Help with modernizing the house/future proofing energy spikes

jungleboy123

Hello,

Wondering if anyone can help me. There's too much information floating around and I'm not particularly good when it comes to understanding terminology, parts and commissioning Builders/Engineers et al to fix things around the house.

Given Gas is about to go crazy expensive, i am looking to see what i can do to modernize the house and cut energy bills/remove gas dependency and standing charges. I'll put some topic areas in there if someone could recommend me some MSE links and or current Government incentives/grants that would be helpful.

If you could do something to help me i.e if you have done it before, like rough cost, installation time, model of equipment, URL (to useful MSE pages/Gov grants) for the below:

• Solar Panels
• Battery Packs
• Heat Pump

Also if you could rank above what saves most energy i'll priortise that first, but maybe it needs to be done in a certain order, i am an absolute newb when it comes to building/diy!

Thanks.

otb666

The energy performance certificate gives you rough idea of efficiencies that can be made. tbh I am still in favour of gas as only 5% vat is still a good deal and the price is a quater of the price of leccy. Also I cannot see anything worth doing in pay back terms when you are a elderly and a low user.

Reed_Richards

I think more insulation might save you more money than any of your suggestions.

NedS

A heat pump, solar and battery work very well in combination and will indeed both future-proof the house and insulate you from future energy price shocks, but comes at a substantial up front capital cost.

We went down this route as we wanted to minimise or eliminate energy bills to reduce our outgoings as we enter retirement. We were previously on oil and, of course, are currently very glad we made the investment given heating oil is currently £1.12/L. Had we not done so, our annual bills would be around £3,000-£3,500/year but are now zero.

squirrelpie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82132436#Comment_82132436

Correct answer, IMHO. And don't forget draughtproofing, and also think about ventilation.

ka7e

If the predicted climate change results in higher UK temperatures, house-cooling might be a factor in future-proofing. If you have solar and batteries, air2air heat pumps which can be used as an air-conditioning system in hot weather, could be run at zero cost. External shading of south and west facing windows will help and external shutters would aid insulation in all weather conditions.

stripling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6682858/help-with-modernizing-the-house-future-proofing-energy-spikes

This is how I did it and I was on a low budget so it mattered.

1. Buy/borrow/beg a thermal camera. Only do this when it's colder because you need to see where you are leaking heat. You put on your heating quite high for a few hours then work your way through every room then outside. I used a Flir which fits on your phone. It taught me a lot I could never have guessed.
2. EPCs are utterly useless. They are needed for house selling or government grants inc the heat pump grant but they tell you nothing of value.
3. Address the issues that you learn from your thermal camera - loft insulation (particularly the hatch); windows (I learned that Ikea blackout blinds are superb insulation - their good quality curtains are good too for large window areas like patio doors) etc., Wooden front doors for example lose a ton of heat.
4. Read up on heat pumps - the Octopus heatpump unofficial Facebook group is a good place to lurk and so is the Renewable Heating Hub forum (they also have a solar forum). Ask questions, learn how they work. My house had patchy cavity insulation revealed by the thermal camera so I was able to compensate for this by upsizing my radiators so they can cope but still run at a 38° leaving water temp in sub zero weather conditions. Because I had the images 🐙 were happy to go along with it.
   
5. Get a few heat pump quotes - heat loss assessment & spec for radiators, tank etc., I used Octopus; British Gas and a local Heat Geek guy. Even better, do your own heat loss survey on Heat Punk (I did) but that is entering into the realms of super geekery! Share them on your groups - Facebook & Renewable heating hub if you have Qs - there's lots of kind knowledgable people will help you or answer Qs and lots of heat pump/solar combined knowledge.
6. Go for it. Enjoy - I ❤️ my Daikin heat pump. Even without solar or batteries it's cheaper than my gas heating was and it's a lovely even heat everywhere 24/7 . I turn it on in October and it goes off in April. I got the system I wanted by learning a wee bit first. It was installed by 🐙 by a great team. . The gas was removed from my house so one less standing charge and no toxic fumes in the house. ✊🏻