25 years. Rates are also linked to inflation

You will receive an additional set payment for every unit that you sell back to the national grid, regardless of the technology you are using

Obviously your energy bills will be lower as you will have to buy less electricity from the grid.

All plant and contractors will need to be properly certified for you to qualify for the scheme.

Boiler scrappage scheme

This scheme has closed in England and Wales but is still open in Scotland.

Homeowners can receive up to £400 towards the cost of upgrading an old boiler to a more modern, energy-efficient alternative.

As long as you use a certified boiler and installer, you can claim back the money by sending a completed scheme voucher and invoice for the works to the EST.

Grants and discounts

The are numerous other grants and offers available, many of which relate to insulation, which is seen as the most cost-effective way of reducing energy use, especially when you consider that more than 10 million homes in the UK have lofts that are under-insulated.

Some of these are offered on a local authority level, so will vary depending on where you live. The EST has a webpage which highlights relevant offers depending on your postcode.

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/

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

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/

UK solar panel installation hotspots revealed

Small-scale energy generation using solar panels or wind turbines has grown by 400% in less than 18 months in the UK, with Sheffield seeing the biggest increase in renewable installations per 1,000 people.

The new study looked at the growth in renewable energy capacity in the UK's large cities since the government's feed-in tariff (FIT) launched last April. The scheme offers guaranteed cash payments to households and communities who produce their own electricity.

Top of the table was Sheffield, which increased its renewable energy capacity, of which 99% is solar, to more than 3.5 kilowatts electrical per 1,000 people (kWe is a measure of electrical power). Here's the top 10:

1. Sheffield

2. Leeds

3. Bristol

4. Bradford

5. Birmingham

6. London

7. Liverpool

8. Edinburgh

9. Manchester

10. Glasgow

London added more renewable power than all the other cities, but only ranked sixth on the list when the data was assessed per head.

Solar panels on the rise

Solar panels are the most popular way of generating renewable power, accounting for 75% of feed-in tariff scheme payments, according to the study by energy consultancy AEA. Wind power accounts for 14%.

So far, more than 44,000 solar installations have been registered for the FIT, with small domestic systems making up the majority (38,300).

Overall, Cornwall is the area which generates the most solar photovoltaic (PV) power in the UK, with more than 1,000 solar installations and three megawatts electrical (MWe) capacity. Aberdeenshire generates the most wind power and Perth and Kinross the most hydro electricity.

Solar power benefits

Urban Energy research has found it is possible to make up to £38,000 profit from a 4kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system over 25 years, under the FIT – the pay back can be as little as 6 years. To qualify you must use products and installers registered under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

This data shows that you do not need to live on the equator to generate electricity from solar panels. The UK has enough daylight to generate good returns. If you are considering cashing in on the generous FIT scheme, we would advise you do so before April 2012, since the tariff is likely to be changed then, most probably decreasing slightly.

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/

Farmers to benefit from £100m fund in renewable energy

Farmers in the UK will now be able to access a new £100 million fund to support the costs of installing large-scale renewable energy systems.


Barclays, with the help of the National Farmers Union (NFU), will provide loans to fund new solar panels, wind turbines and hydro electricity on farmland.

According to figures compiled by the bank, 37 per cent of farmers plan to invest in renewable energy, many of whom will be installing renewables in the next year, with the hope to generate returns of around £25,000 a year through the feed-in tariff (FIT).

However, the move also comes at a time when the government reduces the payment level that farmers can get through FITs, so the loan could be an additional incentive and help to reach the UK's renewable energy targets.

"The opportunities for farmers to produce renewable energy thereby helping to decarbonise the economy and contribute to the UK's long-term energy security are there for all to see," commented Meurig Raymond, NFU deputy president.

"Given the significant up-front costs of renewables technologies, commercial lending is essential to unlocking these opportunities."

Reference: Energy Saving Trust

Urban Energy:

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/

Salford University's Energy House

Do we need all of our mains sockets on 240 volts? Can warmth be psychologically affected by the colour of wall paint, and are UPVc windows better than wood?

These are the types of questions Salford University is aiming to answer as it looks to trial new energy efficient technologies in a terrace house built inside a laboratory.

The university has built a 1920s Victorian-style two-up, two-down – thought to represent around 20% of the UK’s housing stock – to test new energy efficient technologies and the behavior of occupants.

The Energy House is a response to the UK’s retrofit challenge. According to statistics released by Communities and Local Government, around 70% of the country's residential property will still be inhabited in 2050 and 91% of all UK homes would benefit substantially from improvements in energy efficiency. Improved insulation and boiler upgrades alone could see heating emissions reduced by 22%.

Despite social housing being seen as a key area to ramp up retrofit activity, the university recently revealed that 50% of Registered Housing Providers do not yet have a retrofit plan.

However, the policy tide is turning, with the Government wanting to leap from the bottom to the top of the European efficiency league. Energy minister Greg Barker, who attended the two-day conference, says that local authorities and housing associations will play a key part in its flagship Green Deal, which will allow tenants and homeowners to pay for energy-efficient improvements through the savings on their energy bills.

Temperature control

Inside the laboratory the university can even change the weather – wind, rain, snow, not the sun, which it will use UV lights to simulate – with temperatures in the environmental chamber able to drop to as low as -6 degrees.

Rain and wind can also hit the house at different speeds, as researchers say that brick’s performance is affected by different conditions. Solar panels will also be fitted on to the tiled roof.

Inspecting the house at its official unveiling at the end of January at the University of Salford Retrofit conference is quite something. All the materials – from the brick to the slate have been reclaimed – except the timbers inside.

Lime mortar has been used to set the familiar red brick, the doors – front and back – don’t shut properly and have gaps exposing drafts, as do the rickety single-glazed sash windows. There are no curtains and the house has no insulation.

“In short,” says energy hub manager Steve Waterworth, “the house is leaking energy.

“We wanted to construct the house as it would have been then and leave it in its rawest form,” he says, “so we can see how it behaves and where the energy goes. We’ll be monitoring temperature, pressure, air flow and humidity and will be producing 3D image maps of each room to see where everything is going.”

The house represents the stock that is the hardest to treat – i.e. no cavity walls with which to pack with insulation.

The university has even built half a house next door so they can monitor the heat output through the party wall. Researchers want to know if tenants have got their heating on high whether they are heating the living room next door.

As well as trialing the relationship between different products and controls within and outside the house, such as double glazed windows, internal/external cladding and insulation, a key part of the analysis and modeling will be the behavior of occupants.

Psychologists will work alongside physicists to study how people use energy. “Hands up who recycled something this week,” asks Mr Waterworth, who turns to delegates on the guided tour? A spate of hands shoot up behind me. “Who’s saved energy this week?” Everybody looks at each with no hands raised. And here in lies one of the challenges. “Ten years ago nobody recycled,” says Waterworth. Now, everybody does. How can we make that work for reducing energy in the home?”

He adds psychologists will also evaluate behaviour in the home. “How would you feel looking at a thermometer giving a warm reading in a cold room? Warm or cold,” asks Mr Waterworth? He says some of the products being trialled include taps that reduce the water pressure, a Dulux reflective paint on the walls, allowing the wattage of light bulbs in the room to be reduced, as light would reflect off the paint. Other products include environmental controls supplier Dyer’s ‘Solis’ system, which controls windows wirelessly using solar power.

The research team intends to trial a number of different types of occupants in the house for around 12 hours at a time, from families to students, single occupants to couples.

Currently, there is a gas boiler in the house but the heating can and will change, depending on what the team wishes to test. Water, electricity and gas will all be monitored as researchers believe that a lot of heat is being lost in the home through hot water.

Green Deal

After a tour of the house Energy minister Greg Barker and I sit in the living room of the terrace to discuss the role of housing associations and tenants in the green deal.

The minister said the “sky is the limit” for housing associations and local authorities to become Green Deal providers themselves – accessing private finance and carrying out the work for tenants – or to form partnerships with utility companies to deliver a roll out.

“Some could not only retrofit their own stock but could provide it to the private rented sector,” he told 24housing magazine. “Housing associations have already taken good steps in bringing their stock up to a decent standard, but we need to get them to go further. The Green Deal will provide them with the finance to do that.”

He also alleviated concerns by those who have pointed out that social tenants often fall out of the Green Deal’s golden rule, i.e. the savings created by the energy efficiency measures have to be greater than the cost of paying for the retrofit over 25 years. This is because such tenants could be classed as fuel poor and won’t be using much energy in the first place.

Mr Barker said: “There will be many homes that won’t be covered by a ‘Pay as you Save model’ e.g. those that are fuel poor, because you can’t make savings on your energy bill if you’re not actually using much in the first place. We recognise that, so in addition to the Green Deal, there will also be an ongoing new energy obligation on utility companies which we believe will be worth well in excess of £1bn per annum and will be rolled out over a decade.”

He also indicated that the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive, which was crucially spared the axe in last year’s spending review, could be used alongside the Green Deal to improve a home’s energy efficiency.

He said: “We are looking at ways when someone has had a Green Deal review of their home, it lists the measures they are able to do. It should also include the opportunities for renewable heat and microgeneration. What we don't want is to put microgeneration or renewable heat technologies into leaky homes. Making your home heat tight first really ought to be the prerequisite before you then go on to the more microgeneration.”

The entire facility at Salford has been geared up to allow the university to knock down the terrace and start again by building another style of property for testing. But for the next three years, we can expect the publication of vital research, says Professor Martin Hall, the university’s vice chancellor. “This project is exciting because retrofitting old properties to make them as carbon-efficient as possible will require detailed and robust research,” he says.

“If there is to be a step change in the UK to achieve our carbon emission reduction targets, it is essential decision-makers have sound evidence to ensure products are tested before being tried out in real 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 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 incentive schemes 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/

Don’t Buy Solar From Cold Callers!

Solar power is getting increasingly affordable. Switching to solar power can certainly save you a lot of money on your home energy bills. However, you have to be careful about where you purchase your solar power from. Many consumers are getting lured in by cold callers who contact them with “great deals” on solar and end up spending far more than they should.

Urban Energy offers the following warnings about sellers who call you out of the blue offering solar power deals:

- Claiming that their rates are heavily discounted. Many of these cold callers will state that they’re offering you the best rate available when this simply isn’t true. A lot of people haven’t done enough research into solar power to know whether or not the claim is correct. As with any other big purchase, it’s very important to shop around to learn about pricing before you buy.

- Neglecting to mention the feed-in tariff. In the UK there’s a feed-in tariff, also called the Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme, that allows you to get money back when you use solar power. It provides a fixed income for the energy that you generate and use in your home. If you produce excess energy then you can sell it back to the grid. It’s designed to offer a nice tidy profit to energy-conscience consumers after a twenty-five year period has passed. If cold callers don’t mention it then it may be because they are pocketing this money for themselves.

- The catch. In some cases, the offer for solar power may sound like it’s a good one but then it involves a catch. For example, the price may be low (and even free) but then there’s a monthly or annual required maintenance charge that is very pricey. Carefully ask about the terms when someone calls you to talk about solar power. Don’t agree to anything that’s not in writing.

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/

UK councils can sell renewable electricity

Local councils around the UK will be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the grid, following an overturn of the ban on this by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.

Only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewable energy sources at the moment.

The ban on local authorities selling renewable electricity will end on 18 August, which with the benefits of the feed-in tariff, could generate up to £200 million a year in income for local authorities across England and Wales.

At present local authorities are able to put any renewable electricity they generate to local use, and to benefit from the associated feed-in tariff for projects smaller than 5 MW. But they are restricted from selling any excess renewable electricity into the grid (other than that generated from combined heat and power), and also from benefiting from the additional export component of the feed-in tariff.

Gordon Edge, Director of Policy at RenewableUK says: “This decision is very good news for councils, the environment and local communities alike. Councils have a vital role to play in the switch to a new low-carbon economy and today’s announcement means they can now take full advantage of the feed-in-tariff and the Renewables Obligation to deliver long-term benefit to their communities by way of additional income. In doing so we hope to see local authorities becoming champions of renewable energy and encouraging wider support."

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/

UK - Renewable energy feed-in tariffs set to transform rural estate incomes

Some key facts:

- Rural estates and farms can generate significant extra income from renewable energy feed-in tariffs (FiTs)
- FiT payments are index linked and guaranteed for up to 25 years
- You can still claim FiTs even if you use the electricity yourself
- Most rural estates can benefit from some sort of renewable energy scheme

Rural estates and farms could use the new renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme to increase their annual income by tens of thousands of pounds each year.

A hypothetical “renewable energy” estate is described below utilising all the main forms of renewable energy – solar, wind, hydro and anaerobic digestion. also shown is how much income could be derived annually from each using feed-in tariffs:

• Two wind turbines (two 250kW** turbines wind speed of 7m/s) create an annual income* of £300,000 assuming all electricity produced is exported to the national grid.
• An anaerobic digester (350kW system 200 cows & 600 acres of maize) creates an extra £460,000 per year
• A modest hydroelectric scheme (100kW water turbine) adds £190,000.
• The contribution from photovoltaic solar panels (900 sq/m - 450 panels - on dairy roof) is £26,300

The total annual income came to £916,000 with a lifetime potential of £18,500,000!

*Income figures will vary based on local conditions and equipment performance. They do not include tax.

** A 250kw turbine produces an equivalent amount of energy to that consumed by 125 three-bed houses for a year.

If the electricity produced is used on the estate the annual benefit increases to £1.1m. This is because the estate will still receive the FiT payments, but will be saving on its current electricity expenditure.

Feed-in tariffs were introduced in the dying days of the Labour government and were designed to encourage people to create their own renewable electricity. An index-linked payment guaranteed for up to 25 years is made for each unit of electricity produced even if it used by the generator for their own consumption. The tariff varies depending on how the energy is being generated and the scale of the scheme. The smaller the scheme and the longer its potential payback, the larger the payment.

FIT rates:

• Anaerobic digestion 9.0 -11.5 pence/kWh over 20 years 
• Hydro 4.5– 19.9 p/kWh over 20 years
• Solar photovoltaic 29.3 – 41.3 p/kWh over 25 years
• Wind 4.5 – 34.5 p/kWh over 20 year

Add 3p/kWh for all electricity supplied to the national grid (large schemes can negotiate a higher supplement)

We have already seen a huge surge in enquiries from landowners looking to take advantage of feed-in tariffs. One of the most attractive things about them is that the payments are guaranteed for up to 25 years, which means it is now easier to get bank funding to set up renewable energy projects.

Reassuringly in the current fiscal environment, there is also no danger that FiTs will be hit by government cuts because they are funded by electricity generators (via our bills) not the exchequer.

Although it would be unusual for a typical rural estate to be able to utilise renewable energy to the same extent as our idealised estate, there are very few rural properties that cannot benefit from FiTs in one form or another. The estate shows the extent of the potential income available, even from relatively modest schemes. The wind turbines we are using, for example, are much smaller than those used in large-scale wind farms.

At a time when the income streams on many rural estates are under threat from poor agricultural commodity prices and falling farm subsidy payments, renewable energy will play an increasingly important role in securing a viable future for landowners and farmers.

Next year we should see even greater opportunities when details of the Renewable Heat Incentive are finalised. This will pay a tariff for heat produced by renewable sources and could be of real benefit to rural landowners who use a lot of heat themselves or who can supply heat to other users.

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/