The challenge

The IPCC, NASA and the world’s leading scientists have warned that we are facing a climate emergency and that if we continue to burn fossil fuels such as gas, coal and oil we risk a man-made disaster of global scale. We must increase and accelerate the rate at which we generate, store and distribute our energy from clean and renewable sources if we are to avoid irreparable damage to our planet.

The solution

Renewable energy has developed rapidly over the past decade and there are a number of options available for homeowners seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills.

Solar panels are the most popular clean energy technology installed in the UK. Over one million homeowners have now switched to solar PV to power their homes with free energy generated by the sun. Improved efficiency and advancements in technology mean that solar panels can be fitted almost anywhere and can take the form of glass or even solar roof slates to further improve aesthetics.

Whilst energy prices in the UK have risen year on year, the price of installing solar panels has plummeted, generating healthy financial returns and reduced payback periods. They can be installed as a single technology or integrated with other renewables such as home batteries, heat pumps and EV charge points for added benefits.

Cheaper and cleaner heating for your home

With the price of oil and gas rising year on year, thousands of households have now switched to an air source heat pump to reduce their heating and hot water bills.

Heat pumps offer an affordable, cost efficient and sustainable means to heating your home. An air source heat pump works as an air conditioning unit in reverse to extract heat from the outside air and heat your home sustainably. They are incredibly efficient and can retain heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -25°C.

Solarsense recommend the Mitsubishi Ecodan air source heat pump. Ecodan are part of the Mitsubishi group, manufactured in Livingston, Scotland and have a great reputation for their efficiency, low noise output and reliability.

The savings you can make using a heat pump will be affected by a number of factors, including building construction, the heating fuel being replaced and the type of heat distribution system in use (radiators, warm air or underfloor for example). The ongoing running costs can also be mitigated by integrating with solar panels.

Heat pumps are eligible for the renewable heat incentive (RHI). The RHI is a UK Government backed financial incentive, introduced to promote the use of renewable heat. If you join and comply with the scheme rules, you’ll receive quarterly payments for seven years for the amount of clean, green renewable heat the system produces. For example, for an average 4 bed home you could expect to receive around £7,000 over a seven-year period, which in most cases is enough to cover the cost of the installation.

Solarsense has been designing, installing and maintaining award-winning sustainable solutions for homeowners since 1995. With more than 10,000 residential renewable energy installations in the South West alone, they offer unparalleled experience within the industry.

For more information or to get a free, no obligation survey for your home, contact us today and one of our energy experts will get in touch asap.