Embrace the Power of Renewables This November: A Guide to Sustainable Energy Solutions

Why Focus on Renewable Energy Now?

  1. Seasonal Energy Efficiency: As we approach the colder months, heating costs can skyrocket. By investing in renewable energy solutions like solar panels or energy-efficient heating systems, you can reduce your reliance on traditional energy sources and lower your monthly expenses.
  2. Government Incentives: November is an excellent time to explore available incentives for renewable energy installations. There are Government grants and other financial benefits for homeowners who switch to renewable energy sources, making now an ideal time to invest. Don’t forget to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
  3. Environmental Impact: The Christmas season often brings an increase in energy consumption due to lighting and heating, especially if you’re one for big decorations or hosting the family on the big day. By opting for renewable energy, you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner, greener planet.
Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler. Check your eligibility here!

Top Renewable Energy Solutions to Consider

  • Solar Panels: Harnessing the power of the sun can significantly reduce your electricity bills. Even during the shorter days of winter, and the seemingly weaker sunlight, solar panels can generate substantial energy, especially when combined with battery storage solutions.
  • Energy-Efficient Heating: Consider upgrading to a high-efficiency heating system or exploring geothermal heating options. Both these systems use renewable energy sources to provide consistent warmth without excessive energy use.
  • Smart Home Technology: Implementing smart thermostats and energy management systems can help you optimise your energy use. By automatically adjusting your heating and cooling based on your schedule, you can save energy and money. Check out the Octopus tado°: a smart heating thermostat that uses your location to let you know when to turn down your heating while you’re away and then turn it back up when you return.
  • Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations: If you own an electric vehicle or are considering one, installing a home charging station can be a great addition. This not only supports your green lifestyle but can also save you money compared to traditional fuel sources. At Carter Renewables, we are big fans of the myenergi zappi, the UK’s #1 best-selling solar compatible EV charger. 
tado° is a smart heating thermostat that uses your location to let you know when to turn down your heating while you’re away and then turn it back up when you return.

Tips for Transitioning to Renewable Energy

  1. Assess Your Energy Needs: Start by evaluating your current energy consumption. This will help you understand how much renewable energy you need to generate or how much energy-efficient technology to implement.
  2. Consult Professionals (us!): Working with a qualified electrician can make the transition smoother. They can provide insights into the best systems for your home and ensure that installations meet safety standards. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote.
  3. Plan for the Future: As you make the switch to renewable energy, consider how these changes can benefit you in the long run. Investing now means you’ll enjoy lower bills and increased property value as the demand for green technology rises.
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Made in China

The trip started with a Smart PV showcase at Huawei HQ before a train tour around Xiliubeipo village of six different areas, all breathtakingly stunning and architectural masterpieces in their own rights. We experienced a disassembly demonstration of new products, including a mega 150kW inverter and a 215kWh battery. 

The architecture on display around Xiliubeipo village
The architecture on display around Xiliubeipo village was mindblowing.

Later that night, we enjoyed a late afternoon exclusive factory tour – anti-static hats and coats were needed – before an exquisite meal at a Turkish restaurant located in the Huawei Research and Development facility. Day one had got off to an impressive start, both work-wise and hospitality-wise!

Day 2

You haven’t been in a library until you’ve been in the library at the Ox Horn Campus in Dongguan – what an incredible building that literally takes your breath away, and trust me, it wasn’t silent! On this day, we benefited from lots of presentations, product information and installers from around the world at the cutting edge of solar technology. The Huawei products were seriously impressive, and from a UK perspective, we haven’t yet experienced their reach and quality here due to the Huawei scandal of 2020 where the UK Government placed a ban on Huawei supplying kit for Britain’s 5G mobile networks.

The library at the Ox Horn Campus in Dongguan
No photo I took does the library at the Ox Horn Campus in Dongguan justice!

Obviously it’s not all work, and most definitely play, so in the evening we attended the Gala Dinner. Wow. Tomahawk steaks cooked before our eyes, light and drone shows, unlimited food and drink – is it any wonder the night ended in a local town and police escort after our installer party got a bit too loud with the locals in the early hours?!

Gala Dinner
We received the finest hospitality at the Gala Dinner, courtesy of our amazing hosts.

Day 3

Unsurprisingly, the third day I did not rise from the ashes, rather staggered out of my hotel room, jaded and tired. After a strong coffee, we enjoyed more product information at the lecture hall before travelling back to Shenzen. We stopped via Huawei’s EV/PV/battery inner city facility (which of course was built in an incredible ninety days – another example of the superb Chinese productivity). 

Davidson Exhibition Hall, the Huawei flagship store

We then enjoyed tours around the Davidson Exhibition Hall, the Huawei flagship store (think Apple Store on steroids), and the Watt Store, which is a massive demo centre in the basement of one of the Huawei buildings. After authentic Peking duck for dinner, we closed the day off with drinks underneath the Ping An Finance Centre, the 5th tallest building in China at an impressive 599.1m tall.

Ping An Finance Centre
Can confirm drinks did not remain underneath the Ping An Finance Centre…

Day 4

How I got up for Day 4 is still quite the mystery, as I took ‘not all work, some play’ very seriously last night, and drinks definitely did not stay just underneath Ping An, and rather escalated. Today, I got to experience the top of the building that I spent last night drinking underneath, but the view from the 550m summit matched the inside of my head: cloudy.

View from Ping An looking down

Later that day, we travelled into Shenzen, where the roads are so unbelievably quiet due to the sheer number of electric vehicles, up to 90% of the total vehicles on the road are EVs. We had enough time to visit a local electronics market which had some ridiculously cheap smart watches, headphones and drones for sale – another suitcase was also purchased for the return trip!

Day 5

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Childproof your home’s electrical outlets

What are the risks?

Electrical outlets and cords are part of everyday life, and are often within easy reach of curious children. The risks associated with these include:

  • Electric Shock: Children may insert objects or fingers into electrical plug sockets, leading to severe injury or even fatality.
  • Strangulation Hazards: Loose cords can pose a strangulation risk to young children.
  • Fire Hazards: Damaged or frayed cords can ignite, posing a fire risk.

What can I do to minimise the risks?

DON’T cover the plug sockets!!

Why not, you say? Well, British 13-amp plug sockets are designed for safety, with plastic barriers that block access to the electrical current when the socket is empty. Inserting a plug moves the barrier, allowing electricity to flow.

However, objects like plastic plug protectors can also move the barrier, leaving the circuit exposed and increasing the risk of electric shocks. These protectors can be inserted incorrectly or broken, further compromising safety. In essence, using a plug protector negates the safety features of UK sockets, raising the risk of shocks, electrical fires, and socket damage.

Covering plug sockets with plastic covers.
Covering your plug sockets with these plastic covers can actually do more harm than good.

Educate your children

Ultimately, education and understanding is the best preventative tool we can give our children regarding electrical safety. Simple, age-appropriate explanations about why they should not play with plug sockets, along with consistent supervision, can significantly reduce the risk of accidents, and ensure our children grow up aware of the hazards everyday electrical items can pose.

Rearrange the furniture

A simple trick, but a sensible, free and effective one! Placing large, bulky furniture in front of outlets that are not in use prevents children from reaching them. Cord shorteners can also be used to keep excess cords out of reach, to avoid children tugging on them (and inevitably pulling over a bedside lamp!)

Lamp on unit with hidden plug socket.
The cord to this lamp is cleverly hidden behind this unit (and no, it’s not a touch lamp!)

Install Tamper-Resistant Receptacles

Tamper-resistant receptacles (TRRs) are designed with a spring-loaded cover that seals off the plug slots. These outlets only open when equal pressure is applied simultaneously to both slots, as when plugging in a cord, making it difficult for children to insert foreign objects. Installing TRRs is a highly effective way to childproof your home and is recommended by electrical safety organisations.

Conduct regular safety checks

Carry out regular safety checks around your home to ensure all electrical outlets are adequately childproofed and that no wear and tear on the sockets, or cords, could pose a risk. Check that all outlet covers and plates are in place and undamaged, and replace any that are loose or broken. Keep cords neat and tucked away out of sight, where possible, and ensure that plug sockets aren’t overloaded. For further information on general electrical safety at home, check out our March blog.

And if you want to call in the professionals for a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) of your fixed wiring, give us a shout – our comprehensive survey will find out if any outlets are overloaded, if there are any potential risks or fire hazards and if there is any defective electrical work.

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LED Lighting – 10 Steps to a Brighter Future

  1. Energy efficiency

One of the most significant benefits of LED lighting is its energy efficiency, a phrase we hear a lot these days. Although you may think that one bulb can’t make that much difference to your energy bill, LEDs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and about 50% less than fluorescent bulbs. Consider how many bulbs you have in your home or business – this substantial reduction in energy consumption translates to lower electricity bills and a reduced carbon footprint, making LEDs an eco-friendly choice.

Warehouse using LED lighting.
From small-scale domestic installations, to vast commercial projects – switching to LED will save you money
  1. LEDs last longer

According to the government, one of the benefits of LED lighting is that they last up to 5 times longer than halogen bulbs. Other sources say that halogen bulbs typically last for 1,500 hours, whereas LED lights last for anything from 35,000 to 100,000 hours! Although there may be some debate as to exactly how long they last, this longevity means fewer replacements, less maintenance, and long-term savings on replacement costs.

  1. Durability

Did you know that it used to be the case to check a box of traditional light bulbs before buying, much like a box of eggs, to check they were all intact before buying? Unlike incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, LEDs are resistant to shock, vibrations, and external impacts, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. They’re so sturdy because an LED is made of compound semiconductor materials, which emit light when the electrical current passes through them, allowing them to withstand rough handling and extreme temperatures.

  1. No more burnt fingers!

Have you ever tried to change a standard bulb right after it’s blown? Halogen and incandescent bulbs generate light through heat, making them extremely hot to the touch after use. One of the practical benefits of LED bulbs is that they don’t emit heat, so you can change them without wincing!

LED Light bulb vs traditional light bulb
Check out that brightness difference!
  1. LEDs are environmentally friendly

Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, so they have to be carefully disposed of when they’ve stopped working, or they will inevitably cause damage to the environment. On the other hand, LED lights benefit from being made from compound materials that are recyclable and not harmful to the environment upon disposal. 

  1. Matchy-matchy

Traditional, incandescent bulbs, could be coated with a colour such as blue or red, but that coating would dim the amount of light that could pass through the glass of the bulb. However, LED lights can emit a wide range of different colours, matching whatever decor you have in your home or business in a visually appealing way. Additionally, LED strip lighting is becoming commonly used in homes and business reception areas to highlight feature walls, signage and focal pieces of furniture.

Lighting effects that come with using LED Light bulbs. This is a bedroom with purple lighting.
Choose LED lighting to match your internal or external decor
  1. The most versatile bulbs

The versatility of LED lighting is unmatched; LEDs come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours, making them suitable for diverse applications. From residential and commercial lighting to automotive, industrial, and outdoor lighting, LEDs can be tailored to meet specific needs and design preferences.

  1. LEDs operate at a lower voltage

If you install a low voltage lighting system, which operates at around 12V, you and your employees or family are far less likely to suffer a harmful electric shock if your lighting system is damaged or exposed to the elements. Voltage systems used to power traditional lighting generate around 120V, which can be fatal if accidentally touched.

  1. Smart lighting capabilities

If you want to wow your guests at a party, choose LEDs! At the forefront of smart lighting technology, LEDs can be easily integrated with smart home systems, allowing you to control your lighting remotely via smartphones or voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Features such as dimming, scheduling, and colour changing enhance convenience and energy efficiency, as well as that wow factor.

  1. LEDs are even good for your health!

Incredibly, LED lighting can even have positive effects on your health and well-being: they provide better lighting quality that reduces eye strain and headaches associated with poor lighting. Additionally, LEDs can be adjusted to minimise blue light exposure, which can interfere with sleep patterns, promoting better sleep hygiene.

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Tesla Powerwall battery on wall

Do batteries save money without solar?

Which battery is right for me?

There are an array of choices available which include Tesla Powerwall, SolarEdge, Huawei Luna, MyEnergi Libbi and GivEnergy. As experts in battery installations, Carter Renewables will identify the best options for the specific need considering items such as capacity, cost, efficiency and life expectancy.

These sleek and efficient Tesla Powerwalls offer a range of benefits that make them an attractive addition to your property.

So how can I save money without solar panels?

In areas where utilities charge different rates for electricity at different times of the day (TOU tariffs), battery storage systems can store energy during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper and then use it during peak hours when electricity rates are higher. This load shifting can significantly reduce electricity bills. Read more about TOU tariffs from the Energy Saving Trust.

For commercial and industrial customers, a significant portion of the electricity bill can come from demand charges, which are fees based on the highest rate of electricity usage during a billing period. Battery storage systems can help reduce these demand charges by discharging stored energy during periods of high demand, thus lowering the peak usage.

While not directly a money-saving feature, having a battery storage system can provide backup power during outages, which can be invaluable for avoiding productivity losses or spoilage in businesses, and discomfort or disruptions in residential settings. Have peace of mind that in these situations, your battery storage system has got your back! This happened recently at Carter Renewables HQ, where our trusty Tesla Powerwall stepped up to the fore after a power cut (below).

Various regions offer incentives and rebates for installing battery storage systems, which can offset the initial cost and make the investment more attractive. In December 2023, the UK government introduced VAT relief on the installation of battery storage systems.

What else do I have to consider before installation?

While battery storage systems without solar panels can save money in the long run, the savings depend on the specific circumstances, including local electricity rates, any differences between peak and off-peak rates, the initial cost of the technology and installation, as well as ongoing maintenance, and individual usage patterns. 

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Solar Garden Lights in garden

Solar Garden Lights | Are They Worth It?

Solar garden lights have become increasingly popular in recent years.
  1. Environmentally Friendly: Solar lights utilise solar energy, a renewable and abundant resource, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By generating power from the sun, solar lights help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
  2. Cost-Effective: Solar lights operate independently of the power grid, eliminating electricity bills associated with outdoor lighting. Once installed, solar lights require minimal maintenance, saving time and money in the long run.
  3. Easy Installation: Solar lights are wireless, making installation simple and safe without the need for electrical expertise. They can be installed in various locations, without concern for proximity to power outlets.
  4. Safety: Solar lights typically operate at low voltage, reducing the risk of electrical hazards. Most solar lights come with sensors that automatically turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn, enhancing convenience and security.
  5. Aesthetic Appeal: Available in numerous styles, colours, and shapes, solar lights can enhance the aesthetic appeal of gardens and outdoor spaces.
  6. Recyclable parts: Garden solar lights are made up of solar panels, batteries, LED lights, and plastic casings, all of which can be separated and recycled appropriately. Recycling these components allows for the recovery of valuable materials and reduces the environmental impact of electronic waste, and some suppliers even offer their own recycling programs. If you’re local to Reading, check out re3, where you can check the recyclability of almost every household item, including garden solar lights!
Use the re3 website (above) to check what you can recycle from around your house.
  1. Dependence on Sunlight: Solar lights depend on sunlight to charge, which can be inconsistent due to weather conditions, geographic location, and seasonal changes.In addition to this, shorter daylight hours and overcast skies during winter can significantly reduce the performance of solar lights.
  2. Initial Cost: Although costs have decreased, the initial purchase price of quality solar garden lights can be higher compared to traditional lighting options.
  3. Light Intensity: Solar lights generally produce less intense light compared to wired electric lights, which may not be suitable for areas requiring strong illumination.
  4. Battery Lifespan: The rechargeable batteries in solar lights typically last 1-2 years before needing replacement, which incurs additional costs and maintenance.
  5. Durability Issues: Prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions can damage solar lights, affecting their longevity and performance. There is also a wide range of product quality on the market, and lower-quality solar lights may fail prematurely or underperform.
  6. Recycling Difficulties: Although individual components of solar lighting can be recycled, this can be a time-costly exercise by the customer, as very few recycling centres recycle the lights as a whole unit. Putting unwanted or broken solar lights into general waste collections, or disposing via incineration is extremely harmful to the environment, due to the hazardous materials solar lights contain, such as batteries and bulbs.

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Smart Tariffs for Dummies

Smart Tariffs for Dummies

Smart tariffs, also known as time-of-use (TOU) tariffs or dynamic pricing, are electricity pricing structures that vary based on the time of day, day of the week, or other predetermined factors. These tariffs aim to reflect the actual cost of generating electricity at different times and encourage consumers to shift their electricity usage to off-peak periods when energy costs are lower.

Smart tariffs typically involve higher prices during peak demand periods, such as in the evening when people return home from work and energy consumption spikes, and lower prices during times of lower demand, such as late at night or early morning.

By offering incentives for consumers to use electricity during off-peak hours, smart tariffs can help utilities manage demand more efficiently, reduce strain on the grid, and promote the integration of renewable energy sources. Additionally, they can empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their energy usage and potentially lower their electricity bills by adjusting their consumption patterns accordingly.

Market leader and the UK’s most awarded energy supplier Octopus Energy have a wide range of tariffs, all suited to customers’ differing needs and lifestyles, but choosing the tariff for you can be a minefield! Here we break down the tariffs and explain in layman’s terms which is the tariff for you and your household.

smart tariff

Agile Octopus

With Agile Octopus, customers get access to half-hourly energy prices, tied to wholesale prices and updated daily. So when wholesale electricity prices drop, so do your bills – and if you can shift your daily electricity use outside of peak times, typically between 4-7pm, you can save even more. Agile prices can spike up to 100 p/kWh any time – although a in Winter 2023-24 the max 30 min slot was 68p/kWh with the cheapest being -4p/kWh! Yes they actually paid you to use electricity. This tariff is therefore best suited to customers who can shift large amounts of their energy use to avoid these expensive peaks, often by using smart home technologies like solar and batteries.

Intelligent Octopus Go

If you own an electric vehicle (EV), then Intelligent Octopus Go is the tariff for you! Automatically charge your car when it’s cheapest and get super-low smart charging rates plus six hours of cheap energy for your whole home every night. Making the most out of this tariff is as simple as connecting your EV or charger in the Octopus app, before just plugging in your car and telling Octopus how much charge you need. Octopus will then automatically schedule your charge for when energy is cheapest and greenest, and you’ll only pay 7.5p/kWh regardless of the time of day.

Octopus Flux

For you solar PV and battery owners out there, the Octopus Flux tariff has been designed exclusively for your needs. Compatible with all solar PV and battery systems, Octopus Flux is an import and export tariff optimised to give you the best rates for consuming and selling your energy and support the grid during peak periods. It gives customers super-cheap rates between 02:00 – 05:00 every day, when you can top up your battery with any extra energy you may need, as well as a peak rate between 16:00 – 19:00, the optimum time to discharge your battery and export surplus energy back to the grid.

Octopus Flux tariff

Cosy Octopus

Finally, if you’re the proud owner of a heat pump, check out the Cosy Octopus tariff to keep your home warm for less with super cheap rates, twice a day, every day. It’s a three-rate tariff with double dip Cosy Hours every day: six hours of super-cheap electric to warm your home. You need a heat pump to be eligible for Cosy Octopus, but it doesn’t need to have been installed by Octopus Energy. If you’re in the process of getting one installed, you can still switch to Cosy.

Cosy Octopus tariff

Picking the right tariff depends on the low-carbon technologies you own (i.e. EVs, heat pumps, solar or battery storage) and your personal energy consumption. Octopus Energy have a wide range of tariffs, so if you’re looking for something different than the ones mentioned above, check out their full range or take their quick quiz. Even if you’re at the very start of your renewable journey, and don’t have any smart technologies (yet!), you can save cash and carbon by shifting your consumption to cheaper times. Octopus Tracker is a great introduction to smarter energy, with different energy prices daily. 

Use this link to sign up to Octopus and get £50 credit on your account!

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Solar Power Diverters

Solar Power Diverters 101

You’ve installed solar PV panels and you’re generating renewable energy from the sun, so what’s next?  What about a solar diverter, a handy device that works alongside your solar panels to enhance energy utilisation within your household.

A solar diverter’s function is to channel surplus electricity produced by the solar panels towards a designated appliance, typically for water heating, rather than exporting it to the grid, enhancing the overall efficiency of the solar panels for the homeowner.

When the solar panels produce an excess of electricity beyond the current household consumption, the solar diverter automatically detects this surplus and redirects the extra energy to a specified appliance, such as water heaters, or electric heating systems. Most electric vehicle (EV) chargers can also do this too. This increases the self-consumption of solar energy, reducing reliance on grid power and thus, lowering electricity bills. Although using a diverter to heat water is the most common use, it’s worth noting that solar diverters can’t be used to heat hot water if a combi boiler is installed in your home.

Ultimately, the price of a solar diverter is influenced by various factors such as the brand, model, features, and installation specifications. The good news is, they qualify for 0% VAT, which helps improve the payback by saving typical gas use to heat the water. However, the optimal utilisation of solar energy varies depending on individual circumstances. For most users, maximising savings and achieving quicker payback involves using surplus electricity within the home. Yet, if you benefit from a favourable solar buy-back tariff, selling your excess energy back to the grid may prove more worthwhile.

Today we shine a spotlight on the myenergi eddi. As myenergi explain themselves, “a solar photovoltaic (PV) system without an eddi is like a car without a steering wheel or driver. Without an eddi, you have no control over where you want your self-generated energy to go, or how you want to use it.

By installing a myenergi eddi, you are able to make the most of the green energy generated from your solar PV or even your wind generation system. By directing the excess renewable energy to other appliances, you can, for example, heat 100% of your hot water on self-generated green energy.

eddi uses state-of-the-art technology to monitor PV performance and your energy consumption. This means that surplus power can always be used in the best way – heating your water with solar ready for when you need it most. The eddi can fully heat your water using much lower amounts of solar generation, such as during winter mornings, late summer evenings or when it’s overcast, ultimately improving the life and efficiency of the heat pump, and prevents reliance on top ups from the grid.

At Carter Renewables, we highly recommend consulting with us to obtain an accurate cost estimate for a solar diverter tailored to your home, lifestyle and specific requirements. Contact us today to get your solar diverter journey started, and to get that metaphoric steering wheel added to your car!

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Electrical Safety at Home – Don’t Be Shocked

Our Planet Earth has existed for approximately 4.5 billion years, and we have only enjoyed domestic electricity for about 150 of them. Electricity is now something we absolutely take for granted: to light and heat our homes, cook our food, charge the devices to entertain us and much more. On the rare occasion of a power outage, we spring to our pre-charged smartphones to enquire about the cause, and more often than not are able to utilise stored electricity in some form until usual service resumes.

Yet, due to its convenience and normality within our modern lives, we tend to forget that electricity has the power to kill humans when manhandled, and around 2.5 million Brits receive an electric shock annually. That’s a shocking (!) 4% of the population falling foul each year to everything from electrical fires to fatal incidents, often sadly because of faults around their house.

Today we will explore the most common current (ok I’ll stop now) reasons for an electrical mishap, and how you can safeguard yourself against them.

It’s the main culprit for sure – old or faulty wiring will lead to electrical fires or immediate shocks. Even if you’re not a sparky, you can still learn to distinguish between old and new wiring from the colouring. Old plug wiring consists of a red live wire, black neutral wire and a green/yellow or a pure green protective earth (PE) wire:

Old Plug Wiring Colours
Know your old from your new!

Plugs with modern wiring contain a brown wire that is live, a blue neutral wire and a green/yellow PE wire. Broadly speaking, the wiring connections in new plugs are the same as in old ones but with different colours for the neutral and live wires.

As well as this, if you have any of the following in your house, get in touch with us today for us to check them out safely:

  • Cables coated in black rubber were phased out in the 60s
  • Cables coated in lead or fabric were installed pre-60s
  • A wooden-backed fuse box or cast iron switches would be pre-60s
  • Wall-mounted light switches in the bathroom are pre-60s

If the back of your TV, or by your bedside table looks like the image below on a permanent basis, please reconsider installing some additional sockets to cope with your electrical appliance demand. Misuse of extension plugs and leads is one of the biggest electrical offenders in the UK, not helped by the fact that appliances are often plugged into them constantly throughout the day and night, silently overheating, resulting in melted sockets or worse case scenario, house fires.

Overloaded Extension Sockets
Dangerously overloaded extension sockets

If you do have a lot of devices, think about only plugging them in when you need to use them, as the purpose of extension leads was originally for that exact use only – such as when you needed additional electricity to mow the lawn or vacuum your car. Additionally, make sure the extension lead you’re using is up to the job – the capacity should well exceed the electrical demand you’re placing on the cord.

We literally can’t live without them, needing a charger for everything from our phone, laptop and kids’ tablets to our vacuum cleaners and toothbrushes! And while the original charger that came with your device may be compliant with UK properties and our electrical systems, there’s a high chance that any replacement or ‘spare’ chargers, bought in a rush from Amazon Prime, are low-quality products made in China for as little as 3p a pop.

So how can you check your charger is compliant with UK properties and your plug sockets, in order to keep safe?

  • Check the Plug Pin: Examine the pins and ensure there is a minimum distance of 9.5mm between the edge of the pins and the charger’s edge. Failure to meet this standard could pose a risk of electric shock. Difficulty in plugging the charger into the socket may indicate incorrect pin length or size.
  • Verify the Markings: When purchasing a charger, ensure the brand’s markings are clearly visible. The output voltage should match that of your device, and a CE mark should be present to confirm compliance with EU regulations.
  • Refer to the Manual: Upon purchasing a device or charger, refer to the provided instructions for proper usage guidelines. These instructions will include details on correctly using the charger and offer essential electrical guidance.
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Step Inside the Carter ‘Green’ House

Being in the trade, I have the benefit of being able to install at below-market rates, which was a huge benefit and incentive to get started on this project. My main intentions, however, were to demonstrate how using renewables together can a) reduce your carbon footprint,  b) save you money, and c) earn you money.

The house is a 1970 bungalow, with approximately 145m2 of floor area, insulated cavity walls (although I do wonder sometimes!), old wood-framed double glazed windows, and a rather old gas boiler. The radiators throughout the house were a mix of single and double panels, which I planned to upgrade. Fortunately, the house, being an L-shape, had two zones for the heating plumbed in and 15mm legs to the radiators would help the flow rates for future heat pump installation

So far, I have added 7.91kWp of solar PV across the east, south and west elevations of the house to maximise solar efficiency, converting sunlight into renewable energy to power various electrical devices. Around the same time, I installed a 13.5kWh battery capable of charging and discharging energy from the grid, and storing excess solar energy to utilise during periods of high demand on the grid, or overnight. A 12kW heat pump combined with a smart Domestic Hot Water (DHW) cylinder is a more environmentally-friendly heating option compared to traditional boilers, and powered by the solar PV panels, reduces not only my carbon footprint, but my energy bills too. And of course, an EV charger was one of the first things to be installed to help power the Carter Electrical fleet!

Solar PV Panels
Solar PV panels across three of the elevations of the bungalow

As a snapshot, in 2022 we used 17,673 kWh of gas at an average cost of 6p/kWh, mainly for heating and domestic hot water, but also a small bit for cooking, bringing our net cost of gas for the year to £1,034. In addition to this, we imported 5182 kWh of electricity costing £571 – a small part was for electric vehicle (EV) charging, but the bulk was for domestic use. This meant we had a total demand of 22,855 kWh from the grid,.

Our gas usage in 2023 was 0 kWh! This was largely down to installing the heat pump and induction hob, and removing the gas to the property. If we had remained on gas with the existing boiler, the costs would have nearly doubled. Our electricity usage was 10,900 kWh, of which 7313 kWh came from the grid at an average cost of 13p/kWh. Therefore, grid electricity cost £928.64 however, I exported 1723 kWh worth £361.87 at an average of 21p/kWh. In addition to this, there were some Octopus Energy Octoplus saving credits and seven referrals which totalled £405.36. So once export was taken away from usage, my net cost of electricity was £161.41 for the year. This meant an incredible saving of over £1440 compared to 2022; our combined savings on gas and electricity was closer to over £2500.

7kWp of solar PV with a Tesla Powerwall battery was approximately £20,000. You can get cheaper, but this system is high-specification, using SolarEdge optimisers to minimise tree shading and multiple elevations as in the case of our bungalow. It is a large battery, but this allows us to maximise charging with cheap off-peak electricity in the winter, as well as capturing all the generation in the summer. The Octopus Agile Tariff and the battery has made the unit cost of electricity extremely low.

Tesla Powerwall
Jon’s Tesla Powerwall, which is high-specification, cost £20,000

The 12kW Samsung HTQ heat pump, Mixergy Cylinder and Homely controls came to about £12,500, although there is a £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant available which brings the cost down closer to a boiler change. On top of that, our new radiators cost between £200-£300 per unit to swap. 

Samsung HTQ Heat Pump
The Samsung HTQ heat pump, which can be installed with the help of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant

It is a large initial outlay, but we are effectively buying 25 years of electricity upfront with the solar panels, and the battery then facilitates the ability to maximise the generation use and access to off peak cheaper electricity. With the cheaper electricity and the 350-500% efficiency of the heat pump, the cost to heat the house and domestic hot water drops dramatically and will only get cheaper. Remember – the price of gas will only ever go up due to it being a finite resource! 

Heat Pump Efficiency
Jon’s heat pump running yesterday at over 500% efficiency

It’s a change of mindset: we buy a car, a fridge or a sofa out of necessity and it’s not always the cheapest. We need electricity to run the house and we need to heat the house in winter and hot water all the time, so why not invest in something that allows you to do it cheaper and also helps reduce the use of fossil fuels at the same time?

I want to look to improve the efficiency of the heat pump, which is a lot of fun through experimentation and playing with settings to best suit our climate. I installed data collectors on all new equipment, so I’m constantly monitoring it to see if there are improvements that can be made. Next on the list, is to improve the insulation of the house and minimise draughts – I have a lot of old, leaky double-glazed windows that could be improved! Tech-wise, I’d love a wind turbine, but it’s not feasible (or so I’m told by my wife).

Do heat pumps work? Yes. Do solar panels work? Yes. Do battery storage systems work? YES. Together they are a large initial investment, however, if you have the capital expenditure, then it is clear and obvious you can reduce the operational expenditure of your house quite significantly. I reduced my utility costs by 90% in my first year of making these changes, and I am looking forward to continuing to analyse my energy usage in 2024 to further enjoy the long-term financial benefits, as well as knowing I’m reducing mine and my family’s carbon footprint! Contact us today to conduct a thorough analysis of your energy needs, local climate conditions, and available incentives, to help tailor a solution to your specific requirements.

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