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This section is all about generating energy in your own home using renewable technologies. This is probably the biggest step you can take, but it can also be the most exciting. Different technologies are better suited to different homes so read on find out more about the merits and issues involved in each.
Climate Benefits can help make installing renewable energy generation in your home the exciting experience it should be. We can refer you onto trusted, accredited installers who can provide technical advice and free consultation, without any sales pressure or cajoling. Furthermore, we also keep track of your referral all the way up until installation, so there’s always a second pair of eyes to make sure the process runs smoothly. Call an advisor on 0800 783 2503 to find out more about renewable energy and our installers.
Jump to: Biomass Heating | Groundsource Heating | Small Scale Wind
Solar Water Heating
As the name suggests solar water heating harness energy from the sun and uses it to heat domestic hot water. The technology is actually very simple - one or two panels are installed on a suitable roof or flat space and simple piping carries heating fluid in the panels around your hot water tank and to your taps. Solar water heating systems are also very robust, requiring very little in the way of maintenance.
Read more about solar water heating, by downloading the CB Factsheet.
Solar Photovoltaics
Solar photovoltaic panels (also called solar PV) convert energy from the sun into electricity that can be used in your home. A standard domestic system can generate up to 50% of a households annual electricity demand and can save anything up to 850kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Systems are usually roof-mounted and are suitable for use in rural, urban and coastal properties. It is worth bearing in mind that solar PV systems can be costly (prices currently start around the £10,000) though they also represent one of the most effective means of generating your own electricity.
Read more about solar PV by downloading the CB Factsheet.
Biomass Heating
Biomass, also referred to as wood fuel, heating uses the energy stored in plant material to provide fuel for domestic heating. Wood fuel is the main option available to householders in the form of logs, pellets or chips. As long as you have a steady source of wood fuel, biomass heating can represent a very reliable method of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with your home.
There are currently two main options for biomass heating. The first are boilers which provide heating and hot water for the whole house. The second are stand-alone stoves that provide heat to an individual room. These can be fitted with back boilers to provide hot water as well as room heating.
For more information on biomass heating, download the CB Factsheet.
Groundsource Heating and Cooling
In the UK, the ground stays at a constant temperature of around 11-12 C°, all year round. By installing a groundsource heat pump (GSHP), this natural heat can be used to provide heating and cooling for your home. A ground source heat pump uses a small amount of electricity to extract heat from the ground (via coils buried in the ground) to provide space heating.
Though not all properties are suited to groundsource heating, the benefits (both environmental and in terms of running costs) can be considerable when a GSHP is appropriately installed.
To find out more about groundsource heating and cooling, download the CB Factsheet.
Small Scale Wind
In recent months, small scale wind turbines have enjoyed widespread publicity. The UK does have very good wind potential – in fact we have around a third of Europe’s wind resource – so the possibilities for wind power in the UK are very promising. Small scale wind turbines work in a very similar way to their large scale counterparts – wind passes over aerodynamic blades which turn a generator – though due to their much smaller size, their output is considerably smaller too.
Small scale wind turbines are still something of an emerging technology and so they won’t be suited to every property just yet. However, if you live in an exposed rural or coastal area, the investment in a turbine could be worthwhile. To explore small scale wind further, download the CB Factsheet.