ECO AND GREEN DEAL

ECO & GREEN DEAL

In order to meet our CO2 targets much of the housing stock in the UK will need to be radically upgraded. We have solutions that make the most of today's technology but can still be retro-fitted into our beloved homes.

We can replace your old gas-guzzling boiler and inefficient radiators with underfloor heating and a more efficient heat source whether it be a heat pump, biomass boiler or solar panels.

We can also help you apply for the relevant government grants to help cover the cost and take advantage of the up coming Green Deal due to start in late 2012. Even if you want to get completely "off the grid" we can come up with innovative ways of storing heat and energy, harvesting water and treating waste.

This is a specialist service and is bespoke to the orientation and setting of your home, but we are happy to advise on this from the outset should you wish to consider these options now and in the future.

What is ECO?

ECO (Energy Company Obligation) requires energy companies to assist low income and vulnerable householders who need more financial assistance than just the Green Deal. This will include free heating and hot water saving measures, glazing, and insulation for vulnerable and low income householders, and those who live in solid-walled properties.

Key renewables to consider for your property.

 

1 Air / Ground Source Heat Pump

Air source heat pumps

Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors and hot water in your home.

An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can get heat from the air even when the  temperature is as low as -15° C. Heat pumps have some impact on the environment as they need electricity to run, but the heat they extract from the ground, air, or water is constantly being renewed naturally.

The benefits of air source heat pumps 

Air source heat pumps (also known as ASHPs):

  • could lower your fuel bills, especially if you are replacing conventional electric heating
  • could provide you with an income through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentives
  • could lower your home’s carbon emissions, depending on which fuel you are replacing
  • don't need fuel deliveries
  • can heat your home and provide and hot water
  • need little maintenance - they're called ‘fit and forget’ technology
  • can be easier to install than a ground source heat pump, though efficiencies may be lower.

Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods. During the winter they may need to be on constantly to heat your home efficiently. You will also notice that radiators won't feel as hot to the touch as they might do when you are using a gas or oil boiler.

Ground source heat pumps

Ground source heat pumps use pipes which are buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems and hot water in your home.

A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe – called a ground loop – which is buried in your garden. Heat from the ground is absorbed into the fluid and then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump. The ground stays at a fairly constant temperature under the surface, so the heat pump can be used throughout the year – even in the middle of winter.

The length of the ground loop depends on the size of your home and the amount of heat you need. Longer loops can draw more heat from the ground, but need more space to be buried in. If space is limited, a vertical borehole can be drilled instead.

The benefits of ground source heat pumps 

A ground source heat pump (also known as GSHP):

  • could lower your fuel bills, especially if you replace conventional electric heating
  • could provide you with an income through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
  • could lower your home’s carbon emissions, depending on which fuel you are replacing
  • doesn't need fuel deliveries
  • can heat your home and provide hot water
  • needs little maintenance – they're called ‘fit and forget’ technology.

Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods. During the winter they may need to be on constantly to heat your home efficiently. You will also notice that radiators won't feel as hot to the touch as they might do when you are using a gas or oil boiler.

2 Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating requires less energy to heat a space than traditional radiators, reducing energy costs on average between 15% and 40%. They are simple to install and can be combined with other heat distribution systems where necessary.

3 Smart Rads

Smart Rads offer a practical, cost-effective alternative to Underfloor Heating, for Low Temperature heating systems including Heat Pumps, allowing these systems to be installed into existing properties (Retrofits) with minimal disruption. Heat pumps operate most efficiently at low water heating temperatures and Smart Rads have been developed specifically to provide high levels of heat output at the temperatures normally associated with underfloor heating - typically around 40°C. This allows the heat pump’s Coefficient of Performance to be maximised, reducing system running costs and household CO² emissions. It also allows Smart Rads to be used in conjunction with underfloor heating systems – for example with Smart Rads on upper floors – as both can be operated at the same temperature.

Smart Rads can also be used with high efficiency condensing boilers. The high heating outputs obtained by Smart Rads at 55°C water temperature means that boilers can be run more effectively in condensing mode and are likely to run more efficiently than when operated with conventional radiators at higher temperatures. Containing only 5% of the water volume of a conventional radiator, the low thermal mass of a Smart Rad means that heat up time, responsiveness, control, and ultimately comfort, are significantly improved.

4 Low Temperature Radiators

What are low temperature radiators?

Low temperature heating systems deliver the ideal combination of top-level performance when used with a high-efficiency heating system.

Why low temperature radiators?

Radiators for low temperature heating systems are the most efficient and cost-effective way to reach and maintain ideal room temperature quickly and comfortably. Research has shown that radiators for low temperature heating systems are just as effective as traditional radiators in heating a space to ideal room temperature, whilst using less energy to reach and maintain that level. Because of this, they are more cost-effective too.Research shows that radiators for low temperature heating systems are more efficient in providing indoor comfort in any climate. In Scandinavia, where harsh winters are the norm, radiators for low temperature heating systems have been a popular and welcome part of life for many decades. Radiators for low temperature heating systems are ideal for use with heat pumps, which are already found in many buildings, delivering results that outperform underfloor heating systems alone.

Radiators for low temperature heating systems use less energy to perform efficiently. A modern family home or office building can be heated comfortably to 20°C with radiators set at system temperatures of 45°C. Tradition heating systems use water up to 75°C to achieve the same room temperature, using more energy for exactly the same results, but at higher cost. Radiators need only warm water to perform;

Research has shown that underfloor heating alone cannot provide comfortable warmth while remaining energy efficient, but when combined with low temperature heating systems, it becomes more efficient and effective. By combining the two systems, it is possible to have different room temperatures in different rooms, and ‘cold zones’ are eliminated, particularly in high efficiency buildings.

5 Hot Water Cylinder

Hot water cylinders

 

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6 Domestic Hot Water

Solar hot water

Turning sunshine into free hot water... Using the abundant and free energy from the sun to heat the hot water in your home means that you will save money on your fuel bills.


Solar water heating, often referred to as ‘solar thermal’, involves using solar panels to absorb the heat of the sun and transfer it to the water you use in the home. On warm summer days a solar thermal system could provide all of your hot water. During the winter the output will be much less. 

How does it work?

Solar thermal technology works alongside conventional water heating systems. Heat absorbed by the panels is used to pre-heat the water in a hot water storage cylinder. This reduces the amount of fuel needed to bring the hot water up to a useable temperature, saving money on heating bills and reducing carbon emissions.

Most solar systems are ‘indirect’ - that is, the liquid in the panels is not the same as what comes out of the taps.

In a ‘direct’ or 'open-loop’ system the water heated in the solar panels goes directly into the domestic hot water cylinder. These systems are very rarely used in the UK because of the risk of both freezing and overheating. 

So most solar systems are ‘indirect’ - that is, the liquid in the panels is not the same as what comes out of the taps. Instead, it is a mixture of water and antifreeze, and the heat it absorbs from the sun is transfered to the water in the hot water cylindar by way of a copper coil.

7 Solar Thermal Collectors

Solar Hot Water

Anyone who invests in a new heating system today should design it from the outset to include a solar thermal system. This will allow you to benefit from lower energy consumption and also look forward to lower monthly energy bills. Furthermore, by installing solar collectors, you are demonstrating your commitment to protecting the environment, by sustainably lowering CO2 emissions. Another argument for investing in solar technology that should not be underestimated is the associated increase to the value of your property. Solar Thermal is a clean and highly efficient means of using renewable energy from the sun to provide the hot water used in the home.

The basic principle is easy to understand. If you unroll a garden hose on the ground and leave it exposed to the radiant heat of the sun, in a short time the water in the hose will become warm. Solar thermal collectors work in very much the same way, only more efficiently. Usually, but not exclusively, roof-mounted solar collectors will be connected to one of the coils of a twin-coil cylinder using a sealed circuit containing a special glycol/water solution. This fluid not only withstands the high temperatures in excess of 200°C on a summer day, but also will not freeze in temperature  down to –25°C. The pump in the system circulates the heated fluid from the panel to the cylinder where the heat is transferred to the stored water through the lower coil.

Solar thermal systems are ideally suited for DHW heating and central heating backup. Thanks to the freely available solar energy, your investment will pay for itself within a few years through high savings on fossil fuel. Of course, new build is optimally suited for the perfect design of an energy-saving heating system. You basically have the option of using solar energy for DHW heating and central heating backup. The savings on oil or gas are considerable, as you will be able to reduce your energy consumption, required to heat DHW for the daily demand, by 60%. If you combine the heating of DHW and heating water, your annual savings can be up to around 35% of the total energy required. Solar thermal system with dual-mode DHW cylinder The heart of this solution is the dual-mode DHW cylinder, with two heating coils. When there is sufficient solar energy, the heat transfer medium in the solar thermal system heats up the water in the DHW cylinder via the lower coil.

When the temperature drops through water being drawn off, such as for a bath or shower, the boiler will start if required to provide additional heating via the upper coil. The range in which additional energy must be provided ultimately depends on the size of the collector area and the capacity of the DHW cylinder. Solar thermal system for DHW heating and central heating backup The heat transfer medium heated up in the solar collectors can be used for back-up heating. For this, a separate heating buffer cylinder is additionally heated by the solar collectors. When hot enough, the solar control unit feeds this solar heated fluid into the heating circuit, reducing the heating load on the boiler.

8 Solar PV Panels

Solar PV mean’s ‘solar photovoltaic’. Solar panels harness the sunlight and sun’s radiation,  turning it into solar electricity to power a home and generate an income from the Feed in Tarriff scheme ( FIT ). Here you can enter the measurements of your roof or ground and we will calculate the amount you could receive from your investment including free daytime electricity, Solar PV Calculator.

Solar systems are made from PV panels consisting of layers of silicon. The sun’s  radiation or light hit the Solar panels, then being converted into DC electricity. The converter then converts this to solar AC electricity, which can be used to power the home and generate a tax free income.