Effecient Heating

knightstyle

Hi everyone, I am looking at ways to heat water for underfloor heating and hot water and was wondering if anyone had experience of air/water heatpumps or geothermal heatpumps? Also winterproof solar water heating panels?
Does anyone know of any advice sites or forums that cover these heating alternatives?

Canucklehead

Good evening: You could try the Energy Saving Trust as a starting point...
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate_your_own_energy
also the Centre for Alternative Technology www.cat.org.uk

HTH

Canucklehead

iamcornholio

As it stands, all todays alternative energy generators are less efficient, more costly to buy/run, and have a greater pay-back period (if at all) than gas or electricity power.

Heatpumps and geo-thermal units are more for colder countries, and not really a practical alternative for the UK.

Solar and wind power have a disadvantage in UK use for obvious reasons.

The only way that solar and wind become practical, is when incorporated as part of a new build, and in conjunction with other design features.

There are several web forums, but these are generally frequented by people who are a bit biased to the 'eco' theme, and as such the advice there (like from manufactures) is not really objective

Canucklehead

Good evening: The Energy Saving Trust (government funded agency) has been promoting the benefits of heat pumps as a viable alternative in the UK and has produced a useful guide... http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/ce82.pdf

Also you could check out the Green and Ethical moneysaving forum here on MSE http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=100

The key is to research, research, research and always consider the source;)

HTH

Canucklehead

barrymung

I *think* that possibly heat pumps may be subject to a lower VAT rate?