Feed-in Tariff Scheme

Posted on by

The Feed-in Tariff Scheme was introduced by the government to Great Britain on 1st April 2010. Under this scheme with a combination of the government and the six major electricity providers, users of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy renewal system receive regular fixed payments and payments dependant on the kilowatts of electricity you sell back to the grid.

The first regular payment you will receive will be a fixed amount dependant on the kilowatt hours your solar photovoltaic (PV) system generates and is used within your home. This payment is made solely by the government.

The second payment is made when you sell back kilowatts that your solar photovoltaic system produces that your house does not need, you sell kilowatts back to the national grid at a rate that is subsidised by the Feed-in Tariff Scheme.

The Feed-in Tariff scheme now allows for quicker payback for the installation cost of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system, this is echoed by the government as they have guaranteed the scheme for 25 years meaning breaking even is almost guaranteed.

Grants situation reviewed

Posted on by

The Warm Front scheme installs heating and insulation measures in your home. It has just been announced that the scheme is now unable to accept new applications. This is a temporary measure. The scheme will accept applications again at a given date after 1 April 2011.

It is understood that this measure is a result of government cuts.  Grants of up to £6,000 towards heating scheme were previously available and should be again in the new financial year.

Solar grant website launches

Posted on by

A new website offering up to date advice on solar grants available launched in the UK on Monday.   Solar Power Grants is a comprehensive guide to incentives available for installing solar technology into your home.

The new website offers homeowners everything they need to know about the current incentives available, namely the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for solar PV and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for solar water heating.

Solar Power Grants is a free of charge information service for homeowners who are looking into investing in solar technology for their home. All the relevant details on both the recently launched Feed-in Tariff and the anticipated Renewable Heat Incentive, due to be introduced on April 1 2011, are available. This includes information on the financial benefits, eligibility, how the schemes work and the legislation behind them.

As well as straight-forward jargon-free information, there is also a dedicated section for the latest news updates with current and future solar power grants. This is a great way to stay on top of fast-paced solar industry, get updates on which incentives are due to be launched and discover any further developments with the market as a whole.

David Holmes, the founder of Solar Power Grants, said: “It’s clear that more and more people are considering making the switch to go greener and solar appears to be the technology that’s at the forefront of these people’s minds.

“With the recent introduction of the Feed-in Tariff and the Renewable Heat Incentive just around the corner, there is a lot of information for those new to solar to catch up on.

“These incentives are the biggest news the UK solar industry has ever had. They will encourage a new wave of customers to switch to solar technologies, but it is vital these people are given the relevant information about how the schemes operate before they further pursue the option of having solar PV or solar water heating installed in to their homes.

“The information at Solar Power Grants is aimed to be user-friendly, simple and straight-forward. This way consumers can make an educated decision about whether solar is right for them and their household.”

Lewington Solar offer a range of renewable energy services including solar energy, ground source heating and now air source in the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire area. Many of their services are part funded through energy grants and offer long term energy saving.

Energy saving possible without mains gas

Posted on by

Whether you have found your dream home in the heart of the Leicestershire / countryside or are simply just outside the main grid of a town, you may believe you are stuck with high fuel bills as part of the location.

However, it is still possible to become more energy-efficient and cost–effective (and even get some of your energy for free) by considering upgrading your boiler or even considering the latest renewable technologies.

It may often be a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ but as with inefficient gas-fired boilers over 15 years old, an aging oil-fired boiler or even an LPG boiler could easily be one of the biggest causes of high fuel bills.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support for Worcester Bosch Group (suppliers of Kim Lewington) comments:

“Upgrading to a high-efficiency condensing boiler such as Worcester’s Greenstar Heatslave or Camray ranges of SEDBUK ‘A’ rated oil-fired boilers, could see heating and hot water bills cut by between 5 – 10%, as they convert over 90% of oil used into heat.

“Helping you save money on your fuel bills and, as a bonus, lower your carbon footprint in the process.

“Also, if you have found your dream kitchen but think the space could be better used with the boiler taken out of the equation, both of Worcester’s Greenstar oil-fired ranges have external models which allow you to free-up wall or floor space inside, without losing any efficiency.“

Renewable energy sources are not out of bounds either. Solar water heating systems and air or ground source heat pumps can all be retro-fitted to your home, providing eco-friendly heat and hot water all year round.

To find out more information about upgrading your boiler, investing in renewable technologies or to find an accredited installer in your area, visit our Find an Installer search.

The newest eurostat report on energy production and usage in Europe shows that renewable energy production increased 8.3% and coal consumption dropped 16.3% last year. In total, renewable energy accounted for 18.4% of energy production and coal accounted for 9.6%.

As I reported earlier this year, the European Union (EU) is expected to exceed its target of producing 20% of its energy from renewable energy sources by 2020. These figures are a clear sign that they are on that path.

Interested in solar power? Call 01858 44 55 43 for more details.

Renewable energy info in Harborough on August 28th

Posted on by
Solar heating in Haarborough

Meet the renewable energy team on August 28th in Harborough

The renewable energy team from Lewington’s will be available to answer questions on Harborough Square on Saturday August 28th.  Using a special display unit from Worcester Bosch.  They will be able to give you examples of work they have carried out in the local area and answer questions about the potential costs and savings of different kinds of renewable energy including solar energy, ground source heating and air source heating.

In the past it has generated town centre a great deal of interest from shoppers in Market Harborough who want to find out more about whether it is worth while from a financial point of view to switch to greener sources of energy.

Perhaps we’ll see you at the square on Saturday August 28th – but if you can’t make it call us on 01858 433 333 to find about more about our renewable energy range.

I have heard of something call Air Source what is the difference in Ground and Air Source?

Posted on by

£4 of free energy for £1

Air source heat pumps work on a similar principle to ground source heat pumps, however they are better suited to smaller properties.

The big advantage is that they require only an outdoor unit rather than having to dig up the garden, making the installation quicker and cheaper.

They have the same performance and efficiency of a ground source heat pump, typically providing £4 of free energy for every £1 of electrical energy you put into it.

This technology has been proven and even works in temperatures as low as -10°C. You may not have heard of it because it is still quite a new technology but you will hear more about it over the coming years.

Call today 01858 433333 or phone Lewington Solar Renewable Energies Manager on 07725783565.

How do I know who to trust when it comes to the installation of my Solar Panels?

Posted on by

Lewington Solar

The Lewington Solar team are based in the Midlands and pride themselves in using engineers who are CORGI, LPG and OFTEC qualified they are also Worcester Bosch accredited installers, and are trained on ground & air source heat pumps as well as solar installations.

As part of their ongoing development their engineers are regularly sent on training courses to keep them completely up to date with the regulations within the ever changing industry.

Call today 01858 433333 or phone the Lewington Solar Renewable Energies Manager on 07725783565.

Solar Energy in US boost

Posted on by

Solar Energy boost

The solar energy indusry across the world will recive a boost from plans announced today by President Obama who revealed a $2 billion package of loans to increase the use of solar energy across the USA.  Whilst it might be hard to see how this will affect solar energy in Harborough, Leicesterhire or the Bowdens,  in the log term it will mean that  solar energy is seen as a more mainstream choice and given extra credability by it backing from the US Government.

Have a look at the the solar energy news story was reported on the BBC News website .

Unlike George W Bush it seems clear that Obama is keen to reduce the US dependency on oil wherever possible.

Californian homes being built with solar panels in roofs- it’s the way forward.

Posted on by

Solar Panels

It is amazing to think Solar Panels would have ever taken off in such a big way. Ninety homes in at the  “The Preserve at Vista Del Verde,” in Yorba Linda, will be put up for sale in September 2010.

You will be able to move straight into the homes without worrying about the installations of solar panels, as they will already be installed as part of the sale.

For more information visit: www.sunrunhome.com

In the meantime if you haven’t the spare cash to buy a second home ion Californian, check out what Lewington Solar can do for you in the UK by clicking here.

I like the idea of a solar panel but how aesthetically pleasing are they?

Posted on by

Solar Panels

The look of solar collectors will have on the aesthetics of a building is really a matter of personal taste.

Some people like an array of futuristic looking tubes on the roof whereas others prefer the flexibility that panels bring.

If you are still worried panels can be integrated into roof tiles which makes them look more pleasing and fits in better with architectural designs.

By integrating panels into new buildings, significant savings can be made on roofing materials that would otherwise be incurred.

So if you would like to see how you can make savings on your bills call Lewington Solar now!