RENEWABLES / MY WARM HOME
Renewables at home.
Low-carbon technology still has to suit the building around it.
01
Understand
Know what the technology actually does and where its energy comes from.
02
Compare
Solar, heat pumps and biomass all work differently and suit different homes.
03
Design
Consider heat loss, emitters, storage, controls and how energy will be used.
04
Integrate
Make renewables part of the whole-home plan rather than a bolt-on product.
RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Different technologies for different homes.
01
Solar
Solar PV generates electricity from daylight. Solar thermal uses sunlight to help provide hot water.
Roof orientation, shading and how energy is used in the home all affect the result.
02
Air-source
Air-source heat pumps take heat from the outside air and use electricity to upgrade it for space heating and hot water.
They can suit many properties when heat loss, emitters and operating temperatures are properly considered.
03
Ground & water
Ground-source and water-source heat pumps collect heat from more stable environmental sources such as the ground or suitable bodies of water.
Site conditions, available land, drilling access or suitable water sources determine whether they are practical.
04
Biomass
Biomass systems burn organic fuel such as wood pellets, wood chips or logs to provide heating and hot water.
They may suit some rural or off-gas properties where fuel supply, storage and maintenance are practical.
THE FOUNDATIONS
Renewables don’t work in isolation.
Insulation
Reducing unnecessary heat loss changes the amount of heat the home needs and can affect the size and operation of a heating system.
Ventilation
A warmer and more airtight home still needs appropriate ventilation to manage moisture and indoor air quality.
System design
Heat demand, emitters, flow temperatures, hot-water requirements, storage and controls all need to work together.
CHOOSING THE SYSTEM
There is no universal best renewable technology.
The right system depends on the property, the site, the household and what you are trying to achieve.
- Homes with suitable roof space may benefit from solar generation.
- Heat pumps depend heavily on heat loss and good heating-system design.
- Ground-source systems require suitable space or drilling access.
- Water-source systems require a suitable water source and appropriate site conditions.
- Biomass needs practical fuel delivery, storage and maintenance arrangements.
The question is not simply “which technology is best?” It is “which technology works properly in this home?”
BEFORE YOU INSTALL RENEWABLES
Four checks before choosing the technology.
01
Insulation
Understand the fabric of the building and where heat is being lost before sizing a new heating system.
02
System design
Heat loss, emitter sizing, water temperatures, hot-water demand and equipment sizing should be considered together.
03
Controls
Good equipment can still perform poorly if the controls are unsuitable, badly configured or difficult to understand.
04
Ventilation
Changes to insulation and airtightness should not be made without considering moisture and fresh-air requirements.
FUNDING
Funding can help but it should not choose the system for you.
Grant support can reduce the upfront cost of some low-carbon technologies, but suitability should still come first.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides support for eligible low-carbon heating installations. Check the current rules and eligibility before making decisions.
Warm Homes & local schemes
Other national and local schemes may support measures including insulation, low-carbon heating and solar technologies.
WHY SYSTEMS FAIL
The technology is often blamed for a problem created by the design.
Higher running costs
A badly selected or poorly controlled system can cost more to operate than expected.
Poor performance
Incorrect sizing, inadequate emitters or unsuitable operating temperatures can leave rooms uncomfortable.
Comfort problems
A system designed around the equipment instead of the building can create cold rooms, overheating or difficult controls.
Remedial work
Fixing mistakes after installation can be disruptive and expensive compared with getting the assessment and design right first.
THE REST OF THE SYSTEM
Renewable technology is only one part of the puzzle.
Other technologies can change how renewable energy is generated, stored, controlled and used.
- Battery storage can store electricity for use later.
- Smart controls can help manage when heating and energy systems operate.
- Hot-water storage can become an important part of low-carbon heating design.
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery may suit some more airtight homes where designed appropriately.
The aim is not to fill the home with technology. It is to make the technologies that are needed work together.
1
whole home — not a collection of renewable products
MY WARM HOME VIEW
Start with the home. Then choose the technology.
Renewables should be part of the whole retrofit strategy. Insulation, ventilation, heat loss, emitters, controls and the way the household uses energy all influence whether the final system performs as expected.
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE THE TECHNOLOGY
Make sure the renewable system fits the home.
Understand the building, heat demand, energy use and existing systems before deciding which renewable technology belongs in the property.