Renewables are coming home
THESE days you cannot turn on the television or strike up a conversation with a friend without the word 'carbon' making an appearance within five minutes.
Carbon footprint, carbon-neutral, carbon-offsetting, carbon-free – there is no escaping it, the world has gone carbon mad.
Earlier this month Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that there would be no stamp duty charge for new homes costing less than 500,000 which were carbon free, and 6million extra would be invested into the Low Carbon Buildings Fund.
Grants worth 300 to 4,000 are also being made available for pensioners installing insulation and central heating in their homes.
In the UK more than 27 per cent of our carbon emissions come from homes, and whether you believe in climate change or not, the Government is pushing residents to make their houses more energy efficient.
It is a market that retailers and builders are also increasingly moving into.
In September last year B&Q launched a range of renewable energy products such as micro wind turbines, costing 1,498 including installation, which can generate enough electricity to power a TV, a DVD player, a computer, a fridge-freezer and several lights.
The Northampton store, in St James Retail Park in Towcester Road, is also currently selling solar water heating packages and solar panels from 1,498.
Its general manager, Dave Burgham, said: "Here in Northampton, we've had a fantastic response to our entire range of energy and water-saving products, including our wind turbines and solar panels.
"We are currently expanding our Towcester Road store and looking to meet the increasing demand for our energy efficient range of products. We expect our customers to be making full use of the bank holiday period by focusing on projects such as improving their loft insulation."
Building firm Ashmore Building & Electrical Services Ltd, based in Chapel Brampton, has expanded its business to incorporate renewable energy systems to stay ahead of the game.
Director Ian Purves said: "It is a new thing for ourselves as we are mainly builders to start with. But we have been looking at the building regulations and the main thing is the environment. We thought it would be good to get involved at an early stage."
The company can install solar energy panels, wind turbines, geothermal energy systems, heat pumps, rain water harvesting apparatus and insulation to new and old homes.
Mr Purves continued: "At the moment renewable energy systems are not the cheapest thing to put in but as more people get involved the prices are going to come down.
"I am surprised how many people ring up and ask about it. We have a mixed customer base and over the next couple of years as grants become available it will start to create more interest.
"For us it is a long term plan. We want to achieve carbon-neutral homes.
"At the moment our customers are people with a bit more money and the systems are not necessarily suited to everyday houses, except the solar thermal.
"We also have woodchip burners which are carbon-neutral. They use willows which when they grow absorb more carbon then when they are burnt."
But he said people did not need to spend thousands of pounds to start making a difference.
"Every day you see something in the news about the environment and that is starting to come home to lots of people.
Ultimately they are drawn by the cost savings at the moment but people are thinking: 'What can we do?' even if it is something little. People are becoming more aware."
ELEVEN WAYS to make your home more energy efficient
WIND POWER
Two basic types exist: the stand-alone system used to generate electricity to run small electrical applications; and grid-connected systems, which connect the output to a home's existing mains supply. The Windsave WS1000 (now available at B&Q) costs around 1,595 + VAT installed and, taking into account grants available, the manufacturer claims it could pay for itself in five years, saving up to 33 per cent off an annual electricity bill.
INSULATION
Insulation is a key ingredient of a green home because it reduces the amount of energy required to keep it warm inside. Floors, walls and roofs should have as high levels of insulation specified as possible. Up to 33 per cent of heat produced in the home is lost through walls, so consider cavity wall insulation. It costs 200 to 500 and produces savings of around 150 a year on your heating bills.
LOW-FLUSH TOILETS
The average household uses 180 litres of water a day to flush toilets, the largest single use of water in the home. Dual flush toilets are an essential starting point but water saving or low-flush toilets are an even better way to save water and money.
GREY WATER RECYCLING
Waste water from showers, sinks and washing machines can be recycled for non-drinkable uses such as flushing the toilet and watering the garden. The grey water is treated with cleaning agents and passed through a carbon filter. Less storage is needed than with rainwater
harvesting.
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
This is energy efficient because the emitter (the floor) has a larger surface area than a radiator and so the water can be heated to a lower temperature than normal. Installation costs are similar to those for a top-end radiator-based system. Running costs are between 10 and 30 per cent cheaper.
ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTBULBS
Energy-saving lightbulbs use around four times less electricity than standard lightbulbs. They cost around 3.50 compared to 50p for a standard bulb, but it should save you around 10 per year on your annual electricity bill.
RAINWATER HARVESTING
This allows homeowners to make the most of the significant amount of rainfall the UK gets. A system costs around 1,500 which includes underground storage tanks, filters and a pump to take water back into the house. A large tank can supply enough water for the whole house but at least you could use it for flushing toilets and watering the garden. A cheaper alternative is to buy a few water butts and a pump to allow your rainwater to be hosed on the garden.
SOLAR POWER
Solar panels are used for heating water and PV cells, for creating electricity. A heating system will cost around 2,000 to install and can usually provide enough hot water all year round. PV cells create a more significant amount of electricity which may allow you to sell some of the energy you have created back to the grid.
NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS
The choice of materials used can have a big impact on the environment. Materials that need manufacturing require high levels of energy to produce workable products and may give out pollutants as a by-product. Naturally occurring materials such as lime, sand, stone, slate and timber enjoy very low production costs and produce far less pollutants in this process.
CONDENSING BOILER
Boiler efficiencies have been transformed to reduce the level of CO2 emissions. Now, boilers can be used only if they are at least 86 per cent efficient – a rating that only condensing boilers currently exceed. Using one will save you up to around 60 a year.
HEAT PUMP
The ground source heat pump works like a fridge, using electricity to power water through pipes below the surface (you will need to excavate part of your garden to lay the pipes) where the temperature remains at a constant 10C. A secondary process raises the temperature further, enough to power an underfloor heating system. Installation costs tend to be between 8,000 and 12,000. Payback times are a point of controversy in the industry, claims ranging between eight and 22 years.
Call Ashmore Building & Electrical Services Ltd on Northampton 845444
and B&Q on 08702435257
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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