The RHI, which is scheduled to be introduced later this year, guarantees subsidy payments over 20 years that will reduce the payback period for organisations that install ground source heat pump and water source heat pump technology.

According to ENER-G, a 200kW ground source heat pump operating 8 hours a day – typical for a school or moderately sized business premises – will qualify for payments of 3 pence for every kWh of useful heat generated, creating a payment of approximately £210,000 over the 20 year duration of the tariff (based upon 350,000 kW hours of heat produced per annum).

The scheme will provide payments on heat pumps installed since 15 July 2009 and aims to support a range of heating systems at all levels, from small businesses and offices, and public sector buildings right up to large factories.

The RHI will give annual subsidy payments for the production of sustainable heating at a level designed to remove the barriers to installation.

“The RHI demonstrates the government’s commitment to renewable technologies and is yet another benefit for clients utilising heat pumps as part of their low carbon strategy, said Paul Burley, Managing Director of ENER-G Sustainable Technologies. “Ground source heat pumps are the first choice for many clients as the technology scores extremely high against other renewable technologies, where carbon reduction is paramount.”

He continued: “Our in-house expertise and resources means we can see the whole project through from initial feasibility through to handover. We operate our own drilling rigs and offer complete in-house services from specialist design, through to complete project management, installation and maintenance of heat pump technologies. We also have the ability to supply bespoke manufactured heat pumps in a variety of sizes to accommodate complex customer briefs, particularly where space is restricted.”

Through its partnership with four leading manufacturers, ENER-G provides one of the widest selections of ground source, gas absorption, air source and water loop heat pump technologies in the UK, supplying all types of applications from 1kW to 1000kW capacity.

Heat pumps supply more energy than they consume by using a refrigeration cycle to absorb heat from the environment and raise it to a suitable level for heating buildings or providing hot water. The process can operate in a reverse cycle to provide cooling for buildings as well. Heat pumps can provide a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional technologies.

When combined heat and power is used to drive heat pumps, further energy savings and CO₂ reductions can be achieved. ENER-G is using these two technologies in tandem to power the new Malvern Community Hospital, which is one of the greenest hospitals in the UK.

ENER-G Sustainable Technologies has won official certification for its expertise in renewable heat pump technology. The Approved Contractor certificate recognises the quality of ENER-G’s design, supply, and installation heat pumps, in line with exacting technical standards set out by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. The company is also a member of the UK Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

As much as a third of all heat loss in an uninsulated house escapes through the walls. In monetary terms this equates to fuel waste of £110 per year or more, depending on the size of your property.

It’s fairly easy to determine if your house has cavity walls. Most homes built since the 1920s are constructed with an inner and an outer shell, with a small gap (or cavity) between the two layers of brickwork. Plugging the gap with insulation will not only retain heat within the home during the winter, it will keep excessive heat out during the summer. Cavity wall insulation is therefore an excellent way to avoid extremes of temperature as well as moderating your energy bills.

Using less fuel not only lowers your bills, it means your household is generating less carbon dioxide emissions, so lowering your carbon footprint. Over a very short period of time, usually as little as two years, the cost of installing cavity wall insulation is off-set by savings to your fuel bill.

Annual saving per year Around £110
Installation cost Around £250 (includes CERT)
Installation cost repaid Approximately 2 years
Carbon dioxide saving per year Around 560kg

The above costs are based on a gas-powered centrally-heated 3-bedroomed semi-detached house. The installation cost takes into account the government funded Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme. Without this funding, a typical installation would cost around £500.

It’s worth noting that most homes built within the past 10 years are likely to have cavity wall insulation already installed. Properties without cavity wall insulation require a gap of at least 50mm between brickwork layers. Masonry needs to be sound and in good general condition.

To install cavity wall insulation you’ll need to employ a recognised firm to do the work. When considering a firm, make sure they belong to either The National Insulation Association (NIA); The Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA); or The British Board of Agrement (BBA). A suitable firm should be signed up to the NIA Code of Practice, and the work should be guaranteed by CIGA.

An experienced and competent firm should be able to undertake the work in around two hours, depending on the size of your property. There should be minimal mess

Knauf Insulation provides sustainable insulation solutions for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation 

Knauf Insulation’s range of products are available across the UK through both trade and retail outlets.

Trade Insulation

Most Knauf Insulation products are available from your local builders merchant or distributor. If any product is not in stock, your merchant or distributor should be able to order it directly from us very quickly.

Specialist blown insulation products, such as Supafil Cavity Wall Insulation and Perimeter Plus are only available to Knauf Insulation approved cavity wall insulation installers directly from us.

Retail/DIY Insulation

Knauf Insulation produce the Space Insulation range of products specifically for DIY’ers to use in loft insulation, and is available from:

• Argos
• B&Q
• Focus
• Homebase
• Wickes

The availability of specific Space Insulation products can be found at www.space-insulation.com

Cavity Wall Insulation

Supafil Cavity Wall Insulation is blown into cavity walls but this can only be done by an approved cavity wall installer.

To request a obligation free survey and quote for insulating your cavity walls (and/or professionally insulating your loft), please visit www.thinkinsulation.co.uk

Family Law

Knauf Insulation acoustic insulation rolls have been especially developed to utilise the sound absorption properties of glass mineral wool.

While the thermal insulation properties of Knauf Insulation glass mineral wool are maintained, for these products, this is usually a secondary benefit, and their primary purpose is to improve the acoustic insulation performance of the solutions in which they are used.

Key reasons for the use of these products are:

•reducing airbourne sound transmission (e.g. through partition walls)
•reducing impact sound transmissions (e.g. through upper floors)
•reducing sound reverberation in specialist environment (e.g. recording studios)

The devolved government has announced plans that will, if approved, see approximately 48,000 people provided with insulation, draught-proofing materials, a new central heating system or repairs to make their property more eco-friendly.

Housing and communities minister Alex Neil said: “We know many vulnerable people will have a lack of income but will need to heat their homes at a higher temperature and for longer periods throughout the day.”

Individuals with severe disabilities or illnesses are expected to benefit from the initiative that has been outlined through the Home Energy Scotland service.

The project could help participants reduce their fuel bills, as the Energy Saving Trust states approximately half of the heat in a property is lost through its walls and loft, which could be remedied with appropriate products such as loft or cavity wall insulation.

Knauf Insulation – impartial advice and sustainable insulation products including Earthwool Glass Mineral Wool, Rock Mineral Wool and Polyfoam XPS 

John Cranna, a self-employed structural engineer, has renovated his dwelling to reduce his fuel bills over a long-term period, the South Wales Argus reports.

Approximately £15,000 has been spent on techniques such as low-energy lightbulbs and loft insulation, as well as wall and floor insulation and solar power.

“We can make quite dramatic changes to the energy efficiency of our homes, whilst at the same time cutting down on heating bills”, explained Wales’ minister for environment, sustainability and housing, Jane Davidson.

What’s more, Maria Wardrobe, director of communications at National Energy Action, has stated installing home insulation can have an immediate effect on the carbon emitted by a property.

She explained that using draught excluders and switching appliances off when not in use can also help make a house more eco-friendly.

Knauf Insulation provides sustainable insulation solutions for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation 

This is the advice of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), which said the government’s recently-announced Green Deal is encouraging landlords to take such environmentally-friendly steps when requested to do so by tenants.

It said while many properties in the UK already have loft insulation, it is important to make sure it is suitable.

“Check the depth and quality. The recommended thickness is between 250-300mm for optimum energy efficiency,” the body recommended.

Ian Potter, operations manager of ARLA, said it is possible for proprietors of rental houses to take advantage of the Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance, which can assist them financially in conducting relevant improvements.

Last week, the benefits of loft insulation were also extolled by an article in the Daily Mail, which said considerable savings on heating bills can be made after installation has taken place.

Knauf Insulation provides sustainable insulation solutions for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation

Gearoid Lane, managing director of British Gas new markets, explained that duel fuel customers may be eligible for the scheme and should register their interest online.

“We want to help as many of our customers as possible reap the benefits of more energy efficient homes,” he added.

Poor home insulation can contribute to £1 in every £4 spent on heating a property being wasted and research carried out by the company revealed customers adopting eco-friendly measures saved approximately £322 each year.

Tom Lyon, energy expert at price comparison website uSwitch.com, said the decision to hand out free insulation is welcome, but anyone who misses out on the British Gas promotion could still save cash by installing an energy monitor or standby saver to their home.

Knauf Insulation – impartial advice and sustainable insulation products including Earthwool Glass Mineral Wool, Rock Mineral Wool and Polyfoam XPS