Energy

We use a lot of energy in our homes. This uses limited resources of fossil fuels, generates carbon dioxide which will cause climate change, and (worst of all!) costs us money. It’s likely to cost us more money in future, as fuel prices rise to take into account the environmental damage. The people buying our house off us will be looking at its fuel efficiency. As it’s now possible to build a house that requires no net energy input, that’s what we should request whenever we buy a new house.
A Royal Commission stated that, worldwide, we would have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions/fossil fuel use by 60% by 2050. Given that poorer countries would want to increase usage in order to develop, the UK will have to reduce usage by 80% (roughly). Latest calls are for a 90% UK emissions cut by 2030! Much of the existing housing will still be around, meaning that new housing should aim at 100% reduction. This will mean big changes to our houses, and to our lifestyles too.
In order to reduce domestic energy use, we need to:
· Insulate and draughtproof
· Use low energy appliances
· Turn down and switch off
· Avoid heat escape through windows or down the drain (while being careful not to encourage mildew)
· Capitalise on incoming heat (passive solar) through large south-facing windows or conservatories, while keeping north facing ones small
· Invest in renewable energy equipment. This is expensive, so it helps to reduce your energy requirements first, to reduce the equipment size. While you could buy a prestige car with such money, you’ll get more prestige from solar panels on your roof. Alternatively, buy shares in a renewable energy company. Or buy gas and electricity on green tariffs. (See “Buying Electricity”.)
· Learn to use our heating controls. With adequate insulation we shouldn’t need to have heating on all day, not even in the height of winter. It should be off at night, while we’re tucked up, and off during the day when we’re out. Find out how long your house takes to warm up, and use the timer to start the heating at the appropriate time. Then feel free to override it during mild spells. Unnecessary heating costs you MONEY! (Do allow some background heating to prevent frost damage if you’re away though.)
Warmcell Cellulose Fibre, Excel Industries. 01495 350655
High performance loft insulation made from treated recycled paper to British Standard.

Home Appliances

Most homes have numerous electric appliances which aim to save time and make life easier, but many of these gadgets are real energy-guzzlers and some, such as microwaves, may pose a health risk. Compare the energy rating on each appliance and choose the lowest! Avoid half washes in your washing machine as they are uneconomical of water and energy. Don't overfill the kettle and remember to switch off all appliances rather than leaving them on standby! Check out the latest solar/wind-up portable radios and torches.
Disposable batteries are the least efficient energy source, in both power and money. Choose rechargeable batteries (preferring NiMH to NiCd, which contaminates landfill sites with toxic Cadmium) or plug-in to the mains. NiCd batteries have different characteristics to traditional batteries - they have a slightly lower voltage, compensated by a lower internal resistance. They also slowly self-discharge, so are inappropriate in things like smoke alarms that are irregularly attended to. They are better in regularly used things.
Fridges/Freezers
Choose “A+” energy rated appliances, which will cost you less to run. Locating fridges and freezers in cool rooms ensures they have less work to do, which will save money on electricity. Unfortunately, many fridge-freezers are not designed to run in unheated rooms (they may not keep their contents cold enough!). One said to be suitable is the Bosch KGS3001.
Cheshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (CHEEAC) Freephone 0800 512012, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Gives free advice on energy conservation for homes and small businesses. Grant advice is available, and by completing a questionnaire, you can have a free home energy check, giving energy saving recommendations and the costs and savings you might expect. They can also be called on to give talks. Freepost address: CHEEAC, FREEPOST, NWW4002A, Winsford, CW7 2AE. They’re a wing of the Energy Saving Trust.
The Energy Saving Trust provides free advice to individuals, local authorities and small businesses: for details of grants, suppliers, installers and energy saving tips, or if you have any questions or would like to order an Energy Efficiency Action Pack, call the Energy Efficiency hotline on 08457 277 200, email: ku.oc.tse|kcapnoitca#ku.oc.tse|kcapnoitca or investigate www.saveenergy.co.uk. Please remember to include your full postal address if you are ordering an action pack. (The Energy Saving Trust’s website is www.est.org.uk)
The Government’s Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme website: www.energy-efficiency.gov.uk
The National Energy Foundation’s practical advice: www.natenergy.org.uk
Vale Royal Borough Council have an Energy Efficiency Officer, based at Wyvern House, Winsford, tel [phone], able to give advice on grants.

Boilers and Central Heating.

Rule 1: Know your controls and use them. Your boiler should come on shortly before you wake, go off before you leave, come on before you come home, go off before you retire. Heating the house at other times is pointless. Reduce heating during mild weather. If you’re in T-shirts in mid-winter, it’s too warm.
Rule 2: Turn your thermostats down: the heat you pay for is equal to the heat lost through the buildings fabric, which is proportional to the temperature difference between inside and out.
Rule 3: Get insulated. And draught-proofed. Other than switching off, there’s no better way to save money. There are other sources of heat in the house - bodies, appliances and solar gain, that can match the losses in a well-lagged house for much of the year.
Rule 4: Keep your system maintained and efficient. When it’s had it, replace it with a condensing boiler. When gas (and most other fuels) burn they produce water vapour containing a lot of your paid-for energy. Condensing boilers drag the heat out of the vapour, turning it to liquid water.
Contact the Very Efficient Heating Company for advice, not only on high efficiency boilers, but on the optimum performance of heating, ventilation and insulation for human comfort. They’re a subsidiary of The Solar Design Company: tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.nomed.ngised-ralos|ocffe#ku.oc.nomed.ngised-ralos|ocffe
CHEEAC can also give advice.
Reduce heat losses through walls by placing reflective foil behind radiators mounted inside external walls. It’s available in good DIY shops, or, a variant which deflects convection currents into the room, as seen in the Warrington Energy House, is available from Environment 2000 Ltd., The Courtyard, 38 Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, BT38 7DP, tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.0002-tnemnorivne|selas#ku.oc.0002-tnemnorivne|selas, www.environment-2000.co.uk

Household renewable energy

sources you may consider are
· Passive Solar (south facing windows or conservatory, some form of heat storage such as thick, externally insulated walls to hold heat from summer into winter).
· Solar water heating, using roof panels to boost your water temperature.
Solar Panels. In this publication, “solar panels” refers to panels that heat water from the sun, not photovoltaic panels that make electricity. Avoid cowboy salesmen. You’ll not save more than a proportion of your present fuel bills, so the financial payback may be long. Whether fuel prices rise or not, your investment will be saving the planet and should be an asset to your house value. You may save 90% on hot water costs in summer, 30% in winter, 60% overall.
Solartwin, supply panels heating your water directly instead of via a separate circuit. The pump is solar powered, reducing installation and instrumentation costs. DIY kits currently cost £1599, with installation the price is £2499. Solartwin, 15 King Street, Chester CH1 2AH, tel [phone], fax: [phone], email moc.niwtralos|yrrab#moc.niwtralos|yrrab, www.solartwin.com
Filsol are another supplier, cost £2500 - £3500 including installation. Tel [phone].
Solarsense make more expensive, more efficient per unit area, evacuated tube Thermomax panels. Solarsense UK Ltd., The Old Mill, Mead Lane, Saltford, Bristol BS31 3ER. tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.tenielbac|esnesralos#ku.oc.tenielbac|esnesralos
The Solar Design Company, 57 Wood Lane, Greasby, Wirral CH49 2PU, Tel/fax [phone] www.solardesign.co.uk
Specialists in solar panels, energy from wind and sun, insulation, ventilation and central heating.
They will design, install and maintain your solar water heating system, from a selection of types including Solar-Twin, in various sizes, with customisation if required Typical prices are £2000 to £3000 depending on size and type. They can also supply DIY kits and may be able to put you in contact with skilled plumbers, electricians or roof workers depending on what skills you admit to lacking. This option currently costs £1400 for a 3 square meter collector suitable for 2 or 3 people.
They also give advice on other forms of renewable energy: their website includes photovoltaic cells, wind turbines and water turbines.
Energy Engineering, Herons Reach, Cound Moor, Shrewsbury SY5 6BB. 01694 731648
Manufacturers and installers of solar heating systems with 25 years experience.

Photovoltaic panels, generating electricity from panels on your roof. Some panels can resemble tiles. It is expensive and requires conversion to resemble mains supply before it can be connected to the rest of your system: this requires additional equipment. Hence the price is currently £20,000 inclusive for a 3000 peak watt system, enough to supply much of a typical household’s summer demand. Historically, if you generate electricity surplus to your needs, it’s been possible to sell this back to your electricity company, but at a low price: However TXU Europe, through Greenpeace, offer to buy this electricity at the same price as you pay for electricity from the National Grid. Contact TXU Europe on 0845 604888 or visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/solarnet.htm
The newly introduced Solar Grant Programme offers help for domestic installation of photovoltaic panels – probably a 50% grant. The programme is administered by the Energy Saving Trust: telephone [phone], www.pv-uk.org.uk
Photovoltaic panels: Suppliers include Solar Century, 91-93 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, SE1 7AB, tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.yrutnecralos|ofni#ku.oc.yrutnecralos|ofni, www.solarcentury.co.uk (tile shaped panels, looking like tiles and fitting like tiles)
Sundog, Fell Cottage, Natterdale End, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0LF, tel [phone], fax [phone]
W & P Technical Services, Glyn Meibion Mawr, Groeslon, Caernarfon, LL54 7DP, tel/fax [phone], email ten.nigriv|yeknej.kcin#ten.nigriv|yeknej.kcin
Wind & Sun Ltd, Humbermarsh, Stoke Prior, Leominster HR6 0NE, tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.nusdnadniw|ofni#ku.oc.nusdnadniw|ofni, www.windandsun.co.uk

· Wind Turbine, again requires tweaking to match the characteristics of mains supply. In remote locations it can be cheaper to have a wind turbine or photovoltaic panels than to connect to the grid.
· Wood Burning Stove. Needs a good source of wood and dry storage. Can cause a smoke nuisance. There are woodchip boilers around for larger applications.
Contact Amy Talbott, Talbott’s Heating Ltd, Drummond Road, Astonfields Industrial Estate, Stafford, ST16 3HJ, t 01785 213366, f 01785 256418, e moc.nsm|retsubmoc#moc.nsm|retsubmoc, w www.talbotts.co.uk for boilers rated 25 -12,000kW (typical domestic gas boilers may be 14.9 to 23.4 kW - 51,000 to 80,000 Btu/h)
Other information from http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/pdf/bio.pdf:
Todaysure Projects Ltd
Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
154 Oldfield Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4BJ
Markets woodburning combustion units, for woodwaste, pallets, chipboard, MDF, skip debris, woodchips, dust, cardboard and paper, producing hot air and hot water. Capacity from 1 to 120 tonnes per week.
Woodburning Stoves are available from Alan Leach, 28 Darmonds Green, West Kirby, Wirral, L48 5DU, tel/fax [phone], email ku.oc.laidbsf|sevotsnacs#ku.oc.laidbsf|sevotsnacs, www.scan-of-denmark.co.uk
Also The Ceramic Stove Company, 4 Earl Street, Oxford, OX2 0JA, tel/fax [phone], email moc.evotscimarec|ofni#moc.evotscimarec|ofni, www.ceramicstove.com who design, build, reconstruct and renovate, and can supply bread and other woodfired ovens.

The Solid Fuel Association can give advice on things you can do with open fires and solid fuel central heating to optimise performance. Contact them at 7, Swanwick Court, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7AS, tel [phone], www.solidfuel.co.uk
Other contacts: British Flue and Chimney Manufacturers’ Association, tel [phone]
and Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme, tel [phone]

· Water power: if you’re handy for a stream!
The National Energy Foundation has a website promoting the use of renewable energy: www.greenenergy.org.uk, or freefone 0800 138 0889. The Solar Design Company can also advise.
Heat Pumps are an effective method of heating using electricity and a source of heat - which is just something outside the house that can be cooled down. Think of it as an inside-out fridge stuck outdoors with the heat exchanger on the back pulled into the house; except ice on the outdoor bit is not allowed. Sources of heat include coils buried in the garden, or running water. One unit of electricity may take 2 or 3 units of heat from outside, and input a total of 3 or 4 into the house, bringing the cost of the heat down to something that may be comparable to gas. CO2 emissions are also reduced. The nearest supplier of heat pumps, as listed in AECB’s “The Real Green Building Book”, is John Cantor - Heat Pumps, The Workshop, Denis Street, Lancaster, LA1 1QX, tel/fax [phone], www.heatpumps.co.uk
Fuel Cells may one day replace your boiler. Methane in your gas supply can be “reformed” to yield hydrogen, which is then reacted without burning, producing both electricity and heat. They can be likened to batteries that are continuously recharged from chemical energy. However, some balance will be needed between electricity and heat needs. The technology may be market-ready within 10 years.
Investment
The Wind Fund offers a direct way for you to take practical action for the environment. It has calculated that buying £1,300 of shares in the Wind Fund represents the finance required to generate from renewable sources as much electricity as the average family uses. The Wind Fund gives you the chance to make a direct investment with the prospect of financial returns and lasting environmental benefits. If you have any further questions before applying for shares, call 0800 056 2761. (From http://www.windfund.co.uk/wfgen2.htm).
Or contact Triodos Bank, freephone 0500 008 720, Triodos Bank, Brunel House, 11 The Promenade, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3NN, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]. mailto:[e-mail]

Cutting Consumption

Wondering which form of alternative energy to invest in? They’re all expensive: the most cost effective measure is to reduce your energy consumption. Energy Clubs can be joined: with sufficient members, they can negotiate good prices on energy efficient equipment. Clubs also exist for people wishing to install solar water heating panels, involving group purchase again, along with help installing and advice on commissioning the panels: a plumber is an essential member of the team. (Solarsavers gives local people access to solar water heating systems at sensible prices, thanks to discounts achieved using the bulk-buying powers of local government. Contact: Solarsavers: 0845 6000 337 mailto:www.solartwin.com ) Contact Vale Royal Environment Network, The Council House, Church Road, Northwich CW9 5PD, 01606 41224, email gro.nerv|maet#gro.nerv|maet if you’re interested in joining either.
Other ways to save energy:
Locate your fridge and freezer away from heat sources, and if they’re suitably designed, in a cool, dry place.
Ensure there’s plenty of ventilation space at the back and over the fridge/freezer, and keep the cooling fins clean: they tend to get dusty.
Use a fridge thermometer to check you’re at the right temperature - between 0 and 4oCin the fridge, -18oC in the freezer.
Ensure the doors shut and nothing allows air in or out past the plastic seals.
Defrost regularly, and keep any drain clear.
Allow things to cool down before putting in the fridge/freezer.
If you’ve lots of unused space in your fridge or freezer, lots of cold air drops out each time you open the door. Inserting blown-up carrier bags or empty plastic bottles will prevent this, but remember to allow air to circulate. Three quarters full is the most efficient.
Invest in a SAVAPLUG: these can save on the running costs of your fridge/fridge-freezer by reducing the power consumption of the motor after start-up. Doesn’t work on some models though: recent ones have probably got the electrics sorted to improve the energy rating.
Share your home with a friend, or move in to their place. This not only saves energy, but saves on all the equipment one buys in setting up a home. You could also consider moving into communal accommodation, sharing (subject to mutual agreement) kitchen, living room, gardening, car…By saving on equipment, you also save on using the world’s resources.

Insulating your home can also be cheaper. Home Insulation Grants have recently been extended to include gas heated homes as well as electrically heated ones. Those on certain benefits or over 60 years of age qualify for free insulation, otherwise the grant covers about ¾ of the full cost. Options include Cavity Wall Insulation, Loft Insulation (full or top-up to the recommended 200mm (8”) and/or Hot Water Cylinder Jacket. Contact your fuel supplier. For Manweb/Scottish Power customers phone [phone]: there may also be a grant available to cover part of the cost of installing or upgrading your gas heating system - upgrading to a new, energy efficient condensing boiler.

Warrington Energy House is full of displays relating to the use of energy. See a selection of boilers, efficient circulating pumps, insulation measures, controlled ventilation, kitchen equipment, etc. There’s also a solar panel on the roof, a kids’ display, and a show of water saving equipment. Children and adults are welcome, and there is a chair lift. The house is close to the Warrington town centre at 302 Manchester Road. Tel [phone] for details.

Too much draughtproofing can lead to condensation and mildew problems. Avoid by: minimising water evaporation (simmering pans, drying clothes indoors) close doors and ventilate kitchen/bathroom when making steam, and keep all walls warmed by not having furniture against exterior walls and by not closing doors on cold rooms. The latest ventilation systems remove stale or moist air through a heat exchanger, where heat is transferred to warm the incoming air. Some examples are displayed at the Warrington Energy House. In winter, the best time to ventilate for fresh air is late morning, if possible, when the heating is off and you get an afternoon of solar gain.
These include Nuaire products (Western Industrial Estate, Caerphilly. CF83 1XH, tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.eriaun|ofni#ku.oc.eriaun|ofni, www.nuaire.co.uk) whose DRI-XX and FLAT-XX are proper heat exchangers. Non-heat-exchanger ventilation is covered in “The House” section.

Lights: Energy Efficient Lights cost more initially but save more than their cost in electricity. A 100W bulb, on for 4 hours daily, will cost 25p in electricity over 10 days, or £9 a year: far more than the cost of a low energy light, which will have used about £1.50 in electricity in the same time. Energy Efficient Lights also last longer, so are good for inaccessible fittings, and are cooler so can be used in fittings designed for lower wattage ordinary bulbs. However, like the fluorescent tubes that they’re a contorted version of, they contain mercury, and so ought not be disposed of in the bin. (See Recycling.) Contact your Recycling Officer for current advice. You should shortly be able to return them, in the packaging used for the new replacement, either to your supplier or to a council depository. Industry already has a duty to recycle them.
Energy Efficient Lights come in a variety of shapes, and include candle-shaped, spot, globe and linear.
Fluorescent tubes are also available in circular versions in decorative fittings. Sizes range from 22 to 60 watt, equivalent to 100 to 300 watts of tungsten bulbs. With straight tubes, thinner ones are more efficient.

Daylight is cheapest: arrange workplaces by clean, uncluttered, windows and minimise night living. Clean light fittings may avoid you needing extra light. Aim to light what you need lit, not the rest of the house. Decorate and furnish using light colours to bounce light around the room; you may consider white-painted extensions to your south-facing windowledges, to reflect more light at your ceiling.
Torches: LED torches, like LED bicycle lights, are low users of battery power, although more expensive than mainstream incandescent versions. Obtainable from Outdoor and Sports Company Ltd., Redfern House, Dawson St., Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 1RD, tel [phone], fax [phone], www.mountain-equipment.co.uk

Check Which? Magazine for energy efficient appliances. Back-dated copies are held in main libraries.

Buying Electricity

Without going overboard on flash hardware, you can still have greener energy. Gas can be purchased on a tariff that supports the planting of trees to soak up the CO2, and there are a variety of options with electricity, buying:
· from a specialist supplier of renewable electricity, eg unit(e), Ecotricity
· from a Regional Electricity Company (REC) (eg MANWEB) supplying renewable electricity
· from a REC using your money to invest extra in renewable energy
· or staying with an ordinary supplier and taking shares in a renewable energy venture
Green tariffs can mean you pay a little more, but you’ll know you’re doing your bit. Your electricity will be just the same, coming along wires with electricity from elsewhere, but it’s where your money’s going that matters!
Specialist Suppliers
Good Energy supplies 100% renewable electricity to businesses and homes throughout England and Wales. unit[e] purchases the output from renewable generation in the UK, including wind and small-hydro and sells directly to end consumers. The cost may be a little more than your present supply. unit(e), 16 Avon Reach, Monkton Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1EE (attention Juliet Davenport), tel [phone], fax [phone] email ku.oc.ygrene-tinu|tropnevad.teiluj#ku.oc.ygrene-tinu|tropnevad.teiluj
Or Ecotricity, Axiom House, Station Road, Stroud, Glos. GL5 3AP, 01453 756 111, fax [phone], moc.yticirtoce|ofni#moc.yticirtoce|ofni
Green Tariffs
Innogy’s subsidiary, npower has recently introduced, in collaboration with Greenpeace, Juice. Customers can have electricity from entirely renewable sources, produced from a wind farm in North Wales and ultimately from North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm. Contact them at 0800 316 2610 or log on to www.npower.com or www.greenpeace.org/Juice.
Powergen and the World Wildlife Fund have a partnership: the Greenplan scheme. This supplies renewable energy at about 3.5% higher cost than a standard Powergen tariff, with donations to WWF on signing up.
In all, about 15 electricity companies have a green tariff of some sort, some selling electricity from renewable sources, others pledging to put your money into a special fund to invest in renewables. For help sorting one from the other, visit www.greenprices.co.uk/uk/pricegen.asp . The current target is that 10% of the UK’s energy supplies should be renewable by 2010. Regional electricity companies will have to supply electricity that’s 10% renewable by 2010, to their standard customers. (It’s expected that prices will rise by 5% as a result.) Customers who’ve opted for green tariffs are not part of that 10%. Due to demand for renewable energy from non-domestic customers keen to minimise exposure to Climate Change Levy, some companies may be a little slow to offer these tariffs to domestic customers. However, if you keep pressing them, they might install the extra capacity sooner!
Positive Power is another website specialising in supplying information on renewable energy (including tariffs) in the UK: www.positivepower.co.uk
Friends of the Earth has a rating on Electricity companies, which includes how much they support renewable generation. See www.foe.org.uk