Tag: Cambridgeshire

Ground Source Heat Pump – using heat from a pond

Here’s an interesting example of getting renewable energy using a ground source heat pump (GSHP) – that takes its heat from the water in a pond rather than from the ground.

The Cambridgeshire householder replaced his gas boiler with a Kensa 24kW Single Phase Twin Compressor GSHP to harness renewable heat energy from a nearby lake to provide space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) to his Grade 2 listed farmhouse.

Installation-montage-2-570x267

pond mats consisting of slinky pipes attached to corrosion resistant stainless steel frames into the lake on a closed loop system. They connected the system up to the heat pump which is housed in an annex building via pipes running under the lawn up to the main house. This method removed the need for large amounts of drilling or digging, thereby reducing the cost and duration of the installation.

slinky pipes

More details of this case study

A GSHP is eligible under the UK government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – which means that the householder will receive quarterly payments over a seven year period that are likely to cover the capital costs of the installation. Plus the householder is likely to pay less for energy bills.

In order to claim back under RHI a Green Deal Assessment is required. We (pjb Associates) can provide a Green Deal Assessment before or after the installation of a renewable solution like a GSHP. Get an Assessment We can now cover the whole of East Anglia.

£4000 Energy-saving grant for Cambridgeshire homes

A £4000 grant is still available for home-owners of Cambridgeshire homes who require solid-wall insulation (SWI). But, you need to be quick as you will need to get an assessment and sign-up for SWI before 31 March 2016 with installations to be completed by 31 July 2016.

More information on solid wall insulation

There is also a grant for Private Landlords of £4000 for solid wall insulation. In both cases at 25% contribution is required by the owners. Private Landlords will also be able to get an additional £1000 for other approved measures. The funding comes from the Cambridgeshire Green Deal Communities Fund – that originally came from the National government’s Department for Energy and Climate Fund.

When its gone – it’s gone!! 

It’s very unlikely that home-owners will get any more grants like this in the next few years. The current government appears to be moving away from subsidies. So home owners need to move fast.

Over 1000 Cambridgeshire homes have received a grant for solid wall insulation.

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Victorian end-terrace, renovated with sustainable materials ~ case study

open eco homes

According to Judith the owner of this Cambridge 1912 terraced house, the main aim of the renovations was to create a bigger and more usable space. Rather than moving she realised that they could live better where we were with just a ground floor extension and better storage.

Insulating the house properly to make it cosier and reduce their Co2 emissions was very important and they also worked on making the most of the natural
light, for both aesthetic reasons as well as energy usage.

Ross Street

Improvements included using different types of internal wall insulation including polyurethane with aerogel in smaller spaces and on the chimney breasts. They also added a wood burning stove and solar PV.

Full details. Look out for Cambridge Open Eco Homes days where you can visit the property. The Open Eco Homes are run by Cambridge Carbon Footprint.

If you live in Cambridgeshire you can get a grant up to £6000 for the cost of solid wall insulation. Contact Peter Bates Tel 01353 667973 peter@80pc.org

 

Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has now issued over 36 million pounds of vouchers

Just five weeks into the scheme, over £36 million pounds worth of vouchers have now been issued by the UK government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. This means the first £50 million, current rates guaranteed, could be used up within the next two weeks at the current rate of uptake.

GDHIF

The new £7600 incentive offered to households is split into a number of parts; £1000 is given for installing two measures from an approved list of renovations, £100 is available towards the cost of an the initial assessment and £6000 is on offer for the expensive procedure of installing solid wall insulation. Those who’ve bought their property within 12 months of application to the scheme are also eligible for a further £500.

It is unknown at present, what the government will do once the £50 million threshold, has been reached. Although, it is understood that this £50 million is part of £120 million available during this current financial year. Government could decide to reduce the subsidy for some or all the measures or simply release more money and put it into the GDHIF pot. No doubt there will be surplus funds available from the previous Cash-back scheme that finished on 30 June 2014.

However, government needs to move quickly in order to avoid being accursed of “roller-coaster intervention” by the industry and householders – which fails to create a sustainable market that is of benefit to both householders and installers.

GDHIF cores

12 improvement measures

Click here for more details on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Or contact The 80percent Hub about having a Green Deal Assessment

Click here for the latest figures

See press release

£25 million pounds of vouchers now issued for Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

After only four weeks over £25 million pounds worth of vouchers have now been issued by the UK government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. This is over half of the initial £50 million which is part of a £540 million three year package announced by the government in December 2013.

GDHIF

At the one month milestone, 4405 households in England and Wales are already taking advantage of the new scheme which offers up to £7600 for energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, new heating systems and double glazing. With the current rates guaranteed for the first £50 million, people should act now enjoy the benefits of a warmer, greener home and lower energy bills.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, said:

“With the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund off to such an encouraging start, it’s the perfect time to make your home more energy efficient. Act now, get money for the improvements and enjoy a warmer home and lower energy bills this winter.”

The new £7600 incentive offered to households is split into a number of parts; £1000 is given for installing two measures from an approved list of renovations, £100 is available towards the cost of an the initial assessment and £6000 is on offer for the expensive procedure of installing solid wall insulation. Those who’ve bought their property within 12 months of application to the scheme are also eligible for a further £500.

GDHIF cores

12 improvement measures

Click here for more details on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Or contact The 80percent Hub about having a Green Deal Assessment

Click here for the latest figures

See press release