solar panels, windturbines, energy efficient boilers and cavity wall insulation

almacmil

Yeah, bungalow with solid concrete floor and Karndean flooring throughout.

I seem to remember other sites (underfloor heating ones rather than GSHP ones) mentioning that suspended floors can be heated - although wood is a pretty good insulator so it's not as efficient in heat transfer as concrete (plus concrete is a good thermal mass - difficult for upstairs tho'!).

Cardew

Someone posted on this forum some while back about the Council fitting a GSHP to her council house and I believe she said it was to radiators.

I thought one of the limitations of the GSHP was that it was difficult to get water up to an adequate temperature for conventional central heating system.

almacmil

Cardew wrote: »

Someone posted on this forum some while back about the Council fitting a GSHP to her council house and I believe she said it was to radiators.

I thought one of the limitations of the GSHP was that it was difficult to get water up to an adequate temperature for conventional central heating system.

That's always what I understood too; reasoning behind it was that the standard method of underfloor (concrete slab floor) made for a more efficient store of energy so lower temps of water were needed - perfect for GSHP (mine kicks out between 30 and 40 degrees C depending on how hard it's working).

Having said that, I have family that have a system in that does a HUGE floor area (well over 4000sq ft) plus DHW ...... although how much conventional boost the DHW needs I don't know - but I will ask now the question has been raised in my mind. My GSHP is smaller than a washing machine - theirs looks like a chemical plant .......

Cardew

Below is the thread for a GSHP with radiators(Tigerlilly)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=287944&page=3&highlight=council

In one of her posts she claims that her radiators are hotter than they were before with solid fuel CH.

peat

almacmil,
£124 per month does seem to be quite a lot, are you on the cheapest tariff (economy 7 or 10) ?

mcptech

Underfloor heating can be installed fine with suspended timber floors.

How do install it?

By battening between joists then insulating between joists, fixing pipe to insulation. Then put a dry screed on top of pipes. Works fine off boiler or heat pump, you just have to double up your pipe centres if you’re coming off a heat pump.

Heat pump can be used with radiators, you just have to up size your radiator by 0.7 % to compensate for low water temperature.

It's far better with underfloor heating tho

Cardew

mcptech wrote: »

Heat pump can be used with radiators, you just have to up size your radiator by 0.7 % to compensate for low water temperature.

I assume you mean 70%?

cepheus

The best value method of the ones you mention , is cavity wall insulation, however make sure your loft is well insulated first. The others mentioned on this list may also be worth considering.





Energy Saving Measure

Saving (£/yr)

Installed Cost (£)Payback (yrs)DIY Cost (£)Payback (yrs)

Cavity wall insulation

£70 - £100
£260 - £380
3 - 5
N/A
N/A

Solid wall insulation (external)

£140 - £170
Approx. £1500 (marginal)
9 - 11
N/A
N/A

Solid wall insulation (internal - dry lining)

£140 - £170
£37/m²
N/A
£15/m²
N/A

Roof insulation (new installation)

£80 - £100
£220 - £250
2 - 3
From £170
Around 2 years

Roof insulation (top-up)

£20 - £30
£200 - £230
7 - 12
From £140
5 - 7

Floor insulation

£15 - £25
N/A
N/A
From £100
4 - 7

Replacement condensing boiler

£30 - £40
From £150
4 - 5
N/A
N/A

Hot water insulation package

£10 - £20
N/A
N/A
From £20
1 - 2

Full heating controls package

£50 - £60
£125 - £250
2 - 5
N/A
N/A

Draught-stripping

£10 - £15
£85 - £110
6 - 11
From £40
3 - 4

Lighting (4 x lamps)

£20
N/A
N/A
Approx £20
1 year

For more details look at

http://www.lincsbc.gov.uk/environment/energy-efficiency/upload/Domestic%20Energy%20Efficiency%20Primer.pdf

I would disagree with the figures on the condensing boiler, this depends on your house design due to vents, exhaust etc. Someone quoted me £3000 so this would never pay back! Unfortunately I would have to install this soon since my old ones breaking down and these are required by law!

I would think very carefully before choosing wind or solar as well. The value of these will depend upon location and reliability of the appliance. Personally I don't think it is worth the trouble due to the uncertainty.

PS Sorry about the formatting, look at

http://www.lincsbc.gov.uk/environment/energy-efficiency/energy-saving-measures.cfm

Infiltrator_2

2 things to add that may be of help.

1) a workmate of mine installed a gshp in a new build last year for about £5.5k - it was the trenched coil type (Kensa), kept the controls simple and it feeds underfloor heating in a 5 bed house. Did most of the ground work himself then had a recommended installer help complete the work to claim the grant. The underfloor heating was £4K on top of the £5.5k - very encouraging results so far, I can get details if you want.

2) Suggest for good advice you look at the forum on www.navitron.org.uk some very knowledgable folks on there. I'm toying with a Navitron solar system for my HW and CH.

Cardew

Infiltrator wrote: »

2 things to add that may be of help.

1) a workmate of mine installed a gshp in a new build last year for about £5.5k - it was the trenched coil type (Kensa), kept the controls simple and it feeds underfloor heating in a 5 bed house. Did most of the ground work himself then had a recommended installer help complete the work to claim the grant. The underfloor heating was £4K on top of the £5.5k - very encouraging results so far, I can get details if you want.

2) Suggest for good advice you look at the forum on www.navitron.org.uk some very knowledgable folks on there. I'm toying with a Navitron solar system for my HW and CH.

Navitron are a good company in an industry with loads of Cowboys.

However I suggest you read some threads on here about solar power.

For instance their biggest solar array produces 35kWh for the whole month of December, according to their literature.

So if you have gas CH/HW that will save you a bit less than £1 for a whole month.

GSHPs, if you can afford the installation costs, certainly offers low running costs. However Solar is a complete waste of money(in MSE terms)