The tough recession that we are currently in has meant that there has been a sharp price rise in the cost of heating our homes with all of the top energy companies increasing their gas and electricity prices.

Even though this is not good news for consumers, does this credit crunch period we are experiencing effect the environment in a positive or negative way?

At the start of the year The Guardian newspaper reported on a dramatic fall in greenhouse emissions and cited the recession as being the main reason behind this fall. However these findings were in relation to industrial and business output and mainly the construction and transport sectors as these were hit the hardest by the recession.

But, what about individual household emissions? The Guardian felt that households were stubborn and that their greenhouse gas emissions remain high. The reasons behind this were the growth in population as well as the growth in single homeownership. There are also other factors which I feel come into the equation such as people are not going out as much during the credit crunch leading to a greater usage of plasma televisions and computers, therefore increasing home energy consumption and usage figures.

It is also felt that households are often not encouraged enough to think about the environment. And with the Energy Saving Trust who were specifically set-up to help households think about the environment having their funding cut in half by the government, it is little wonder households aren’t getting the message.

However, these recessional times have forced the government to consider the environment and our energy usage especially as there are predetermined climate change targets for the UK to reach. The Green Deal which is going through parliament at present is the main driving force being introduced by the government to try and revolutionise energy efficiency. The scheme aims to offer households energy saving improvements throughout their homes. The cost will be paid for upfront by private firms however the money will be recouped through the household’s energy bill. It is assumed that the energy saved will more than pay for the cost of these improvements.

Therefore, does the credit crunch effect the environment in a positive or negative way when looked at in relation to households? In theory it should be good thing as it should be assumed that people will have less disposable income and will be looking at active ways to reduce their expenditure. However, this is not the case. Even though individuals may reduce the amount they spend on luxuries such as car trips and holidays therefore reducing some gas emissions, they are reluctant to change their household energy usage and budget. This is because many people feel that this is a luxury and a comfort that they should try and retain for a healthy and happy household during the credit crunch.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Solar panels work by capturing the suns energy and converting this into electricity and with the UK renowned for not having the sunniest of climates the question arises as to whether solar panels are suitable for the UK’s weather conditions.

The simple answer is yes. The reason why is because solar only requires daylight to capture energy and therefore this can be captured on bright colder days just as well as on sunnier days. Even when there are clouds in the sky there will still be light available that the solar panels can capture. However, consideration needs to be given to the amount of energy that is captured during the different weather conditions as this will be the main difference. As on long summer days the solar panels will generate more electricity than on a cloudier, cold and shorter winter day.

Another consideration when installing the solar panels is the position of the roof and where the panels will be fitted. The panels need to be positioned so that they are south facing as this will mean that they will be capturing most of the suns light during the day. It is also important to ensure that the roof is not shaded by any objects that will hinder the collection of the daylight. It will also be important to ensure that the panels are set at an angle from the ground of about 30-40 degrees to get the most out of them.

If you have been contemplating purchasing solar panels and have been unsure about the UKs climate then you need not worry. Statistics show that the UK is akin to some places in France and Spain as it receives the same amount of sunlight as these areas. Also, the UK does receive 60% of the solar radiation found at the equator. Therefore, all these statistics point to the fact that the UK gets enough light to make solar panels feasible.

If you are still unsure then you should take a look around you and see the phenomenal growth in homes installing solar panels on their roofs to generate electricity. A recent article in The Guardian newspaper suggested that more properties were installing solar panels and that the governments feed-in tariff was likely to be the reason for this. They also believe that households are also looking for continued efficiency improvements and risk mitigation against fossil fuel increases which solar energy can provide. They concluded that solar panels will start to become commonplace on roofs as this green, renewable energy source becomes more widespread and a viable energy source for many households across the UK.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

British Gas the largest installer of new boilers in the UK has recently bought a stake in AlertMe, which makes smart meters. These meters are used in homes and commercial premises to measure gas and electric usage. They take multiple readings everyday and report back directly to the energy supplier resulting in far more accurate billing.

This new acquisition by British Gas is a well-timed move because the government has announced it is aiming to have a smart meter installed in every home by 2020. The energy saving market is still relatively new in domestic terms but the potential is huge and the market continues to grow with new and exciting developments.

How Can Smart Meters Help Me?
Well, for one thing no more gas man visits! For most of us receiving a visit for a meter reading is an annoying inconvenience. Smart meters send automatic readings back so there is no need for manual readings.

Most people have received a shock bill at one time or another and there has been no shortage of negative press. These bills can be really bad news for people on low fixed incomes such as OAPs and single parent families. With smart meters the bills are much more accurate as you are only billed for what you actually use.

If you are environmentally conscious, and take an active interest in reducing your carbon footprint, you can even purchase a smart meter that measures CO2 emissions.

How Do Smart Meters Work?
Most of the current smart meters such as the ones British Gas provide use a SIM card that uses the GPRS GSM network to send and receive information, similar to a text message.

How much do Smart Meters Cost?
Although at this point it seems smart meters are going to be provided for free to homeowners. The utility companies and the government are expected to cough up about £7 billion to install them, this expenditure will no doubt be passed on to the rest of us somewhere down the line. However, the long-term environmental and financial benefits are worthwhile.

Other Energy Efficient Gadgets
The energy efficiency market is becoming a huge global market. LG has recently launched its new ThinQ range which includes washing machines controlled via Smartphones which can be set to run when electricity is cheapest. The range also displays current energy consumption readings which are relayed to PCs to help homeowners analyse energy efficiency.

GE is about to offer its own version of smart home appliances that will actually be able to reduce demand for power in response to changing energy prices which is particularly interesting in terms of energy efficiency.

Germany is currently testing Smart Grid technology on a model city. It is a two way technology which will relay detailed information about power. The benefits are huge as the grid can tell home appliances and commercial machinery to run at the most energy efficient times. This is ideal for washing machines and factory machinery that do not need to run at specific times of the day.

Home energy efficiency is moving into a new exciting era and who knows hopefully we will soon see gas boilers that can actually use and store grid power and home generated renewable energy for later use.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

Many large house builders are now leading the way in creating sustainable homes but it’s not impossible to incorporate some of those features into your own home making it more energy efficient and saving you money on your energy bills.

An entire retrofit of your home at first may seem daunting but by making your home more energy efficient you can expect a realistic target energy saving of between 50 and 70 percent in the coming years. Fitting a new efficient boiler plus floor and roof insulation, a solar hot water system, ground source heat pumps, a heat recovery system, photovoltaic solar panels as well as a rainwater harvesting system can seriously reduce your home’s environmental impact and save you money. You may have seen projects undertaken by house builders to showcase these retrofits but, with planning and shopping around, you could undertake many of these projects yourself.

Firstly, do I need a new boiler you ask? Well many boilers in the UK operate at only 75% or even 50% efficiency meaning that half the energy they use is wasted. Installing a Band A high efficiency boiler will significantly reduce your household energy bills and your carbon dioxide emissions. Look out for systems which re-use flue gasses giving you further savings. These are called ‘Gas Savers’ and are best fitted alongside the installation of a new boiler. Invented back in 2002 these ingenious devices capture escaped heat, using it to pre-heat the water entering the boiler which in turn reduces even more the amount of gas required by the boiler to do it’s job. The initial cost of these top boxes are not usually covered under any grant scheme but the savings it generates means that within a few years the full cost of the unit can be recovered.

So check today what type of boiler rating you have and whether it makes sense to upgrade your boiler for a more efficient one. SEDBUK, or the Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK, is the rating system used and is expressed as a percentage.

Band A  90% and above
Band B  86% – 90%
Band C  82% – 86%
Band D  78% – 82%
Band E  74% – 78%
Band F  70% – 74%
Band G  Below 70%

The recent Boiler Scrappage Scheme saw many of the older G rated boilers upgraded so if your boiler is over 15 years old then it is most likely in need of replacement. The Energy Saving Trust can help you in choosing a more energy efficient boiler. You could save yourself up to £300 annually but be sure to make sure that you have made your home as insulated as possible as well. In my next blog about our energy efficiency retrofit I shall look at how you can insulate your home.

Guest Article by Caz Williams

Following the major field trial of domestic heating pumps, the Energy Saving Trust has compiled a list of questions for everyone who’s considering using one in their household.

So here’s the first theoretical question about heating pumps and it’s the biggie: when should you consider using one?

The simple answer, is that the ideal candidate at the moment (bear in mind this is a new technology), is someone who lives in an existing property (or one about to be built) which is properly insulated and one off the gas network. Compared to other fuel types when gas is not available – coal, electricity, oil and LPG – heating pumps can reduce both energy costs and carbon emissions over the system’s lifetime.

Next question: when you get a heating pump, how do you get it to perform to its best capabilities?

First things first, make sure that your house is well insulated, up to the latest standards and recommendations. Basics are, good cavity and loft insulation, which should be both installed before the heat pump goes in. If you don’t have these in place, then forget this system; it won’t work to the level you need. Secondly, when it comes to the choice of ancillary systems, ensure that you choose low temperature under-floor heating, or radiators that are sized properly. Thirdly, get controls that you can understand and operate without confusion. If you install a system that you can’t control, or refine, then again, forget it, it will work poorly. In short, check that all the ancillary and support equipment is up to scratch.

Next question, For anyone that used to traditional heating systems, just what can you expect.

Don’t expect boiling hot radiators. When using a domestic heat pump system, the radiators will be warm, rather than hot. If radiators are used rather than a under-floor pipe system, then they will likely heat up more slowly. Expect also the pump to be working for longer periods than a conventional boiler. Some people also express the doubt that some systems will be able to cope with a large property’s needs in terms of heating and hot water, despite being specified properly. So it makes sense to install a secondary electric immersion heater.

Chief Scientific Adviser David Mackay, who’s at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, said:
“Heat pumps will be a crucial component of our low-carbon future, provided they perform well. It’s therefore essential to conduct trials to establish best practice, and perfect this technology for use in building throughout the UK.”

It is also essential that people fully understand not only how heating pumps work, but how they should be installed and used correctly.

Guest Article by Neil Camp