Renewable Energy Heating Installation

Solar Water Heating is the most commonly used renewable energy in UK households, as this type of renewable energy gives a quicker payback – averaging at about 7-10 years, in comparison to Photovoltaics (payback in about 20-30 years).

Did you know that over 70% of an average domestic household’s energy goes into space and water heating? A source of free hot water would save you a lot of money!

Solar water heating uses radiation from the sun to heat the water in a panel, which is usually located on the roof. This can then be used as hot water or for a central heating system.

If this system is correctly installed it can provide up to 40-60% of an average households’ hot water throughout the year, and reduce your emissions by around 400kg a year.

Air source heat pumps are cheaper and simpler to install, however whereas ground source heat pumps are constant, air source heat pumps are not.

This type of system requires power to drive them; however they are more efficient than normal heating systems as just one kilowatt of energy can generate three kilowatts of heat.

Benefits of using air source heat pumps:

• Lower fuel bills compared to conventional electric heating.
• Generate income through a government incentive known as Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
• Heat your home and water.
• Fit and forget technology means less maintenance.
• Easier to install compared to ground source air pumps.
• Heat pumps delivered at lower temperatures mean it’s more efficiently delivering heat around your home at a constant pace unlike your conventional gas and oil burner.

Ground Source heat pumps are installed a few metres below the earth’s surface; everything remains at a constant temperature, which is roughly 10-15 degrees. Making use of this heat can be done by using a ground source heat pump, which draws up heat by use of a ground collector (slinky) or even a ground probe (bore hole).

A heat pump works just like a fridge, but in reverse. Heat from the fridge is transported from inside to outside – while a heat pump takes stored heat below ground and transports it through a heating system to the inside of a house.

Some heat systems are also made to work in reverse, so that in hot weather it can pump out cool air instead.

Benefits of ground source heat pumps:

• Huge savings on bills
• Low maintenance costs with a life expectancy of over 50 years.
• Low Noise: designed to be very quiet.
• Low Carbon footprint: reduced emissions mean that they do not pollute the air.