PV Panels

Solar PV panels (arrays of photovoltaic cells) generate renewable electricity from the sun by converting sunlight using the 'photoelectric effect'. As energy is produced from daylight, not direct sunlight, panels generate electricity even on overcast or sunny days.

Solar panels can supply a substantial proportion of the electricity needs of a typical household. Apart from reducing your electricity bill, any surplus electricity is sold directly back to the grid.

The feed-in tarriff.

The feed-in tariff scheme rewards you for the amount of energy your PV system generates, regardless of whether you consume the electricity or not. You are also paid for any electricity exported.

The UK 'feed-in tariff' (also known as the Clean Energy Cash Back) is a government backed policy that was introduced to encourage householders to install solar PV systems to generate electricity.

Benefits of feed-in tariffs:

• As a householder, you will be paid 41.3p for every single kWh of electricity that is generated by your solar PV system (the generation tariff). Even if you end up using the electricity to power your home, you will still be paid the 41.3p.
• If you use your generated electricity to power the lights and appliances in your home, you will also save around 13p for each kWh since you will not have to buy that electricity from your energy supplier. So in effect, the total benefit to you is 54.3p.
• Any electricity that is not used in the home will be exported to the grid. This will attract an additional 3p/kWh (the export tariff).
• The feed-in tariff (both generation and export tariff) is guaranteed for 25 years.
• In addition, each year the feed-in tariff will increase by the Retail price Index (RPI).
• These tariffs are only guaranteed if you install your solar PV system before April 2012. For systems installed after April 2012, the tariffs are reduced by 8.5% for each year that you delay. So there is a real incentive to install your solar PV system now.
• Any income generated will be completely tax free.

Loft Insulation

Insulation Grants are available to completely cover the cost of Cavity Wall Insulation & Loft Insulation for your home. If you are not entitled to one of the full insulation grants, you can still receive a grant for up to 70% of the cost!

All Home Insulation Grants are backed by the UK Government and they do not have to be re-paid! Any home owner or private tenant qualifies for a grant, regardless of circumstances.

100% insulation grants are also available to households where any person living in the house receives one of the following benefits, tax credits or allowances:

• Attendance Allowance
• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit (single person's discount and student exemption do not qualify)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Disabled Persons Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit (gross combined household income must be under £16,040, excluding all benefits)
• Working Tax Credit (gross combined household income must be under £16,040, excluding all benefits)
• Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
• War Disablement Pension **
• Pension Credit (state pension only does not qualify)

* Must also be in receipt of Constant Attendance Allowance

** Must include Mobility Supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance

Cavity Wall Insulation

Grants are available to completely cover the cost of having Cavity Wall Insulation professionally installed in your home. If you do not qualify for a full grant, partial grants are available that can still pay for up to 70% of the installation cost.

In most houses built after 1924, the external walls are made of two layers with a small air gap or 'cavity' between them. If your home has unfilled cavity walls, a considerable portion of your heating bills will be spent warming the air outside.

Filling the gap between the two walls of a house with an insulating material decreases the amount of heat escaping through the walls. Cavity wall insulation is quick, clean and free or inexpensive to install. It is blown into the cavity from the outside, typically taking two or three hours. All cavity wall installations are backed by a 25 year independent guarantee from CIGA, the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency.