Energy Saving Tips - Part 4 of 6
In part three of the moneysupermarket.com energy money saving tips guide we
began our look at renewable energy in the home. In part four we continue to
examine the options available.
If you want to go directly to another section of our green energy guide, you can click on one of the links below:
Biomass
These are fuels produced by organic materials such as woody biomass (forest
products, energy crops, etc) or non-woody biomass (animal waste, high energy
crops, etc). This can help waste management as products can be taken from
landfill sites. There are two varieties of biomass heaters – stand-alone stoves
fuelled by logs or pellets with a 6-12kW output and boilers connected to
central heating or hot water systems, which are generally larger than 15kW.
Biomass is not suitable for everyone and it is important to have storage space
for the fuel, vent material specifically designed for wood fuel appliances, a
smokeless zone and it must meet safety and building regulations. Stand-alone
room heaters usually cost from £1,500-£3,000 while a typical 20kW boiler would
cost about £5,000. You are also required to pay for the fuel, which adds to the
cost. However, in areas without a gas supply these costs can be favourable.
Ground source heat pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) work in a similar manner to fridges and air
conditioners – they transfer heat from the ground into a building. With current
fuel prices, GSHP can work out cheaper than oil, LPG and electric storage
heaters. An 8kW system would cost between £6,400 and £9,600 to install in
addition to the price of the distribution system.
Wind power
Wind uses kinetic energy to turn an electricity turbine and, depending on their
size, these turbines can produce from a few hundred watts to two-three
megawatts. Most household systems are two-three kilowatts.
Small-scale wind turbines are ideal for off-grid locations where conventional
electricity supplies are expensive. Often this system is combined with a diesel
generator during low wind speed periods.
Systems up to 1kW will cost about £3,000 with £4,000-£18,000 for those in the
region of 1.5kW and 6kW. This includes inverters, turbine, battery storage,
mast and installation.
In part five we will examine small-scale hydropower and grant information.
Part Five - Top tips for cheaper gas and electricity >>>
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