The increasing importance of Renewable Energy Heating Systems
As the world's fossil fuels run out, prices increase and we have a better understanding of the environmental impact of energy consumption, more people are turning to renewable energy sources for heating and hot water.
Solar Thermal Systems
The sun's energy is free, effective and is never going to run out. A Viessmann home solar system installed by HeatNet reduces emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2 the greenhouse gas) by around 3/4 tonne per year!
Q. How much can I save with a solar heating system?
A. Up to 60% of your domestic hot water energy costs!
Q. Is there enough sun in Britain to provide enough heat?
A. Yes! An efficient solar heating system will make the best use of whatever solar energy there is - even on a dull day.
Q. Where can they be located?
A. Flat panels should ideally be in a south facing, pitched roof. Tubes are more flexible and can even be installed on flat roofs and walls.
Q. How does it work?
A. Flat or tube collectors absorb heat from the sun, to heat a liquid, which travels to the water tank. A heat exchanger transfers the heat to the hot water supply.
Q. Are solar panels worth fitting?
A. For larger households that use a lot of water they can mean significant savings on fuel bills and emissions.
Q. Is solar heating reliable?
A. Yes! The first solar heating factory was opened in 1952 and solar heating is becoming mandatory in many parts of the world.
Q. What's the advantage of tube systems over flat panels?
A. Solar tubes can be individually rotated towards the sun, for maximum performance. They can also be easier and cheaper to install.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps extract heat from the ground, ground water or air. A heat pump can be used instead of, or alongside a conventional boiler and is perfect for running an underfloor heating system.
Ground Source Heat Pumps: If a large area of land is available (about the size of a tennis court), 'slinky' pipes can be laid 2-3m below the surface of the ground. The alternative is to sink vertical bore holes, to depths of up to 100m, where temperatures are maintained at a steady 10oC.
Air/Water Heat Pumps: These offer the most flexibility in terms of installation as they require no drilling or digging. They can generate heat even in the winter months and can achieve temperatures of up to 65oC.
Q. So how does a heat pump work?
A. They work in a similar way to refrigerators - but the other way round.
Q. What are the benefits of a heat pump?
A. You don't need to worry about a flue, oil tank or gas connections and you won't need a chimney sweep again. In fact you don't even need to worry about maintenance - when was the last time you had your fridge serviced? You don't need to pay for or store fuel and all the time your helping the environment.
Q. What does it cost to run a heat pump?
A. Heat pumps need electricity to operate, but for every 1kW of electricity they use, they generate 3 to 4kW of heat.
Q. Can you be really warm with a heat pump?
A. A properly sized system in a well insulated home can provide all the heating and hot water you need, all year round, with no need for back up from a boiler or electric heating system. In fact, in Sweden more than 50% of homes rely solely on a heat pump.
Q. Can I combine a heat pump with solar technology?
A. Yes, you can get the maximum benefit from the environment by combining the two technologies. Many heat pumps have integrated connections and controls for solar collectors.
Wood Pellet Boilers
Wood is a great alternative to oil and gas. It's renewable, convenient and not subject to the extreme price swings and uncertainties of other fuels. Burning wood produces only as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as was absorbed when the tree was growing.
Q. Isn't heating with wood old-fashioned and hard work?
A. No, it's easy and convenient. New wood pellet burners have a hopper and intelligent sensors for for easy, trouble-free operation. There's also very little ash and no old wood smoke to pollute the air.
Q. Is heating with wood expensive?
A. Wood is consistently cheaper than other fuels and is not subject to sudden price increases. Check that you have a reliable local supplier of pellets, by contacting the Renewable Energy Association, www.r-e-a.net
Q. Can anyone use wood for heating?
A. Today's solid fuel boilers are so efficient that they can be used for heating almost any house - but you do need a dry storeroom for the pellets. It's not usually necessary to modify the chimney and you can even combine the benefits of a solid fuel boiler with oil or gas systems and choose which fuel you want to use and when. And of course, you can incorporate solar panels into your heating system.