Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is produced from replaceable sources of energy,
sources include harnessing the power from the sun, wind, sea or
heat from underneath the ground. Renewable sources of energy do not
contribute to climate change, nor will they run out.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground source heat pumps can be used efficiently to heat a house
by drawing heat from the ground, concentrating it and delivering it
to the building. Systems use a pump and compressor to remove heat
from one side of a circuit and eject heat to the other side. The
system must be non-reversible, closed loop ground source only using
either a bore hole or trench. Typical system costs is £4,000 to
£6,000.
Room Heaters/Stoves with Automated Wood Pellet Feed
Wood burning systems, unlike other renewables do emit carbon
dioxide. However, as the wood fuel is cultivated, it absorbs
exactly the amount of carbon dioxide as is released when it is
burnt. As such it does not add to the carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. An eligible system can be used for heating a single
room, hot water or a whole house. This excludes the Aga type stove
as these are not automated. Typical system costs £2,400 to
£2,600.
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Solar photovoltaic cells utilise sunlight to provide
electricity. They can provide a household with 30% to 50% of its
electrical needs.
Solar Water Heating
Solar panels, also known as reflectors, can be fitted to the
roof and building. They use heat from the sun to work alongside
your conventional water heater. Used and fitted correctly solar
water heating can provide 50% of hot water needs over a year.
Typical costs of a new system are: £2,000 to £4,500.
Grants are available, please see Related Link 'Home Insulation
Council Tax Rebate Offer' at the bottom of the page.
Windpower
A wind turbine converts wind into electricity. The most common
design is for three blades mounted on a horizontal axis, which
rotate in the wind on a tall tower. The blades drive a generator to
produce electricity. The electricity can either be linked to the
grid or charge batteries. Modern designs tend to be near silent in
operation. A Typical system costs £2,500 to £5,000 per kWt
installed.
Wood Fuelled Boiler Systems
These systems must comprise the main heating system of the house
and can be run on logs, woodchips and wood pellets. Log burning
stoves, even though use for heating (e.g. AGA) are excluded.
Typical system costs £4,500 for 14 kWt system burning logs or
pellets. A system burning woodchips might be twice this figure.
Grants are available through the Energy Saving Trust (EST)
website, follow the links to renewable energy or telephone the EST
on: 0800 512 012.