Personal story:

I first realised I needed to do something some years ago when I had a Land Rover Discovery and filled it up with petrol. The bill came to £108 even though the tank wasn’t empty; I thought this is ludicrous so I got rid of it. My grandchildren call me eco granddad and I try to do whatever I can to save energy and be more environmental. I now drive a Ford Fusion which has low emissions and is cheap to run.

Motivations:

I just thought I should do something. We have a wonderful south facing roof so, about seven years ago, it seemed logical to install a solar PV system.

Key changes made:

• Double glazed windows installed throughout
• Loft insulation: topped up to about 300mm. Part of the roof can’t be reached internally so this is uninsulated
• Condensing boiler running on Calor Gas installed as a package with 300 litre pressurised water cylinder and air source heat pump
• Solar thermal tubes installed in about 2010. Tubes were chosen because of the efficiency they offered over panels
• 6kWp+ solar PV system. The first measure to be installed. The initially system was installed on the main roof. This proved so successful that a second system was installed on a second roof that runs parallel to the first, both are south facing
• Low energy lighting throughout (CFLs)
• Low energy appliances throughout
• Water saving devices: 5 water butts (1000 litre) fed with rainwater from roof
• Wood burning stove
• Thermostats installed on radiators. Some radiators have been doubled up for greater efficiency
• The cavity walls have not been insulated as this would mean drilling through and damaging the decorative external render and the coating covering it

Measures installed in detail:

• Condensing boiler running on Calor Gas. 300L pressurised water cylinder, TRVs on double radiators.
• Double glazed windows throughout
• Air source heat pump
• Loft insulation  topped up to about 300mm
• Low energy appliances throughout
• Low energy lighting throughout (CFLs)
• 6kWp solar PV system
• Solar thermal tubes
• Water saving devices: 5 water butts (1000 litre) fed with rainwater from roof
• Wood burning stove

Benefits of work carried out:

The PV system means that I haven’t paid an electric bill for three years and around £150 goes into my bank account annually from the Feed-in Tariff. The combination of the solar thermal tubes, the air source heat pump and the wood burning stove mean that the condensing boiler is only used for a few minutes in the morning for a boost. Consequently we generally only use two cylinders of Calor Gas a year, about £100 in total.

Favourite feature:

The PVs which bring a good return and are a very simple feature to instal, as is an air source heat pump. The wood burning stove is also fabulous

Business name:

Business overview:

Contact this homeowner