When we installed the heat pump, we also removed the gas supply from the building. We’ve had a few comedy visits from gas meter readers over the years since, but showing them the capped pipe in the cellar and lack of meter generally convinces them that we haven’t used any gas for quite some time!
We also fitted secondary double glazing on all of the original windows and sealed unit double glazing in the replacement windows at the rear of the building. This minimises the heat loss during winter, but is openable for fresh air during the summer. Our top floor office now has windows on all four sides so we can get natural air cyprus mobile number conditioning whichever way the wind is blowing. Draft proofing and double glazing are some of the most cost effective steps you can take to reduce energy use.
In the years since the original refurbishment, and solar thermal panels on the roof. The photovoltaic panels are on the main, south facing roof and generate electricity from daylight. Our 16 panels are rated at 4kW peak and have generated 20,555 kWh in the seven years since they were installed. That is 20 megawatt hours which sounds like ‘power station’ capacity, but remember we have generated that total over seven years where a power station could produce that continuously hour after hour! Our solar panel management software estimates that we have saved a total of 14 tonnes of CO2 emissions by generating this electricity ourselves.
Zero-Carbon Apteco
Our solar thermal panels are used to heat water for staff showers. We encourage cycle commuting to work and have three showers in our changing room. Two of these are fed from the solar / Economy 7 heated tank and one is electric for the days when there are more runners and riders than the tank can cover! The payback period of our solar panels will still take many years from our original investment in 2012, but it is good to feel we are contributing already to saving greenhouse emissions.