Challenge faced

North Liverpool Academy, an 11-19 high school and sixth form has one of the most modern and well equipped school buildings in the North of England. The solar panel installation was one of the steps taken by the Academy to future-proof itself to be sufficiently flexible to enable rapidly changing approaches to teaching and learning to be accommodated.

The academy had a 10kW Solar PV array installed earlier on in the year and have been so impressed with the system that they have decided to have another 6.5kW system installed! Solar PV has helped the Academy to future-proof itself by becoming more environmentally friendly as well as generate an income through the Feed in Tariffs.

The Solution

We estimated that the 10kW system would:

· Reduce its Carbon Emissions by over 4515 tonnes per year.

· Save £618 on electricity bills, increasing year on year.

· Estimated 13% average annual return on investment.*

· Payback period of 11 years.

We caught up with the North Liverpool Academy after the installation, Trevor Myatt who is the Academy’s project manager said “we have been extremely impressed with the solar installation. Eco Environments’ team were very efficient during the installation. The solar panels are great for our image as a modern academy, the student’s love them.

“We are looking forward to teaching the students about climate change through Eco Environments’ Energy4Education programme. It will fit in across the curriculums for both geography and science.”

Energy4Education

Eco Environments’ Energy4Education programme was set up to target and educate the up and coming generations about adopting a more energy conscious attitude. We believe once people are aware of the energy and climate issues and relate these to their own circumstances then this really delivers change. We offer training and support for teachers for the frame work which fits in with the National Curriculums.

*Based on the feed in tariff rate of 16.8p which is guaranteed and index linked for 25 years with an average energy price increase of 6%.

At Eco Environments, our core values include honesty and integrity. We take pride in our reputation not to use highly pressurised sales techniques and that we bring honesty to all of our customers.

Within the last week I have come across two occasions that highlight the reasons why honesty and integrity are so important in our industry.

My first example was a young couple with a semi detached house that had adequate roof space solar panels. The customer came from a referral and they wanted us to install their solar panels utilising our finance option, the sale could have easily been completed. When meeting with customers we strive to find out details about energy usage and outgoings that may affect the loan repayments. The overall annual picture stacked up for the client and on the surface it looked like an excellent opportunity for them. While looking at their monthly outgoings for the first 6 months on the customers’ behalf we realised that the finance option would not benefit them at all. We notified the customer and they were able to make an informed decision, unfortunately we did not make sale on this occasion but I am confident that they will recommend us for our honesty and integrity to their friends and neighbours.

My second example from this week was a rural family home that was surrounded by trees. Trees bring shading issues to solar panel installations but being in the middle of winter the trees had no leaves and therefore no shading was obvious, I pointed out my observation to the customer. I also advised him of the delay in the solar feed in tariff reduction which will come into place at the later date of May 2013 rather than February giving him more time to make his decision about the installation. The customer later told me that the other solar panel companies that he had invited to quote for him had failed to point out the shading issues. They also failed to inform him that he had longer than first anticipated until the next tariff reduction. My total honesty in this situation gave him faith in Eco Environments and resulted with the customer placing an order to progress with the installation of solar panels.

These examples prove that in the solar industry, as with all other industries, it is better to be upfront and honest.

Challenge faced

As a business Cold Move have committed to reduce their carbon footprint across their entire business, in fact they have committed to a reduction of 25% by 2020 and aim to introduce innovative ways to improve on their goal.

Their first major project has been at their Golborne site, installing 250kWp of solar PV, which has given them a platform to build on and demonstrates Cold Move’s commitment to environmental issues.

The installation of 1077 Hyundai solar panels will generate around 199,740kWh (units) of electricity each year, reducing their energy costs substantially; and their carbon footprint.

The installation spans some 100 metres in length covering nearly half of their warehouse roof and is believed to be the largest Solar installation in the North of England.

The new FiT rates for installations with an eligibility date on or after 1 July 2013 are as follows:

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/SUSTAINABILITY/ENVIRONMENT/FITS/TARIFF-TABLES/Documents1/FIT%20Tariff%20Table%201%20July%202013%20PV%20Only.pdf

What this means in reality to installs after 1^st July: (all scenarios are on a South facing, 30 degree pitched roof)

1. To a domestic customer that installs a 4kwp system they will receive a reduction in annual FiT payments of approx £15 per annum.

2. To a small commercial/farm installing a 10kwp solar PV system there will be a reduction of £49 p.a.

3. A larger commercial 50kwp system will be approximately £230 lower p.a.

So this is very good news and means all the projects above will still deliver rates of 10%+ Returns on Investment so Solar PV definitely still stacks up – at least till 30/09/13.

So, act now and call Eco Environments for a review of your on-site Power and see if you can benefit from the Solar PV feed-in tariff:

0845 6868 111 or complete the Survey Request form on the site.

This good news means that customers now have 3 months to get their new Solar PV system (up to 4kWp)  installed and will be guaranteed the 15.44p per kilowatt hour of electicity generated for the next 20 years. The rate is also index linked to the retail price index and is adjusted every April.

Ofgem.Gov.Uk – Feed-in Tariff tables:- http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/tariff-tables/Documents1/FIT%20Tariff%20Table%201%20May%202013%2PV%20Only.pdf

Ofgem have stated that the 2 month extension has been implemented to bring the solar Feed in Tariffs in-line with calendar quarters and make it easier to understand and manage / Jan-Mar / Apr-Jun / Jul-Sep / Oct-Dec which makes sense – well done Ofgem!

To make sure you don’t miss out on the higher tariff rate and 10-12% returns request a ‘Free No Obligation Home Suitability survey’ NOW via our website or call us on 0845 6868 111

Opportunity to earn an extra income of £500 per year

Description:

An excellent opportunity has arisen for you to earn an extra income of up to £500 per year. This will increase year on year for the next 20 years in line with inflation. This comes from a government incentive called the Feed in Tariff which is available for all owners of solar PV. For an initial investment of £4,000 – £7,000 depending on the size of the system, home-owners can earn 15.44 pence per kilowatt of electricity that their solar panels generate.

This is an excellent opportunity as solar panels operate in daylight hours, little work and maintenance is needed after the initial installation which lasts just one day in most domestic cases.

Person specification:

Are you interested in the environment, reducing your carbon footprint, reducing your electricity bills or just earning a bit more money? This could be the perfect opportunity for you! To be eligible to earn an additional income from the feed in tariff your home must fit the below criteria.

• You must own your own house or property
• Your roof must be able to fit at least 8 solar panels for a 2 kilowatt peek (kWp) system. An expert installer will be able to advise you on the number of panels that will fit on your roof.
• South west – south east facing roof
• Energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of at least a D. Again, an expert installer will be able to advise you if your house can achieve this. Double glazing, efficient boiler, cavity wall and roof insulation all contribute to this assessment.

Perks and benefits:

Solar panel systems will bring a range of benefits to your household, both financially and environmentally, these include:

•  Earn an extra income of up to £500 each year just for generating renewable energy through the feed in tariff for a 4kWp solar pv system.
•  Reduce the financial strain on your by lowering your electricity bills by up to £300 annually. This saving will increase as and when electricity companies increase their prices, for example in December, prices increased by as much as 10.08% by EDF, the other “big six” energy companies increased their prices by between 9 – 10%.
•  As a bonus, you will also receive up to £45.00 annually for exporting your excess electricity to the national grid.
•  Help in the fight against global warming whilst increasing your green credentials with in your neighbourhood and amongst your friends.

Annual earnings:

• Earn 15.44 pence per kilowatt hour of electricity generated. On a 4kWp system, the estimated output is 3,20kWh so you will receive £500 each year for generating clean electricity. This accounts for all the electricity that your system generates whether you use it or not.
• Receive an extra 4.5p for every kilowatt hour that you export to the national grid, this works out at around £45 each year for a 4kWp system.
• Save around £300 on your electricity bills by generating your own electricity.
• You will reduce your carbon output by 1,800kgs annually
• Total benefits over 20 years, taking inflation into account will be £33,500 for a 4kWp system, your initial investment will be paid back in just 6 years and you will achieve a 23.86% return on investment throughout the lifetime of your system (20 years).

Other similar opportunities

You may also be interested in a similar feed in tariff scheme for wind turbines where you can earn 21 pence per kilowatt hour generated and around £2,100 annually on a 6kWp small wind turbine. Or the upcoming Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme for air source heat pumps, we will update you with more details as they are released.

Experienced Solar Sales PV Consultant

Your role will be field based so we are looking for experienced Solar PV Sales Executives who are based in the NorthWest preferably in the Cheshire or Staffordshire regions. The role is for the Domestic & Agricultural Solar PV side of the sales team however as the company also offers renewable heating solutions, then as the Domestic RHI comes on board in the summer the role could develop into this area also.

This is a self employed position and Eco Environments will aim to provide you with 10-20 qualified appointments per week and you will receive a set amount for each system closed (depending on size).

To be considered you MUST have experience selling Solar PV systems to either the domestic or commercial sector and MUST have your own vehicle, mobile and laptop.

Package details: Commission Only (OTE £70k+)

To apply for this role, please e-mail recruitment@eco-environments.co.uk

(We thank all applicants who respond, but only those short listed will be contacted)

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

So you’ve decided you want to start generating your own clean energy, now you need to make a decision as to how you’re going to do it. Firstly you must consider your motives, do you want to reduce your electricity bills? Are your heating bills going through the roof? Do you want to make some extra cash? Or are you carbon conscious and would like to improve your green footprint?

Electricity Bills

If you are tired of your electricity bills rising every other month then solar panels or wind turbines are the most effective renewable technology systems to generate electricity.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are the most mainstream renewable technology, with constant advances in technology, the efficiency of the panels is increasing inline with decreases in the cost. These generate electricity in daylight hours from sunrise to sunset and their efficiency depends on the aspect of your roof. For example, a south facing roof with the sun shining on it all day long will generate considerably more electricity from solar than an east or west facing roof and a north facing roof will generate next to nothing. Shading will also affect the output of your system.

If you have solar panels installed, you should consider changing your habits when using household appliances. Use your washing machine and dish washer during the day, rather than at night to take advantage of the free electricity your system will generate.

Small scale wind turbines generate electricity whenever it is windy. Unlike solar panels, wind turbines do not depend on daylight to generate electricity. However they do have a high installation cost depending on the size, this is from £30,000. They also require a large area of land, planning permission and are subject to DNO approval.

Heating Bills

Do you feel that your heating bills rising out of control? If you have electric, oil or LGP powered heating, this might be all too true. In this case, an air source heat pump is one of the best solutions. It is relatively simple for qualified engineers to install, requires considerable less land and is less expensive compared to its counterpart, the ground source heat pump.

An air source heat pump uses electricity to convert air from outside to heat your house. Installed correctly, an air source heat pump can run at 300% efficiency, this means for every kilowatt used it will create 3 kilowatts, and is even more efficient if it is installed in conjunction to a Solar PV system.

Another solution would be to install a solar thermal system, this will provide hot water. Solar Thermal works in the same way as solar pv, generating energy from the sun. Collectors are placed on the roof, preferably south east – south west facing, the number of collectors that are needed depends on the number of people living in the property. Advantages of solar thermal include an inexpensive install price, a simple, straight forward installation and a reduction in your heating bills.

Both solar thermal and air source heat pumps are eligible for the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) which is a government grant given depending on circumstances such as your current source of heating.

Extra Income

Solar PV and wind turbines offer feed in tariff schemes which are paid to owners of the systems by the government.

The solar PV feed in tariff rate depends on the size of the system. For example, a domestic sized system (up to 4kWp) will offer 15.44 pence per kilowatt hour generated; the owner will receive up to £512 annually and this will increase with inflation. A larger commercial system (over 250kWp) will receive just 7.1 pence per kilowatt hour generated, receiving as much as £15,000 annually.

Wind turbines also have a feed in tariff scheme which is at 21 pence per kilowatt hour of electricity generated for small scale wind turbines under 100kWp. A 6kWp wind turbine generating 10,000 kWh of electricity annually will receive £2,100 for the electricity generated.

Air source heat pumps are currently in consultation to receive their own feed in tariff type scheme known as the renewable heat incentive (RHI). This is still in discussion and we update you when more details are released.

Improving your carbon footprint

For the carbon conscious, each of the renewable technologies mentioned will enable you to significantly reduce your home or business’s carbon output and improve your reputation for looking after the environment.

Summary of things to consider when making your choice:

Solar PV:

• Do you own your house?
• Aspect of roof – Facing south east to south west with no shading
• Enough space for an adequate system
• The system will generate electricity in daylight hours.
• You will generate your own energy and will be able to sell this back to the electricity suppliers via the feed in tariff.
• You will also reduce your electricity bills, using appliances during the day to benefit most.

Wind Turbines:

• Do you have a lot of land?
• You will need planning permission
• DNO approval
• Capital available to fund the system.
• The system will generate electricity from wind so you need to be located in an area with a high wind speed.
• You will generate your own energy and will be able to sell this back to the electricity suppliers via the feed in tariff.

Air Source Heat Pumps

• Do you rely on oil, LPG or electricity to power your heating?
• Do you have space on a sunny wall outside your house to place the external unit?
• ASHP will heat your house all day and night and have 300% efficiency.

Solar Thermal

• Would you like to heat your water all year round?
• Is your roof south east to south west facing?
• Do you have a large annual usage of hot water? I.e. for baths or washing machine and dishwasher?

Keep warm this winter with a Heat Pump

Do you spend thousands of pounds every winter on LPG, oil or electric for heating? An air source heat pump (ASHP) could be the perfect solution to save you money while keeping you warm.

ASHP’s work by drawing in the cold air from outside via a quiet fan. Energy is extracted from the air by the system’s heat exchanger. It will then convert this energy to heat your home. Due to their short, straight forward installation, this type of heat pump can be used with existing heating system in your home as well as for new build housing. What’s more, they will generate energy all year round and do not rely on light or wind to work.

A typical ASHP is 300% efficient. This means for every one kilowatt (kW) of electricity it uses, it will generate 3kW of energy. With a solar PV installation, this will become even more efficient as you are generating free electricity for the heat pump to use to convert air into heat.

Renewable heat premium payment (RHPP)

If you have your ASHP installed before the 31^st March 2013, you will receive a grant from the government to help towards the cost for the system. The grant depends on your current fuel for heating, if you do not have mains gas you can apply for a grant of £850 towards your system. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is similar to the solar Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and in its consultation period, any system installed after 15^th July 2009 is eligible for this incentive, we will update you on this as soon as further information is released.

Is an air source heat pump right for me?

It is important to consider the following when deciding to install an ASHP to ensure it is the right solution for your home and will bring you more benefits than expenses.

• You will need a place outside your home for the heat pump to be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. Ideally the unit will be placed in a sunny area.

• It is essential that your home is well insulated and draught-proofed for the heat pump to be effective as they work best when producing heat at a lower temperature compared to traditional boilers.

• If you are replacing an electricity, coal, oil or LPG heating system, you will achieve a faster return on investment on your air source heat pump. Although if you are connected to mains gas, it will take significantly longer for the system to pay for itself, and therefore may not be the best option.

• If you have an underfloor heating system or warm air heating, your air source heat pump will perform better because of the lower water temperatures required.

• If you combine the heat pump installation with other building work such as a new build property or an extension on your existing property, this can reduce the cost of installing the system.

Alternatives to Air Source Heat Pumps

If an ASHP is not the correct solution for your home there are several alternatives for you to provide heating, hot water, generate electricity, earn an additional income or to become more environmentally friendly.

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal or solar hot water provides up to 60% of your annual hot water usage. It requires a solar thermal collector to be installed on your roof; the size of the system will vary depending on the number of people living at your home. This system is less expensive than a heat pump but it only provides hot water and will not heat your home.

Solar Panels (Solar PV)

The most popular form of renewable energy, this will generate “free” clean electricity from daylight and earn an income from the feed-in tariff, currently this is 15.44 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh) generated and an additional 4.5 pence per kWh that you export back to the national grid, these payments are guaranteed for 20 years and increase with inflation. The cost of Solar PV systems has significantly dropped over the last year making it an affordable option and should be considered to be installed in conjunction to an air source heat pump to make it even more efficient.

Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are considerably more expensive compared to other renewable energy systems; they require large areas of land and are subject to planning permission. If you have the land and capital of the initial outlay, a wind turbine is definitely worth consideration as a small wind turbine can generate enough electricity to cover your annual usage. You will also receive 21 pence per kWh of electricity that you generate.

Ground Source Heat Pump

This is the same concept as an air source heat pump to heat your home from natural resources, although this solution is considerably more expensive as it requires pipes to be laid on a large area of land horizontally or for a well to be extracted for the pipe vertically. This will extract heat from the ground and achieves even higher efficiencies than the air source heat pump.