Look at ways to save energy, and to generate electricity and heat yourself from renewables, without all the emissions and danger associated with coal, oil, gas or nuclear.
The specialist(s) below will respond to queries on this topic. Please comment in the box at the bottom of the page.
David Thorpe of One Planet Life is the author of the Earthscan Expert Guide to Solar Technology, the Passive Solar Architecture Pocket Reference, the Solar Energy Pocket Reference Book and Guides to Photovoltaics and Low Carbon Vehicle Fuels and a former manager of the publications dept. at CAT. He believes in eco-minimalism and runs consultancy and workshops on aspects of design, commissioning and cost.
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LizaT said on February 2, 2019
Hi there – I’m researching alternatives to solid fuel only heating, for a rural property at the end of a narrow track. I’d love to avoid oil and LPG options and go for renewables, but am bewildered as to costing up efficient options. Any help appreciated
John Harrison said on February 3, 2019
Hi LizaT – we live at the end of a track in the sticks so my insights might be helpful.
First – insulation and energy reduction. Really go for it – for example, we put double the suggested amount of loft insulation in – it makes economic sense because your energy costs will be high compared with mains gas in towns. If you’re replacing a window, go for treble glazing with heat reflective glass and don’t forget some cheap – but effective – things like heavy curtains that you velcro to the wall at the edges. Very effective.
Second – look into heat pumps. Magically you can get 3 to 4 units of heat out for every unit of electricity in. A fridge in reverse. More expansive to install than LPG / Oil and they run best with underfloor systems but you can run them with large radiators. This is because the higher the temperature they have to deliver the less efficient they are.
Third – Solar panels for electric production. Sadly the government has really reduced the incentives but if you make use of the power yourself then cost effective long term. Solar water heating or pre-heating worth considering using evacuated tubes.
Fourth – get a woodburner. Backup heating if the power goes and useful for those unusual periods when it gets really cold – most heating should be able to keep you cosy when it’s 1º outside but designing for -10º (as many do) means using an overpowered and therefore less efficient system. The extra input from a woodstove can make all the difference. Burning trees is very green so long as more trees are planted to replace them. The waste product is a useful fertiliser as well
Hope that lot is of some value.
David Thorpe said on February 4, 2019
John is absolutely right, if you pay attention to superinsulation and airtightness, you will hardly need any heating. But he doesn’t go far enough. These old buildings can be a pig to renovate though, but it’s not impossible, depends on your budget. If it is I detached house and you are able to because it is not listed, try to go for exterior insulation, breathable, and aim for a U-value of 0.15W/m2 or as close as possible. Replace the windows and doors if you are doing so anyway, with ones ones which have installation in the frames, and especially secure catches with double seals. Put a porch on each of the exterior doors. As John says, about 300mm of recycled cellulose insulation in the loft. If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m suggesting you are aiming for a Passivhaus styyle retrofit. There is a standard for this: EuroPHit, and all the information you need is here: https://europhit.eu/downloads.
Exterior insulation means that you are using the thermal mass of the walls to hold heat. Interior insulation means that you are only heating the air, but hey, that’s better than nothing.
If you do need any heating after this, once all the interior sources of heat have been taken into account including the cooker and any other equipment, first of all consider underfloor heating linked to a ground source heat pump.
If that is not an option, go for a ceramic stove, which are amazingly efficient, or a vertical stove which has tiles, an oven and a hotplate over it to use for cooking. If possible have a back boiler to the domestic hot water storage tank.
If you are offgrid, you will need solar panels, and use them to heat the water as well with electricity. If not, have solar thermal panels and link them to the storage tank also, for use when you don’t want to light the stove but need hot water.
If you can’t afford to do all of this at once, make a plan and prioritise and do it gradually.