26 Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 Advertisement feature

westerntelegraph.co.uk

ITS easy to help the environment and save energy. From insulating and draft-proofing your home, to cutting the time you spend in the shower or run the tap, there are a raft of easy changes you can make to the way you live. But what if you already do it all with energy efficient appliances, a double flush on the loo, and carry out every other behaviour you can with energy saving in mind? The next step for you to consider might be what you can do to generate your own electricity and heat, reducing your reliance on the national grid and cutting gas, LPG or oil usage at the same time. There are a number of options available which could be suitable for your home.

Choice decisions

burn wood pellets, chips or logs to power central heating and hotwater boilers, or just warm one room. Uses the free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. A conventional boiler or immersion heater is required as back-up or to make water hotter when solar energy is unavailable. Pipes buried in the garden are used to extract heat from the ground.This is usually used for underfloor heating systems and hot water, or radiators.

Solar water heating

Ground source heat pumps

Air source heat pumps

Absorb heat from the air for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors.

used to run household appliances and lights.

Wind turbines

Harness the wind through the use of a small-scale domestic turbine to generate electricity to power appliances and lights. Running water from even a small stream can be used to produce power for the average home. Theres nothing like going back to basics. Heat and hot water can be generated through the use of wood-fuelled or biomass stoves and boilers. Such heating systems can

Solar Photovoltaics are solar electric systems that use panels to capture the suns energy. Cells in the panels Boiler Maintenance and Installer convert sunlight into electricity Approved that can then be Vaillant & Glow worm Service Engineer.

Solar Panels (PV)

Hydro-electricity

A low carbon technology rather than a renewable energy source, Micro CHP is the generation of heat and electricity simultaneously from the same energy source. Currently systems are powered by mains gas or LPG, but are said to be more energy efficient than the traditional need to burn a fossil fuel for heat and also draw electricity from the grid.

Micro Combined Heat and Power

Peter Kidney

Wood-fuelled heating

For more information on any of these methods of heat and power generation go to

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

for a full breakdown of the benefits and things to look out for.
Eco Centre Wales is Pembrokeshires foremost energy and environment charity, other services include: Qualified, free and impartial advice on energy efficiency and renewable technologies Refarm: Free site assessments of farms and small holdings for renewable energy. Cosy Home Advisor: Advice and home visits for those struggling to keep their property warm.

12 months Breakdown Contracts Available for Vaillant Boilers.

Tel: 07968 315350

www.ecocentre.org.uk

ECO CENTRE WALES SAYS INSULATE NOW BEFORE GRANTS END IN DECEMBER 2012
CERT insulation grants will be replaced by the Green Deal loan scheme and means-tested ECO grant this autumn. Eco

Eco Centre Wales

Energy Saving + Renewable Energy
FREE Loft & Cavity Wall Insulation* *subject to survey
ReFarm Free site visits for farmers and landowners

Centre Wales is now offering FREE loft or cavity wall insulation to all (subject to survey) through the only council endorsed insulation scheme,TPEES (The Pembrokeshire Energy Efficiency Scheme). Households wishing to benefit from the Feed in Tariff and proposed Renewable Heat Incentive are required to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. For your free, no obligation, insulation survey call Eco Centre Wales on 0800 954 0657

DONT MISS THIS SPECIAL DRAGON DOUBLE GLAZING Glazing is a when it COMPOSITE DOOR OFFER INSTALLING Doublethe insulationmajor factoryour home. comes to improving qualities of
Available in White, a selection of Colours & Wood Grains

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Cosy Homes Advisor

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Improving insulation reduces your heating costs. And when you install new windows and doors (with the latest technological advancements available) you can not only reduce the long term running costs, you increase the value of your home long term. Whether a home is contemporary or classic, homeowners want windows and doors that suit their home and their lifestyle. Choosing the right style for a home is important.Thats why Dragon Double Glazing offers a wide range to enable each customer to make that choice.While providing long lasting, virtually maintenance free installations, the right windows and doors can give not only a great first impression, but the perfect finishing touch to a home. Summer is coming, so why not make the most of homes and gardens by changing a lounge, dining room or kitchen window into a patio, French or bio-fold door? Its the perfect way to link home and garden. Or really treat your home take advantage of the early summer offer on the ultimate front door in looks and security, the Composite Door. Serving Pembrokeshire, and beyond, for over 30 years, let Dragon Double Glazing be your first, last and only choice. Telephone 01646 651188 and ask for Ken or Liz.

westerntelegraph.co.uk

Advertisement feature Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 27

Proposed changes
FURTHER changes have been proposed to the Feed in Tariff paid to householders who generate and feed electricity back into the national grid. The Government is proposing further reductions to solar PV tariffs from July 1st.Three alternative tariff tables have been put forward, the choice of which would depend on the volume of solar PV installed in March and April 2012.The rates in the tables are between 16.5p/kWh and 13.6p/kWh. From July it is proposed that the FiT should be set at a level that would deliver returns broadly within the range of 4.5 to 8% under central cost assumptions rather than a specific target of 4.5 to 5%. The Government is also asking as part of the consultation exercise whether the period for which the FiT is paid should be reduced from 25 to 20 years (relevant to PV) and whether the amount paid by way of export tariff should be increased to new entrants to the FIT scheme (although this may lead to further reductions to the generation tariff).

FiT tariff: April 1st - July 1st, 2012 21p/kWh, plus new requirement to show property has an EPC Band D or above.The rate will be 9p/kWh if the property is not an EPC band D on the date the application for FITs is made FiT tariff: July 1st, 2012 onwards (proposed) 16.5p/kWh - 13.6p/kWh (tbc). Rates will depend upon the total installed capacity between March 3rd and April 30th, 2012. NB: This is only a proposal and is still under consultation.

Generate your own electricity from solar pv and you could save money on your bills and earn up to 21p tax free from the government FIT (Feed-in tariff) scheme.
We offer: vPeace of mind from dealing with a local company vA free no-obligation site survey, consultation and design of a system tailored to your requirements and location. vA range of high quality products from a wide selection of manufacturers.

Solar PV Design and Installation

PRESELI SOLAR

Let Preseli Solar help you access 25 years guaranteed income on electricity you generate from a solar photovoltaic (pv) system. Solar PV could provide a real cushion for this and future years utility costs by providing all year electricity generation. The Feed In Tariff scheme provides income for every unit of electricity produced (currently 21p*). Using the electricity you generate also reduces your electricity bills. Ian and Nick at Preseli Solar provide a friendly, personal and accessible service. They will help you design the ideal system for your budget and location. With MCS accreditation, electrical expertise and keen attention to detail, Preseli Solar offers the full package for your Solar PV needs.

*From 1st July new installations FiT rates could fall to as little as 13.6p per unit.

Feed-in tariffs have halved in the last 12 months but so has the cost of a standard installation.
You can still expect annual returns of up to 12% and payback in as little as 8 years!

Preseli Solar Ltd

Co. Reg. No. 7529806.

We are also accredited domestic energy assessors and can provide your Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) now required for new solar pv installations at no extra charge.