If you are looking for a modern way to efficiently heat your home with sustainability and your eco footprint in mind, then using renewable heating is the best option. However, an option that not everyone is aware of is using an integrated, dual source, or hybrid heating system; an integrated heating system combines the traditional gas/electric boiler found in most homes, with a newer renewable heating option such as a ground or air source heat pump.
When it comes to heating your home, you ideally want the best heating at a reasonable price. Not only this but you want to make sure that your heating system will be long lasting and suitable for your home. Another aspect that is quickly becoming apparent is that people want more sustainable heating, and to achieve this a renewable heating system must be used.
There are quite a few options when it comes to renewable heating, each option with its own advantages and disadvantages, so finding the best renewable heating for your home can be somewhat daunting; after all, whatever you choose will be keeping you warm and your house running smoothly.
Hopefully through this article we can help you find that green alternative to the conventional heating that you have been hoping for. Below we will cover what renewable heating is, the options you have and the pros and cons of each, take a look at the approximate costs, and see what the potential is for the heating systems being eco-friendly.
Of course, if you are thinking about getting a renewable heating system then you need to know what renewable heating is and what you will be working with in future. Standard heating in the majority of British homes is either electric or a mains gas boiler, but after learning about renewable heating more and more people are making the change to a different source for their heating.
Renewable heating takes advantage of sources of heat that are based in nature, not finite like fossil fuels are, and uses resources that can be replenished and found in most places. This means that these systems can be incorporated almost anywhere and will be run in ways that do not increase in cost or deplete in amount. A huge positive of renewable heating is that your carbon footprint is reduced, meaning that you are living in a more environmentally friendly way which helps with sustainability on both a local and a global scale.
Using sources other than gas and electric can give your home a constant supply of heating, often requiring less hassle than the conventional methods that are in place. There can be a lot to know about renewable heating but at its core it is a highly beneficial option for you and where you live, especially with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Something to encourage you and help you to take that step into renewable heating territory is the Renewable Heat Incentive. This is provided by the government as a way to incentivise you to make the switch; it involves signing up to the scheme and meeting certain criteria with your heating system, with the potential for you to receive payments for the amount of eco-friendly energy that your renewable heating system provides you.
The scheme allows payments to you quarterly for 7 years, meaning you are getting money for your use of a sustainable option for heating. There is also a non-domestic option of the RHI which allows such payments for up to 20 years. By the end of the incentive, you should be reimbursed for making that choice to utilise a renewable heat system.
Read more about the Renewable Heat Incentive with our Complete Guide To RHI
There are some main options when it comes to viable renewable heating solutions, this is great as it gives you some freedom to evaluate what will work best for you and see how the heating systems work. What you are able to select will depend on your budget, your home layout, and what you personally want to choose. Having a renewable heating system installed in place of your current source for heat can also affect what is possible, with a new build house or building it is more likely that your options will be wider because things can be more fit for purpose. That being said, there are still excellent outcomes when it comes to installing a more sustainable heating system for your home. Here are the top renewable heating options to take into consideration.
Ground Source Heat Pumps:
As the name suggests, ground source heat pumps extract heat from the ground through pipes called ‘ground loops’ that are buried a few metres under the ground in what land is available, such as your garden or through boreholes piled 100’s of metres vertically into in the ground. The heat is taken into a compressor to increase the temperature and then used in the home to heat radiators, water, and underfloor heating. The ground source heat pump varies depending on your property, for example a larger home would require more ground loop so that enough heat can be obtained and provided throughout the home.
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Air Source Heat Pumps:
This renewable heating system functions by taking heat from the air outside and absorbing it as a fluid which is moved into a compressor, much like with ground source pumps, where the temperature is raised and then pumped around your property to either be used in the water and central heating circuits, or via a fan system that will heat rooms.
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Biomass Boilers:
A biomass boiler utilises wood pellets, chips, or logs to generate heat. The boiler burns the wood that is fed into it, converting that into heat to be used in one room or pumped around the home via a central heating system.
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Solar Thermal System:
Using the heat radiation from the sun, a solar thermal system is a great way to gain renewable heating without the need to find fuel. Panels can be placed on the roof of your home to collect heat from the sun and send that heat through the house.
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Though these renewable heating systems are all green and eco-friendly, some are more so than others. To find the greenest way to heat your home effectively you must look at the carbon footprint for the source that you are gaining heat from, and how well the system performs.
We can see that solar thermal heating is theoretically great due to it using the suns heat, but ultimately it is outperformed by a biomass boiler or a heat pump. Heat pumps do require some electricity to run but this could be assisted by using wind or solar energy, whilst biomass boilers use up wood from trees which are an essential part of the eco system even if waste wood is reused and more trees are planted.
At the moment there is no ultimate renewable heating system that will sort all of our heating problems and each application will present itself with a different solution. Careful analysis and design will ultimately define the most effective and sustainable route to go.
Looking at all of the areas covered in this blog post, it can be seen that there are many benefits of installing a renewable heating system for your home, utilising renewable heating brings savings for you and the satisfaction that you are doing something positive for sustainability. There is not an ultimate option that will be the best solution for everyone’s heating needs, instead you can look at the factors that will affect the system and which will be most effective for you.
Perhaps the best option for renewable heating will be the one that you can get the most heat out of and gain money through the Renewable Heat Incentive, ensuring that your switch to using a renewable heating system is worthwhile. You will also want your heating to last and have little need for maintenance, luckily all options are good for this as they are built and installed to last well and use a source of heat with a supply that will not cease.
If you would like to find the best renewable heating system for you, then please contact us here at A Greener Alternative and we can help you to decide on what the best renewable heating system will be for your requirements. We offer free onsite surveys and can provide our expertise on renewable heating all across the South East of England. You can get in touch with A Greener Alternative by using ourÂContact Form, by emailing us at:Âinfo@agreeneralternative.co.uk or by calling us on: 01273 455695. Discover more about A Greener Alternative and what makes us a leading installer ofÂrenewable heating systems in Sussex and The South East today…
An ever increasingly popular way to heat the home is via renewable heating, a marked shift away from the conventional heating we see across the country. However, many are still left wondering what on earth it is; thankfully it is actually not as daunting as many are lead to believe, and once you know about renewable heating and the various systems available, you’ll be left wondering why it isn’t more widespread.
When considering options for renewable heating, a biomass boiler should not be ignored. With various models suitable for various fuel types and different applications, Biomass boilers can meet the renewable heating needs of just about any home or integrated renewable heating system. As with other renewable technology, domestic biomass boilers have come on leaps and bounds in recent years!
Despite their fantastic reputation, there can be some confusion around biomass boilers, especially with questions around whether they are a viable option to heat the home. To dispel some myths and uncertainty around Biomass boilers we have created the below article which looks into exactly how a biomass boiler works, it’s efficiency and its suitability for you and your requirements. Discover more about Biomass boilers below…
Renewable heating and energy has grown in popularity and availability in recent times, mostly thanks to the developments in renewable heating systems and technology, which make it easier to implement green heating and energy options throughout your home. There are plenty of benefits when it comes to using a renewable heating system, and there are a range of valid options that you can have installed; whether this be alongside your existing heating source, to create an integrated heating system, or as your sole, standalone heating source.
Among the options for a renewable heating system, heat pumps are one of the best to install, as they can be run all year round. When it comes to heat pumps, you have two options, ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps. Both come with their own pros and cons, but the good news is that both technologies are eligible for the renewable heat incentive (RHI).
We often get asked what is required in order to install a heat pump in someone’s home, or how much space they will need for a heat pump system to work in their home. At A Greener Alternative, we have plenty of experience and knowledge when it comes to heat pumps, having installed countless systems for a range of customers. This article looks into exactly how much space is required in order to install a heat pump, some misconceptions around heat pump systems, as well as outlining the essential things you need to know about heat pumps and why they are a great option for you.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a government financial incentive which encourages the use of renewable energy and heating. With the Renewable Heat Incentive, you can get money.
towards the costs of running a renewable heating system to heat your home or commercial property.
But how much is the Renewable Heat Incentive? Well, in the below article we explore exactly what costs are involved with the Renewable Heat Incentive as well as how much you could expect to receive through RHI.Continue reading
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a government financial incentive to encourage the use of renewable heat. Available to both domestic and non-domestic environments, The Renewable Heat Incentive promotes the use of renewable heating systems, with a financial incentive for those who switch to heating systems that use eligible energy sources and meet certain criteria.
With the UK Government’s RHI Scheme, you could get money towards the costs of heating your home or commercial property using a renewable heating system, including the likes of Biomass Systems, Heat Pumps, and Solar Thermal Heating Systems, etc.Continue reading
This install took place at a detached family home in Hindhead, Surrey, where the property owners were looking to move away from their existing oil fueled heating system and expressed an interest in biomass as an alternative.
A Greener Alternative specified a 35kW KWB Easyfire pellet boiler with an 800 litre buffer vessel to take care of all the heating and hot water requirements in the family home.
Several options were discussed for a potential boiler location and the garden offered plenty of space to create a new structure to house the boiler, buffer, and pellet store, and the homeowners expressed an interest in pursuing this route.
A purpose built boiler room shed was constructed in the garden with enough room to house the boiler, buffer, and a bespoke pellet store that was designed and constructed to fit within the shed whilst maximising pellet storage space. The Storz hose connectors can be seen at the rear of the shed, where fuel delivery hoses are connected and pellets are blown into the store.
The family now enjoys a seamless changeover from their old oil system but with the benefit of lower costing, carbon neutral fuel.
 
 
 
 
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This is an install of a 75 kW KWB Pelletfire biomass boiler. The boiler house includes a 10.5 ton pellet store, which is a big bag option, this allows for enhanced quantity within the space. Two 1500 litre thermal stores provide the home with all of its hot water and heating needs. A Greener Alternative decided to site the boiler in an outhouse building, utilising an existing space and cutting down the installation costs. The biomass system is connected to the main house via an underground Rahau pipe. This has high insulation properties and minimises heat loss. The pellet store is located in a section of the outbuilding adjacent to the boiler house. A hole was formed, and an auger was fitted to transport the pellets through to the boiler.
Key facts
Project cost: £43,652
RHI payments over 20 years: £201,254
Estimated fuel saving over 20 years: £100,000
  
   
This is the traditional cream Klover Smart 120. It is the first pellet cooker to be approved on the MCS approved appliance register. This means you can cook, provide heat for your home and hot water, whilst receiving RHI payments. This installation was a simple process, the customer decided to situate the Klover in a utility room and utilise the cooker element as a back up to their conventional oven in the kitchen. This Pellet boiler has allowed the household to move away from oil burning and the unpredictable price of fuel bills.
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