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Pssst. Have you heard? There’s now a simple way to cut your energy bills AND earn yourself a handy tax-free annual income. And what’s more, you can even do your bit to help save the planet too!
All you have to do is switch to solar. Simple to install, Solar PV (photovoltaic) and Solar Thermal panels offer a great solution to meeting the ever increasing cost of electricity.
Solar PV panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity, which can help you to reduce the amount of power you consume from the National Grid. (See how Solar PV works)
Solar Thermal panels use heat from the sun to heat up water which is then stored in your hot water cylinder to provide a ready supply of hot water for your home. (See how Solar Thermal works)
As a qualifying technology within the Government’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, Solar PV can help you not only to save money on your energy bills, but also to generate some extra cash too! Basically, you will be paid for the electricity you export to the National Grid for a period of 20 years. With fuel bills and the overall cost of living continuing to rise, that’s an offer that’s almost too good to pass by! (See how much you could save)
To qualify for the scheme, your home must have an Energy Performance Certificate, with efficiency rated at Band D or higher. But don’t worry. If your home’s energy efficiency is in the lower bands (E, F or G), or if you do not have a Certificate, then help is at hand on the Energy Saving Trust’s web site.
There’s added good news too. Thanks to a new scheme that is currently being developed by Government, you could also qualify for a financial contribution towards the cost of installing Solar Thermal panels in your home. Part of a £7m scheme, the Renewable Heat Premium Payment is a one-off grant available to householders in England, Scotland and Wales to help pay towards the cost of installing renewable heating technologies. The grant applies to any installation that has been commissioned since 21st July 2011.
Ever the helpful chap, I’ve done some digging around to help you find out more about the scheme, including whether you’re eligible for a grant and how to apply.
Constant sunshine not essential
As you’ve been reading this, you’ve probably been wondering whether it’s actually sunny enough in this country for the technology to work. Don’t worry. When properly located and installed, both Solar PV and Solar Thermal have been proven to work even when it’s overcast, making them ideal for the UK’s unpredictable climate.
Find out more
To help you cast more light on the ins and outs of solar technology for your home, why not visit the dedicated solar panel pages on Sutton and East Surrey Water Services’ web site. The site has everything you need to help you find out what’s available, plus a great Q&A section which answers some of the main questions surrounding solar technology.
It’s always nice to see technology being put to exciting new uses, so it’s hats off (or, in my case, caps off) to British Gas for its new remote heating control package. Consisting of a wireless hub, receiver, thermostat and a smartphone app, the package enables users to remotely control their heating from wherever they are.
This all sounds great. However, the package comes in at around £229 or £199 if you’re an existing British Gas customer. If it’s installed as a part of a new central heating installation, the price is further reduced to £149.
With many households strapped for cash at the moment, it makes me wonder how many people are in a position right now to use the technology. Also, while I’m always up for a shiny new gadget, there are many people who are not comfortable with technology and either don’t have a smartphone, or if they do have one, don’t know how to use it.
Furthermore, it may be well and good to be able to remotely control your heating, but is it really something that people are going to keep using once the novelty value has worn off? After all, a properly programmed central heating system will do the job just as well.
Thankfully, there is another way to get the most out of your central heating that can be much more affordable. At just £52.82 for the first month and £18.02 for the next nine months, Sutton and East Surrey Water Services’ 365 Assured Classic Heating policy gives you complete peace of mind that your boiler and central heating will be operating at peak performance all year round.
As well as covering all aspects of your hot water and central heating system, including your heating controls, the policy also gives you access to our own fully qualified Gas Safe Registered engineers. Our guys will carry out an annual boiler service and system safety check and can also quickly be with you in the event of any emergencies.
With their help, you can be sure that your heating will always be available whenever you need it, whether you’re at home in the warm or about to return from a long day at work or from the shops. With that sort of help, who needs remote control?
