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Sustainable energy sources are a great way to provide electricity and heating for your home. With rising energy prices and concerns about our planet's future, now is an excellent time to look at how to make your home more sustainable.
But what kind of green options are available? Here we talk about the benefits of using the best sustainable energy sources and how they can help you reduce your energy bills.
New technology is being developed all the time, but currently, the best sustainable energy sources are:
Solar energy
As of June 2021, solar panels accounted for around 4% of the UK’s electricity. The technology works by taking energy from the sun, which is harvested and used. They are usually installed on the roof of your home.
According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), solar panels could save you anywhere between £170 and £440 per year.
Solar panels do not only need bright sunshine to work, but they generate more power on sunnier days. The power generated is housed in batteries for use throughout the day and night.
You can sell it to the national grid if you have extra power left over. Based on EST estimates, this could earn you between £75 and £110 a year.
Sustainable Energy Sources like Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are becoming the go-to option for an increasing number of homes in the UK. They are an excellent way for households to reduce their energy bills, although they provide several other benefits.
Commercial heat pumps are also becoming commonplace in a variety of sectors as businesses become more eco-conscious and look for ways to lower their energy costs.
Another reason for the surge of interest in heat pumps is that many experts, including the EST, predict that heat pumps will become the cheapest and most eco-friendly form of heating in the UK in the near future.
They work by using outside air to warm the water pipes. Whether it’s a hot or cold day outside, it doesn’t matter – the system will always be able to use thermal energy and convert it into heating for your home.
It’s also a sustainable energy source powered by electricity, although the heating produced by the system is much higher than the electricity used to power it.
Heat pumps work best in homes with high insulation levels, as the heat can be retained, and less energy is needed to maintain a set temperature once it has been reached. The system can be installed as underfloor heating or with heat-pump-specific radiators, which allows you to gradually heat the space.
Wind energy
This is another popular form of renewable energy which uses wind turbines that are located on and offshore. Currently, this accounts for about 25% of the UK’s electricity needs. This is more than any other country in the world. You can also buy smaller free-standing or pole-mounted wind turbines for your home.
According to the EST, installing a 5kW turbine (pole mounted) could help shave £340 off your electricity bill every year while also allowing you to earn more than £235 in Smart Export Guarantee payments.
Sustainable Energy Sources like Biomass Systems
A biomass heating system involves burning organic materials such as wood to generate hot water and heating. Compared to fossil fuels, this is a low-carbon heating method. This is because the wood only emits the same amount of carbon as the tree absorbed during its growth.
The EST also estimates that a wood-fuelled biomass system could reduce your energy bill by as much as £1,350 every year. And it’s not only domestic properties that use biomass systems, businesses are also turning to biomass plants as a renewable energy source to reduce their carbon emissions.
Hydroelectric systems
This is not a sustainable source known as widely as some of the others, but it is a sustainable method. It works by using water that flows downhill to generate electricity. This is ideal for anyone who lives close to a river or lake.
Large hydroelectric plants are already in operation in the UK. However, you can also buy smaller-scale versions that work for your home. Used in conjunction with a river with a one-meter drop, it can generate enough electricity to power an entire home.
However, one of the major drawbacks is the expense involved. In addition, you will likely have to secure planning permission and a special license to install this kind of system.
Micro combined heat and power
Heat and electricity are generated simultaneously using this technology, which comes from the same energy source. Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or main gas is used to power domestic micro-CHP systems. However, oil or bio-liquids is used in some newer models.
Even though LPG and main gas are fossil fuels, the system is still classed as a low-carbon technology. This is because it offers far more efficiency.
Micro-CHP systems look similar in style and size to traditional boilers. They can stand on the floor or be wall mounted. However, the price range is not the same, with the systems costing more than a traditional boiler.
The difference is that Micro-CHP technology can provide electricity while also heating water in your home. A conventional boiler cannot do this.
Can you think of any government policies that encourage clean energy production and use?
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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