Heating and the planet: renewable solutions for World Earth Day
15 April 2024
World Earth Day
For World Earth Day on Monday 22nd April 2024, we would like to show you all the options available to help you heat your home in a way that is better for the planet. With the current climate change flooding risks could increase by 170%. We could potentially lose all coral reefs and many animals could lose their habitats by 2100* if we don’t make changes to our lifestyles. This is why the UK government have set a target to a 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared with 1990 levels, called the net zero target**.
Climate change and your boiler
Did you know that the heating sector accounts for almost a third of the UK’s annual carbon footprint, with home heating systems making up 17% of the carbon dioxide emissions in the UK? *** With the total greenhouse gas emissions from UK residents in 2021 being just over 502 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent****, finding ways to heat our homes more efficiently and reducing the amount of carbon being used is important.
Small tips to reduce your carbon footprint
Effective insulation – insulating your house can help keep the heat within your home, meaning that your heating won’t need to be on for as long, saving you money on your heating bills. The main ways to insulate could be getting loft insulation, wall cavity insulation, upgrade your windows to double glazed and draft proofing your home. You can read our easy draught proofing guide here.
Take control of your heating – smart technology and turning your thermostat down by just 1 degree could cut your heating bills by up to 10%*****.
Switch off standby – most electrical appliances can be switched off at the wall without upsetting their programming. Turning them off instead of leaving them on standby can help save energy.
Turn off the lights – remembering to turn the lights off when you leave the room can save you around £25 a year on your annual energy bills******.
Upgrade your boiler
Upgrading an older, inefficient boiler with a newer ‘A’ rated model will hugely increase the efficiency of your heating system. The newer boiler models are also more energy efficient, saving you some money on your heating bills and producing less emissions. In a mid-terrace house if you upgraded from a ‘G’ rated gas boiler to an ‘A’ rated boiler, you could save up to £320 per year on your annual energy bills*******. You can complete our simple online form to get a free estimation of a new boiler installation price here.
Renewable solutions
While upgrading your boiler and insulating your home can cut down the amount of greenhouse gases you are producing, renewable heating solutions are the best way to cut your emissions completely. Finding the right system to fit your home and lifestyle is important, our expert Sales Representatives can help you choose what is best for you.
Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice in making your heating system more eco-friendly. These pumps take heat from the outside air of your home and move it into your home, using electricity to power the pump, but with less energy required for heating. As there are no gases being burnt in the process, no carbon is emitted during the use of an air source heat pump.
These pumps work at their best when your home is also at a low heat loss, so creating an energy efficient system with more radiators and possibly underfloor heating may be an option. Proper insulation such as wall cavity insulation, loft insulation and double-glazed windows would also help the heat pump work at better efficiency, meaning that you will be able to save more money on your electric bill. Even without fully insulating your home, there may be a pump suitable to heat your home. A surveyor can visit to assess your home to determine which heat pump will be best for where you are living.
You can also currently save up to £7,500 on getting an air source heat pump installed from a UK Government scheme called the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Find out more about air source heat pumps and whether they will be suitable for your home here.
Hybrid heat pump system
If you’re still looking to reduce your carbon footprint but don’t think an air source heat pump is quite right for your home then you could consider a hybrid system. If you already have a suitable boiler, this could run alongside a heat pump. The heat pump will then be able to provide heating with no carbon emissions for most of the year, with the boiler jumping in to help when needed. Want to know more about hybrid heating, then contact our team on 0800 731 33 44.
Solar thermal panels
Solar thermal systems use energy from the sun to warm water, which can then be stored in a hot water cylinder. These systems collect energy all year round via solar panels installed on your roof, even collecting on cloudy days. A boost of heat may be needed however in the colder months, which could be done either with a boiler or immersion heater. As sunlight is free, this heating system would give you reduced energy bills while reducing your carbon footprint. Find out more about solar thermal panels here.
Boiler upgrade scheme
If you’re interested in getting a low carbon heating system installed but are worried about the cost, the UK Government are offering grants on the boiler upgrade scheme (BUS).
The grant offers the following:
- £7,500 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
- £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler
- £7,500 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump
Find out more about the boiler upgrade scheme and whether you will be eligible for a grant here.
Why choose Swale Heating?
At Swale Heating we have over 50+ years of experience in the heating industry. We’re here to help you find the right heating system for your home, helping you to feel more confident making the switch to renewable heating. You can speak to our specialist advisors to discuss what options would be best for you by calling us on 0800 731 33 44.
