Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:15:47 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164539#Comment_164539 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164539#Comment_164539 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:05:07 +0000 peterpanel22
I have been debating over why people buy into renewable technology when it is so expensive especially without grants and incentives?

I know it depends on house type and usage, but I want a discussion based majority of people. I have a typical semi detached house with 3.5 bedrooms (32% houses in UK), gas for heating, and normal electric meter. I have a central heating system that is say 7 years old. I have 2 teenaged kids and in my early forties. I have paid 50% of my mortgage, paying it off comfortably (current low interest rate) and have some savings about £20K. We pay about £700 in Gas and £500 (if that) on electric. Using it generously.

Are people buying because of incentives attached, or are they really looking at longterm energy security? 10, 20 or 30 years? To me personally I am looking at less than 10 years, god knows what I will be doing after this, I may move.

Is the industry eagerly waiting for the new RHI incentive? to motivate people to buy or a people really ready to pay 10-15K and hope to see a return after 15-20years.

What is your situation how much would you spend, what would be your max payback time.

Is renewable energy mostly beneficially to heavy users?

I think we owe it to confused people and misleading sales people to have a thorough break down.

Products I have looked into

Solar PV - Electricity
Solar Thermal - Heating and Hot Water
Biomass - Off Grid heating and water
Air to Air - Looks like simple system, for mainly open space living
Ground Source - Not sure about this
Air to Water - Looks new heats house and water
Auto Energy Monitoring System - Does this only help monitor electric or gas? cost/benefit raito?
Infrared Panels - New tech, movable, fairly cheap, DIY install
Thermodynamics - heats water and now home, no RHI
VO5 - Cost/Benefit ratio?

What is the average cost range, payback period, savings amount, is it retrofit, grants available, is it now a good time to buy or wait?

I know this is massive, but choosing something is confusing, people keeps saying it depends on this and that. Please help me, please help other people.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164545#Comment_164545 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164545#Comment_164545 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:59:25 +0000 Beau
We were converting a barn to be our home for many years. I want to be warm and dry and be able to afford to pay the bills. We don't have mains gas and I view oil as a rapidly diminishing resource so felt we needed to look at alternative solutions. I believe rightly or wrongly that electricity is going to remain the most stable energy in terms of price in the long term as it can be made from renewable resources and also nuclear which is not renewable as such but is a low polluter in terms of CO2. Base on this thinking we opted for a GSHP for our heating and have since been able to add a PV system thanks to the financial incentives offered by FITS but it is something I would have done sooner or later just based on principle. I have no idea of the pay back times as I do not know what energy prices will do in future years but we had the money to install what we did and have no major regrets about the choices we committed ourselves to 7 years ago. As you will read time and time again on here before concentrating on various ways to heat a home it is better to look at how to conserve energy first through insulation.

Beau]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164788#Comment_164788 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164788#Comment_164788 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:49:09 +0000 rhamdu
But now the easy pickings are over, and I think it makes sense, from every point of view, to insulate your house to building regulation standards or preferably better, before investing in renewable energy.

I am pessimistic about future energy prices, and therefore optimistic about payback times. We've hit peak oil. The UK won't accept fracking the way America did. Even 'renewable' electricity suppliers increase their prices with the market.

So, once I've finished insulating our house with a coat of technically-uneconomic exterior wall insulation, I will see if I have any spare cash for PV on the roof. I'm expecting to stay in this house for a while, and I am prepared to spend money now, to ensure that I don't live out my old age in fuel poverty.

PV kit has got cheaper and, sadly, installers are desperate for business - so the payback times are still respectable, they say. (Do the sums for your house. Can't generalise. And consider solar thermal, though from my sparky point of view it's complicated wet technology.)

If you expect to move soon, then the bad news is that the housing market is shockingly unaware of the energy performance of buildings. EPCs are rubbish. It's down to location, number of bedrooms, and how cool the place looks, not how warm you can make it for your £.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164817#Comment_164817 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164817#Comment_164817 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:49:31 +0000 crusoe https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164825#Comment_164825 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164825#Comment_164825 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:19:17 +0000 SteamyTea Having 3 years of detailed weather data and 2 years of detailed domestic usage I feel I am almost ready to sit down and do some sums about it, may wait another year or two though.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164930#Comment_164930 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164930#Comment_164930 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:42:12 +0000 RobinB Posted By: rhamduThe UK won't accept fracking the way America did.

Agree with all except this! People I know in Chorley, Lancs think they're going to be the new boom town. They can't wait.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164996#Comment_164996 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=164996#Comment_164996 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:01:14 +0000 djh
http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/news/local/villages-fracking-fears-1-5151492]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=165008#Comment_165008 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9970&Focus=165008#Comment_165008 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:16:40 +0000 SteamyTea