Energy Efficiency & Renewable - The Big Picture

by Michael Scott
(Sheffield)

As awareness levels of the new Feed In Tariff start to grow, the demand for renewable power generation solutions will also increase accordingly.

With the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) expected next spring, Bill Rumble, Commercial Director of Mark Group has offered his advice on the ins and outs of microgeneration technology for those considering investment.

How Do I Benefit?

The financial benefits of the Feed In Tariff are largely gained by the owner of the physical asset. For an average three bedroom, semi-detached house, around £1,200 could be received back each year. The Feed In Tariff will apply to electrical power generation systems such as solar photovoltaic (PV) cells or wind turbines.

The alternative option to help homeowners reduce their carbon emissions is the Renewable Heat Incentive which has been planned for release in April 2011 which is concerned with microgeneration of heat.

Solar hot water, heat pumps and biomass are all technologies which will fall under the renewable heat umbrella and while the financial benefits are yet to be confirmed, early indications suggest that an average three bedroom house could stand to earn £500 to £1000 a year in savings, depending on the technologies used.

To enjoy the maximum benefits of renewable technology, it's worth taking a look at the overall energy efficiency of a property. At Mark Group, we work on a philosophy of retaining energy within a property via insulation; reducing consumption and investing in renewable technology where appropriate.

Investment in renewable technology is a big step. By taking a considered approach rather than purely opting for a 'quick win', the long term benefits can be far greater.

Mark Group is the UK's leading installer of domestic energy saving solutions, having already improved the energy efficiency of more than 2 million homes.