Soaring energy bills are costing 22 million households up to £693 a year more. Before next winter hits, we look at alternative heat sources that might be worth considering.
From heat pumps to solar panels, there are many eco heating options that will help save you money in the long term – as well as reducing carbon emissions and protecting our environment.
If this is something you have been considering, here are some of the options that could work for you.
Insulation
Before you consider alternative heating sources, make sure your home is properly insulated. An energy performance assessor (there is a list of accredited assessors on the government website) will talk to you about the best insulation options. Loft proofing, for example, can be a DIY job and will save you losing around a quarter of your heat through the roof. It should pay for itself after two years. Also look at cavity wall or external wall insulation, and double or triple glazed windows and doors.
Heat pumps
These draw heat from outside and pump it into the house. Different types include ground-source, air-source and hybrid pumps, which work alongside a gas boiler. Air and ground-source heat pumps are efficient – they provide around three units of heat for every unit of electricity you use – and Government grants are available to help with installation. They will also reduce your carbon footprint by at least two-thirds.
Biomass boilers and stoves
These burn wood chips, logs or wood pellets and are ideal in rural areas. Always burn dry, seasoned wood and never wood that has been painted or treated with chemicals. A wood-fuelled biomass boiler can heat a whole house and provide hot water, while a stove is usually used to heat a single room in conjunction with another heating system or will have a back boiler for hot water.
Heat batteries
These can be warmed up by electricity or will store the heat produced by a heat pump to use later. Stored heat can be used to provide instant hot water and heat radiators, which keeps bills lower as they use off-peak low-cost electricity.
Solar energy
Solar photovoltaic panels convert the sun’s energy into electricity and can be fitted on a sloping, south-facing roof or as ground-standing panels. A solar water heating system will use heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water alongside a conventional boiler, which will top up or provide hot water in the winter.
