Renewable Energy

  

Solar thermal heating for domestic hot water is the fastest growing renewable technology across Europe. Using radiation from the sun, a sophisticated solar collector is used to transfer the maximum amount of energy possible in to a fluid, which runs through the collector and which is then used to indirectly heat water in a storage cylinder.

As solar thermal technology does not rely on sunlight but on solar radiation, it can work as efficiently in our climate to provide around 50-70% of annual domestic hot water requirements.

 

Using the sun as a renewable energy source helps the environment, leads to reduced energy bills and means less reliance on gas and electricity for water heating.

 

Please call 07831680185 or submit online enquiry and we will ring you to discuss your requirements.

 

 

 Air to Water / Air to Air

 

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

 

How do air source heat pumps work?

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 extract heat from the air even when the outside temperature is as low as minus 15° C.

 

There are two main types:

 

·         An air-to-water system uses the heat to warm water. Heat pumps heat water to a lower temperature than a standard boiler system would, so they are more suitable for   underfloor heating systems than radiator systems.

 

·         An air-to-air system produces warm air which is circulated by fans to heat your home.

 

The efficiency of air source heat pump systems is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) – the amount of heat they produce compared to the amount of electricity needed to run them. A typical CoP for an air source heat pump is around 2.5.

 

The benefits of air source heat pumps

 

·         Reduce your fuel bills: air source heat pumps run on electricity, so there’s no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.

 

·         Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your home with an air source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.

 

·         Save space: an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires no storage space for fuel.

 

Is an air source heat pump suitable for my home?

 

To tell if an air source heat pump is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

 

·         Do you have somewhere to put it? You’ll need a place outside your house where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It will need plenty of space around it to get a good flow of air.

 

·         Is your home well insulated? Since air source heat pumps produce less heat than traditional boilers, it’s essential that your home is insulated and draught proofed well for the heating system to be effective.

 

·         What fuel will you be replacing? The system will pay for itself much more quickly if it’s replacing an electricity, oil, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) or coal heating system than a gas one.

 

·         What type of heating system do you want? Air source heat pumps are much better at powering underfloor heating systems or warm air heating than radiator-based systems.

 

·         Is the system intended for a new development? Combining the installation with other building work can reduce the cost of installing the system.

 

Costs and savings

 Running costs for space heating (but not hot water for washing) are likely to be around £440 per year. This will vary depending on a number of factors – including the size of your home and how well insulated it is.

 

Savings can be considerable – up to 6 tonnes of CO2 and £870 per year for a system that replaces an electric heating system, or 1.3 tonnes of CO2 and £580 for an oil-fired system.

 

Fuel Displaced	£ Saving per year	CO2 saving per year
Gas	£300	830 kg
Electricity	£870	6 tonnes
Oil	£580	1.3 tonnes
Solid	£280	5 tonnes

All savings are approximate and are based on an air source heat pump providing 100% of space heating in a detached property. (source energy savings trust)

To reduce your home’s CO2 emissions further, consider installing solar electricity or some other form of renewable electricity generating system to power the compressor and pump.

Geothermal  – Ground source heat pumps

 

 

What are they?

Ground source heat pumps collect energy stored in the earth or in the air and use it to heat water in a cylinder for distribution to taps, appliances and radiators. They can also cool the house in summer. This is the most advanced technology available for home heating, hot water and cooling. because the earth itself ‘stores’ energy it is an extremely reliable and constant energy source, it creates no harmful emissions and uses a very small amount of electricity to drive the pumps themselves.

 

How do they work?

A heat pump works in the same way as a refrigerator, but in reverse. The collection system consists of a single deep borehole in the garden. Alternatively, where space permits, a looped array of pipes buried about 1.2 metres below the surface can be used. The ground source heat pump then extracts heat stored in the earth. This low temperature energy passes through a CFC-free refrigerant cycle which converts it into higher temperatures to heat the home. In summer, with an underfloor heating system connected to the heat pump this cycle is reversed, cooling the room to a comfortable temperature. If you’re considering having a ground source heat pump installed you may be eligible for a grant through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

Ground Source heat pumps are an excellent partner for underfloor heating.

·         Conserve natural resources by providing climate control efficiently and thus lowering emissions

·         Minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems, which will seldom or never have to be recharged

·         Uses underground loops to transfer heat, with no external venting and no air pollution