When the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) was introduced in 2010, it did a good job of creating a solar industry and reducing the installed cost of systems. It did this by offering an incentive of receiving payments for generating their own electricity.

It is estimated that almost 1 million homes in the UK now have solar panels fitted (source: Solar Trade Association)

When the FIT scheme came to an end on 31 March 2019 it sparked rumours that solar may no longer be such a hot option.

The current government is looking into replacing the feed-in tariff under its Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and from 1st January 2020, the large energy companies are obliged to offer tariffs for solar.

This is good news for the industry and means you should definitely consider solar panels as an option, if you still need convincing, here are three great reasons why.

1.    Save money

The cost of solar panel installation has come down considerably in the years since the introduction of FiT.

Fitting solar panels is now, on average 25% of the cost of when the tariff was first introduced in 2010 when it was around £20,000 to buy and install panels, but now it’s about £5,000.

And long term it’s a great investment. Using the sun to generate your energy will payback over time in some instances reduce your energy bills by 50% and more.

The even better news is that the installation of solar panels is classed an ‘energy efficiency measure’ and will raise the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of your property, which can increase the value of your property.

2.    Future proof your home

The technology is getting better and better. Lots of the main suppliers including LG and Panasonic have improved the technology meaning that with regular care – we recommend that solar panels are cleaned twice a year –  they can last for up to 25 years (with a slight degradation of performance of around 20% over 25 years)

It also provides the bedrock of a great system that you can build on and be able to use additional energy created for your own need.

With FiT, homeowners were generally restricted to installing 4GW but with these restrictions now lifted, you can go bigger and installing 5.2GW on a roof can generate up to 5000kWh per year on an unshaded south facing roof.

The benefit of this is that you can build onto it in the future with extras including storage batteries, charge hot water cylinders, electric car chargers and heat pump technology.

Household solar batteries allow people to consume their own electricity rather than export it, and could provide power in the event of a power cut (back up battery systems)

Electric Vehicles are growing in popularity, the number of new cars registered increases month on month energy generated through solar panels could power an electric car charger – no more expensive fuel bills.

An air source heat pump runs on electricity and is a good alternative to LPG or oil or electric heating. You could use some of your solar power to run the heat pump, on sunny cold days.

3.    Making a clean choice

If you have concerns regarding the future of planet Earth, you will be conscious that every day we continue to use fossil fuels to provide energy the more we are adding to our carbon footprint and the climate change crisis.

Renewable technologies like solar power, give you a choice. It is estimated that once 10 million people have solar power in the UK one third of households could be utilising solar energy meaning 40% of the total volume of electricity would be generated from the sun in the summer.  How fantastic would that be?

Generating your own energy means you will reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and protecting you from rising energy costs.

Solar panels need to be installed on your home by an MCS certified (or equivalent) installer and the average installation can be done in one day.

And with companies like Nationwide Building Society earmarking £1billion to give customers cut-rate ‘green’ mortgages and loans for eco-home improvements it could be a more affordable option for more people.

If you are interested in installing solar panels call our renewables team for a free survey and quotation.

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And let’s face it, its much more attractive. No more unsightly radiators taking up precious wall space and presenting health & safety issues of being too hot, particularly around children and pets.

Our heating team can advise on the best heating system to suit your needs and match your budget, whether you are renovating your home or it is just time for a change.

Here we look at the underfloor heating options and consider some of the pros and cons to help you decide if it is the right choice for you and your home.

The two types of underfloor heating: water vs. electric.

Warm water underfloor heating is most commonly used as the main heating provider with each room of the building. It consists of continuous lengths of pipework generally installed below floor level, either buried within a concrete screed or situated between the floor joists, which connect to a central manifold and link back to the boiler / heatpump. This method means the whole floor slab becomes the heat emitter and ensures long-burn heat production.

The electric underfloor heating consists of sheets of matting which link back to a central room thermostat control. This type of system offers very little warmth to the room itself so is generally installed as an addition to the either a radiator or towel rail. It’s most commonly used in bathrooms and en-suites keeping the floors warm to the feel and dry from water splashes etc. Electric underfloor matting is more flexible for hard to reach areas and being easier to install than a water-based system, is cheaper to have fitted but more expensive to run.

So which should you choose?

As a general rule, water underfloor heating can in some circumstances be cheaper in the long run, but more expensive to install. Electric underfloor heating is more affordable to install, but is more expensive to run and often requires an additional heat source.

The location of your underfloor heating installation can also have an impact on the type of system you can get. With lots of different underfloor heating solutions for all floor types and coverings there is normally always a solution for every application.

We’d always recommend a full consultation with one of our team members, who can help you assess which would suit your needs better.

What are the pros

• Underfloor heating will provide you with maximum comfort. Your room will be heated evenly and distributed, as the heat comes from every area of the floor rising up into the room, rather than say, a single radiator in a room. This means it can run at a lower temperature to keep you warm.
• If you want to free up more space in your home or are tired of looking at radiators, underfloor heating can eliminate the need for any radiators at all.
• It will keep your feet cosy – imagine coming down on a cold winter morning to a toasty, warm floor rather than cold tiles!
• Once installed there is minimal maintenance required.

And the cons

• UFH can take slightly longer to heat up than radiators, which reach higher temperatures faster. But, with timers and smart controls, you’ll be able to plan when you need your room to be cosy and warm.
• It’s not always an ideal choice for really old buildings with thick brick walls and floors.
• If something goes wrong, then repair can be disruptive and costly. That’s why it’s imperative you use a qualified experienced installer.
• These systems can cost more to install, which is why they are most popular with those renovating or building their own homes – you will save a lot on the labour cost if the flooring is being lifted up and changed anyway.

Will underfloor heating cause major upheaval?

Interestingly, the answer is no, not always! Developments in the industry mean that installing underfloor heating won’t always require you to dig out your floor structure.

Recent developments mean you can choose surface mounted heating (for water-based UFH systems).

New insulated panels have been developed which can be laid above existing floor structure. They might only add as little as a couple of cm to the floor height and utilise warm water, similarly to a buried system. There are easy to fit, and are definitely an option for those who aren’t looking to renovate, but would like the benefits of underfloor heating.

So there we have it, an overview of underfloor heating. A cosy option for heating your home that eliminates the need for bulky radiators and will keep your feet warm all year long.

If you are interested in learning more about underfloor heating, why not give the Gregor Heating team a call for a no-obligation chat about your options on 0117 935 2400.

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After retiring, Rowland and Constance Amos decided to create a completely unique living space for themselves, the Octagon House.

An eight-sided home that required bespoke heating arrangements. The Amos’ chose Gregor Heating to take on the project of providing eco-friendly, sustainable heating for their home.

After carefully listening to their aims and requirements, our renewable experts installed air-to-water heat pumps and under floor heating. Cutting carbon emissions was an important requirement for the Amos’ so using the heat from the outside air was a great sustainable heating solution.

We also installed lots of new electrical lights, both indoor and outdoor.

The story began back in March when we started the build and we promised to fill you in once the Octagon House was finished.

So here it is. It really is quite something. And the photos below really do show how fantastic the finished Octagon House looks.

Mr. Amos said, “Not being a builder, I needed help with the electrical jobs and heating systems. Gregor did a magnificent job, I certainly would recommend them for any future projects.”

For an inside-look around The Octagon House, take a look at this video testimonial.

Are you looking to invest in your own self-build? Or perhaps a large-scale renovation project, then get in touch with the team today on 01179352400

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The post Living the dream build dream! appeared first on Gregor Heating, Electrical & Renewable Energy.

When Nick Clack and Ali Roberts decided to live on a boat, they wanted to build one that was as environmentally sustainable as possible. They decided to have a three-bedroom canal boat custom built to suit their requirements.

Tulak, a 65 ft long canal boat has an under-flooring heating system, zoned by room and a large hot water tank in the engine room. There’s no boiler in a conventional sense, but a heat pump that uses the natural warmth of the canal or river water to provide both heating and hot water.

Nick and Ali have all the heating technology they want in the boat but they were having issues controlling it.

The underfloor heating was being controlled by a dial thermostat from inside each room which wasn’t practical. Instead, they wanted to be able to control the heating from wherever they were, whether that’s on or off the boat.

The Gregor team reconfigured the wiring in Tulak and fitted four Netatmo smart thermostats to control the underfloor heating, which can be used remotely using Nick and Ali’s smart phones. The thermostats also provide detailed reports on their heating usage and tell them how long it takes for the boat to heat up and cool down.

To provide better control of their hot water Gregor installed a Drayton 711, 7-day programmer. With an individual day programme built into the Drayton, the setting of each day’s timings can be changed if required to suit their busy lifestyle. These kind of heating controls are ideal where living patterns vary during the week.

Nick and Ali now have complete control over their hot water and heating which enhances the sustainability of the boat.

If you are interested in finding out more about heating controls and their benefits, whether it’s for your property or even your boat, contact our team on 0117 935 2400.

The post Helping a sustainable boat keep its heating temperature under control appeared first on Gregor Heating, Electrical & Renewable Energy.

Yesterday evening Richard, our very own energy expert, and Steve, the MD, had a rare day out at the Regen SW Sustainable Energy Reception, an afternoon and evening full of the UK’s leading powers in renewable energy. The event was a rare opportunity to hear about some of the exciting renewable energy projects currently underway in the South West as well as an informative insight into the potential renewable energy holds for the future.

Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen SW, said:
“Over 10,000 people are directly employed in the south west in sustainable energy and we have the resources and entrepreneurial spirit to take a leading role in this fast growing sector. With the right public policy framework this could be just the start.”

Richard Blackmore (Gregor Energy Expert) and Steve Gregor (MD) outside the Houses of Parliament

SW hosted the South West Sustainable Energy Reception at the Members’ Dining Room at Westminster on Tuesday, September 13 2011

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