Photovoltaic solar panels are the latest innovation of style to a home that doesn’t just reduce CO2 emissions – it prevents them.
Structures known as “Earth-sheltered houses” utilise the sun’s heat on the thermal mass of the building, converting it into a large storage heater, explains the Daily Mail.

“Earth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature. Earth sheltering is popular in modern times among advocates of passive solar and sustainable architecture, but has been around for nearly as long as humans have been constructing their own shelter”.

Wikipeda

This releases heat slowly and keeps comfortable level of warmth throughout the building, while heavy foliage on the roof absorbs the CO2 that is released and turns it into oxygen. Solar panels then provide the building with all its electrical needs.
Architect Jerry Harrall told the publication: “An earth-sheltered building is the only building form that can mitigate CO2.”Since 1997 all the buildings I have designed have achieved zero heating.”

However, according to Michael Holmes, spokesperson for the National Home Improvement Show, take-up of green technologies in the UK is still not what it should be.
He claims that more needs to be done to convince the public of the immediate cost benefits of features such as solar panels.
Other news coming from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is that local authorities will be allowed to generate income by selling renewable energy:

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Providing solar technologies for Britain’s homes in 2010.

With the current devastating floods in Pakistan and the land slides in north west China you begin to think about your own immediate impact on the environment, the UK’s impact and how we as a world population have affected the global environmental conditions.

Google Earth is a virtual global map containing various geographical information including photos. You can zoom in to see almost any location throughout the world in good clear detail. The original developer of Google Earth was Keyhole Inc and the system was called Earth Viewer 3D.

Since the origination of Google Earth the map has evolved with new technologies incorporating access from hand held platforms such as i-phone accessibility.

On the 14th July the UK Government with Google launched a special Google Earth which illustrates what could happen to the world if the average global temperatures rise by 4 degrees Celsius. The reason for this development is educate and help highlight why people, householders, businesses and communities all need to think of ways of cutting their own carbon emissions:

There are many ways that people can improve their carbon environmental impact. We have the Internet, books other sources of information where “at a click of a button” can access a wealth of information to educate and make correct and good environmental decisions.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) have created an interactive Energy Saving House which gives homeowners ideas and ways of saving money at home, becoming more efficient and being more environmentally friendly;

Source: The Energy Saving Trust

Areas of suggested improvements also include replacing your windows with more efficient double glazing, also installing Solar Thermal and/or Photovoltaic technology. Anglian has also launched their own “Rough Guide” to Green Your Home and you can request a copy of this and accompanying DVD by clicking here.

Last month Anglian launched their very own solar range and the Call Centre has since seen an unprecedented level of interest from people looking to invest in today’s green technologies.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard of Solar in 2010.

The new Coalition Government has inherited a country with some of the oldest, most inefficient housing Stock within Europe. Over three quarters of Britain’s homes were built pre 1975 with another 20% being constructed before the first World War. A worrying example of the current situation Britain finds itself in is that we now use more energy to heat our homes than Sweden does!

With this type of housing stock, many of the energy efficient home improvements needed are cost negative that means they pay for themselves over time through savings from lower energy bills due to those improvements.  The pay back period may also be longer than the preferred time the homeowners want to stay within that home. Other barriers that are commonly found is a lack of information, knowledge and understanding or why we should be more energy efficient within our homes.

With the various issues listed above the Government are going to introduce the Green Deal as the scheme to overcome these barriers.

Green Deal would roll out to every householder within Britain to save money by improving their homes through various insulating improvements. Energy companies and high street retail would provide information and guidance to interested households, taking them through the Green Deal process and pay for improvements upfront. Households then recoup the initial investment of money through the various savings they make from reduced energy bills.  

The Green Deal will also assist and help those in rented accommodation. As the tenant normally pays for their own energy usage within the home they would also benefit from improved energy efficient measures. The Government are continuing to look at how to make the Green Deal a successful scheme for people in private and social housing.

Those providing the Green Deal have the option of choosing to form partnerships with local authorities, registered social landlords and social enterprises to offer locally-based solutions.  The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) is looking for early involvement by Green Deal providers ahead of legislation being introduced in the forthcoming Energy Security and Green Economy Bill. Due to the legislation and other changes the Green Deal will not be rolled out straight away.

Source: DECC

For a complete, comprehensive memorandum on the Green Deal please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in Home Improvements since 1966.

The new coalition Government is considering raising stamp duty on home-buyers if their properties are not energy efficient.

This is one of many plans from the Government to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent of their 1990 levels within the next 10 years.

The latest stamp duty idea could see home-buyers pay £1000′s in additional finance if their home is deemed to be energy inefficient, has badly insulated windows, poor loft installation and inefficient boilers.

 The policy change would be introduced within the Governments Green Deal - a vastly funded scheme of £90 billion with the aim to cut fuel bills of homes within approximately 14 million homes.

The Green Deal will offer various benefits to the householder. This includes a free green upgrade or improvement by energy companies, local councils or DIY chains from 2012. The investment towards the home improvements will be claimed back from the savings made on energy consumption.

This proposal came to light last month from the Green Investment Bank Commission – this was originally setup by labour last year.

Report author Bob Wigely, chairman of the Yell Group quoted “Ultimately either implementing penalty rates of stamp duty for a house purchased where the buyer does not implement available energy efficiency measures or setting minimum standards on properties, will be required.”

Chris Huhme, UK Energy Secretary spoke about government plans for the Green Deal at the Economist UK Energy Summit on the 24th June:

“Alongside investment in new energy infrastructure, we need to reduce overall energy demand. So let me now turn to the Green Deal – our way of expanding the energy mix to a fourth resource.

Energy saving is the cheapest way of closing the gap between demand and supply, yet it is the Cinderella of the energy ball. On the near horizon, energy saving will mean smart meters and smart grids that can give consumers control over their appliances – for example ensuring that fridges power down during temporary price surges.

This will take time to develop. But there is also much we can do now. To date we have heard too much talk and too little action.

Britain has on average some of the oldest housing stock in Europe, much of it built in the era of cheap coal – but that’s no excuse. Why have we kept building inefficient homes?  We have been locking in waste, which is why my colleague Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, is moving quickly to toughen building standards.

Most of the homes we will use in 2050 have of course already been built. That is why we have big plans for the Green Deal. It will be my department’s flagship bill for this first session. Its aim is a radical overhaul of our existing homes to save energy, carbon and costs.

At the moment, we may as well be burning £50 notes outside our front doors. We use more energy per home than does Sweden.  And this waste cannot be ignored, because households account for a quarter of all carbon emissions.

This is another area which can help drive economic recovery. The market is big. There are currently up to 14 million homes in the UK which could benefit from insulation under the Green Deal. We are working on the package for each home, which could unlock tens of billions of spending in the coming years.”

For the full quote please click here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/Energy_Summit/Energy_Summit.aspx

Since Anglian launched Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic earlier this week we’ve seen and reported yesterday an unprecedented level of interest from homeowners who are keen to invest in improving their homes with the very latest in energy saving, revenue generating and environment considerate technology. 

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in Solar Energy Solutions.

Since announcing the official launchof Anglian Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic products this week we’ve received an unprecedented high level of interest and enquiries at the Anglian National Customer Contact Centre.

The new energy efficient products seem to have really captured the imagination and got people thinking seriously about helping the environment by investing in Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic technology.

These new green home improvements not only reduce a households impact on the environment but can also generate revenue.

For more information on how you can improve your home with Solar please click here.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in solar energy.

The new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has set out plans to invest heavily to develop Australia’s solar and renewable energy sector.

On Sunday, the Australian PM spoke about a change in policies which now heavily feature investment in renewable, green energy such as solar thermal or photovoltaic technologies.

Julia Gillard said:

“Moving forward means making record investments in solar power and other renewable energies to help us combat climate change and protect our Quality of life”.

The Australian PM has around $652m renewable energy fund following the budget announcement earlier this year in May.

Tony Abbott, opposition leader will challenge the Prime Ministers renewable energy plans in the National Election on 21st August.

“Instead of moving forward to tackle climate change , Mr Abbott is in climate change denial,”  Gillard said and in response Mr Abbott argues “You don’t help the environment by damaging the economy”.

The new UK Coalition Government recently visited the Department of Energy and Climate Change where Prime Minister David Cameron announced a 10% carbon cut in central Government.

Anglian Home Improvements also officially launched Anglian Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic products today. Anglian’s latest energy efficient products will help homeowners reduce their own carbon emissions even more.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in energy efficiency since 1966.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has launched a consultation on microgeneration in a bid to develop the sector into a mass market industry.

The consultation on Microgeneration Strategy will look at how to improve technologies and how to develop skills in this emerging sector to meet demand.

To date, around 100,000 businesses, organisations and homes have installed microgreneration technologies, such as solar panels or small wind turbines, and it is estimated small-scale renewable installations could meet two per cent of the UK’s electricity demand by 2020.

The Government says it wants to see what more it can do to help develop the industry, create more job opportunities, as well as get advice to businesses and householders and make sure customers can trust the green technology they buy.
In April, the feed-in tariff scheme was launched to encourage additional low carbon electricity generation by organisations, businesses, communities and individuals that are not traditionally engaged in the electricity market. Meanwhile, the Coalition Government has said that it will make public its strategy on a Renewable Heat Incentive, that was set to launch in April 2011, “as soon as possible”.

Launching this weeks consultation, Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “I want to work with industry to overcome the challenges it is facing. Together we will create a marketplace for jobs and prosperity alongside products and advice which people trust.”

Microgeneration technologies

DECC said the focus of the Microgeneration Strategy will be electricity generation technologies less than 50 kilowatt (kW) in size, and heat generating technologies less than 300 kW in size. As well as more established technologies such as air, ground and water source heat pumps, solar photovoltaics and solar thermal, the consultation will also look at fuel cells and passive flue gas recovery devices.

Today’s announcement follows the Government’s decision to overturn a ban on councils selling green electricity into the national grid, unveiled last week.

The Government will publish the final Microgeneration Strategy in early 2011. Those wishing to contribute to the consultation should email microgenconsult@decc.gsi.gov.uk. 

PR Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn10_079/pn10_079.aspx

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Helping provide energy efficient solutions for Britains homes.

Anglian Home Improvements are constantly developing and improving the efficiency of their products. This ranges from replacing your windows with newer, more efficient double glazing to installing Solar Thermal or Photovoltaic technologies which Anglian will launch next week.

Other industries have also heavily invested in green technologies. Examples include the latest introduction of LED TV’s, the motor industry manufacturing hybrid cars on mass like the Toyota Prius. Recently we reported on the plans of the new Coalition Government on environmental investment and policies from June’s budget. 

Seen in this video is new Prime Minister David Cameron reinitiated his attentions towards the environment in May 2010, by accompanying Chris Hulne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, to the Department of Energy and Climate Change; 

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Raising the standard in energy efficient home improvements since 1966.

This is a quick guide to how Anglian’s Photovoltaic technology works within the home.  Anglian’s photovoltaic system features highly efficient, reliable solar panels which will increase the energy options and efficiency of the home.

Houses without a photovoltaic system will continue to be solely reliant on the National Grid therefore be directly effected by the continuing rising fuel prices and current economic climate, not helped by British Petroleum’s well publicised continuing problems.

By installing an Anglian solar electricity system you will be, over time, the beneficiary of the following:

«       Helping set a standard, legacy of environmental living for future generations

«       Reducing your carbon emissions and impact on the environment

«       Opportunity to generate income through the Feed In Tariff (FIT)

Below is a Schematic illustrating how Photovoltaic technology works;

The panels attached to your roof will contain photovoltaic cells. These cells are made from two layers of silicon manufactured from pure sand. When sunlight shines on the cells they create electric currents, which are harnessed as DC power and converted by an inverter to AC power; ready to be used in your home via your fuse box.

Did you know that a solar electricity system 380km by 380km could provide all of the world’s electricity needs?

You probably won’t want to go this far, but! With solar panels on your home, you could be harnessing the sun’s energy for free; powering your home hence saving you money.

Keep an eye on the blog for more solar related posts, next up: Solar Thermal – heating your hot water from the sun’s rays. We will also be launching a solar website soon with bundles of information for you to get your teeth into; so watch this space!

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Making Britain’s homes more efficient since 1966.

The previous post detailed what the new Coalition Government was planning in respect to its investment, developments and policies on energy saving and the environment during their governing term.

This post however looks at the environment not from a national perspective but from a consumer level and how investing in energy saving improvements like Photovoltaic technology  not only has environmental benefits  but also  financial rewards.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change produced a video of Jim Dignan, homeowner in Sheffield who has already invested in Photovoltaic panels and gives us a detailed account of his experiences so far;

Anglian recently announced that we will be launching our very own Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic products. Please keep an eye out on the blog for more details on this exciting new development.

Anglian Home Improvements, formerly known as Anglian Windows. Helping improve the energy efficiency of Britain’s homes since 1966.