INDEX.
Introduction and summary of research.
The survey
Primary and secondary heating sources
Energy performance ratings of sample properties
Efficiency of insulation
Performance of energy consumption
Energy cost comparisons
Average spends on energy and savings.
Recommended measures for insulation, indicative costs and savings.
Comparisons of average costs of insulation against average savings
and payback
Installation of energy efficiency measures
Neighbourhood questionnaire
Greetham village annual energy consumption
Extracts from he Rutland core strategy
Relevant core strategy policies wih regard to energy
Policy CS21 - The Natural Environment
Some cost comparisons of light bulbs
Heat Pumps
Energy Performance Certificate for the Energy Saving Trust
Energy Performance Certificate, government certificate
Greetham village plan energy survey
Heat pumps - examples
Page 1
Page 2
Page 2
Page 3
Page 3
Page 4
Page 6
Page 7
Page 9
Page 9
Page 10
Page 12
Page 16
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
GREETHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN ENERGY SURVEY.
INTRODUCTION.
Summary of research.
The Greetham energy survey was conduct along the requirements specified in the
Rutland Core Strategy (as it applies to energy.) In particular regard to Strategic
Objective 14: Resources, waste and climate change; Policy CS1 Sustainable
development principles with regard to the natural environment; Policy CS20 Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Energy Generation.
The Energy Survey for the Greetham Neighbourhood Plan is in two parts. The first
part being composed from data extrapolated from the government and Energy Saving
Trust Energy Performance Certificates (ECP). The second part is based on
information from the Greetham Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire.
The energy survey was carried out using the government's Energy Performance
Certificates (EPC) and those from the Energy Saving Trust. Both of these use
different format forms and record different sets of data in differing units. The two
forms are attached in the appendices as appendices 1 and 2.
The first stumbling block was that the Rutland Council refused to give the post codes
covering the parish of Greetham. Why post codes should be subject to the Data
Protection Act is a mystery. However, the postcodes were found by research on the
internet. From the post codes it was established that 92 properties in Greetham had
had energy surveys conducted by either of the two agencies in compliance with
government policy on the sale and resale of houses.
The relevant information was gathered from each individual certificate and entered
onto a spreadsheet from which various charts have been produced and which are
included in this report. The energy survey spread sheet is Appendix 3.
The second was that the certificates break down energy consumption into lighting,
heating and hot water, there is no distinction for energy consumed in cooking. There
is no explanation as to how the assessors/surveyors arrive at the various figures. It is
probably fair to assume that energy used for cooking is included in the heating
figures.
Where gas and electricity are listed as the main sources of heating, the certificates
generally do not differentiate between main and secondary heating. So, for example,
where gas is given as the main source of heat, the certificate does not indicate whether
or not gas is used for secondary heating. Electricity is listed as secondary heating in
only 9 properties while it may be safe to say that electricity is used in a variety of
heating appliances as a secondary heat source in most properties.
1.
THE SURVEY.
Of the 92 properties surveyed,
38 are Detached houses
28 are Semi-detached houses
19 are terraced houses
4 are detached bungalows
2 are Semi-detached bungalows
1 is a terraced bungalow.
Primary heating energy sources. (Fig.1.)
20 used oil
64 used gas
6 used electricity
2 used coal\wood
MAIN HEATING BY NUMBER OF PROPERTIES SURVEYED.
WOOD/COAL
ELEC
OIL
GAS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Fig.1
Secondary heating energy sources, of those surveyed and showing secondary heat
sources, (Fig.2.)
22 used wood
19 used coal/mineral
9 used electric
2 used solar
1 used biomass
1 used gas
2.
SECONDARY HEATING BY NUMBER OF PROPERTIES SURVEYED
GAS
BIOMASS
SOLAR
ELECTRIC
COAL/MINERAL
WOOD
Fig.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
Where gas and electric are listed as the source of energy for the main heating the
Energy Performance Certificates generally do not differentiate where gas and electric
are used for secondary heating. We may presume, therefore, that as all properties have
an electricity supply for such things as lighting, kettles, TVs, computers etc, that some
form of auxiliary heating is used from this source; the same applies to properties
having a gas supply. The certificates data does not include energy used to heat water
by electric immersion heater.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF SAMPLE PROPERTIES.
Of the two agencies carrying out the surveys, the government sponsored
certification classified the performance ratings of buildings by a star system, one star
to five stars. The Energy Saving Trust classification system ranked buildings on a
scale of very poor to very good in increments of 5. Thus one star equates to very poor
and five stars to very good. Only three properties are listed as having floor insulation.
Efficiency of insulation.
Loft insulation (Fig.3), 8 properties were considered very poor, 7 were poor,
16 average, 53 good, 6 very good. 3 were not categorised.
LOFT INSULATION CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
6%
3%
9%
8%
1
2
17%
3
4
5
6
57%
Fig.3
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
3.
Wall insulation (Fig 4), 28 properties were considered very poor, 5 were poor,
8 average, 45 good, 2 very good. 3 were not categorised.
WALL INSULATION CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
2%
3%
31%
1
2
3
4
5
50%
5%
6
9%
Fig.4
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
Glazing/double glazing (Fig.5), 2 properties were considered very poor, 8
were poor, 44 average, 34 good, 1 very good. 3 were not categorised.
DOUBLE GLAZING - CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
1% 3%
2%
9%
1
2
37%
3
4
48%
Fig.5
5
6
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
Performance of energy consumption.
Main heating (Fig.6), 2 properties were considered very poor, 4 were poor, 23
average, 48 good, 12 very good. 3 were not categorised.
MAIN HEAT - CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
13%
3%
2%
4%
1
25%
2
3
4
5
6
53%
Fig.6
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
4.
Heating controls (Fig.7), 2 properties were considered very poor, 16 were
poor, 33 average, 36 good, 2 very good. 3 were not categorised.
HEATING CONTROLS - CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
15%
3%
3%
8%
1
24%
2
3
4
5
6
47%
Fig.7
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
Hot water (Fig.8), 3 properties were considered very poor, 7 were poor, 22
average, 43 good, 14 very good. 3 were not categorised.
HOT WATER - CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
15%
3%
3%
8%
1
24%
2
3
4
5
6
47%
Fig.8
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
Lighting (Fig.9), 28 properties were considered very poor, 15 were poor, 12
average, 15 good, 19 very good. 3 were not categorised.
LIGHTING - CURRENT STATE OF HOUSES SURVEYED
3%
21%
31%
1
2
3
4
5
16%
Fig.9
16%
13%
1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, 5 = Very good, 6 = Not available
5
6
Energy cost comparisons. (Figs.10,11,12)
The current costs of energy over a 3 year period in the 3 categories range from
minimum to maximum:
Lighting,
Heating,
Hot water
£78
£987
£138
to
to
to
£1,083
£9,069
£2,106
to
to
to
£540
£8,859
£906
Compared to potential costs:
Lighting,
Heating,
Hot water,
£72
£870
£138
Range of potential savings after recommended improvements:
Lighting,
Heating,
Hot water,
£1,200
£6
£117
£0
to
to
to
£543
£210
£1,200
LIGHTING COST COMPARISON OVER 3 YEARS
£1,000
£800
£600
MIN
£400
MAX
£200
£0
Fig.10
LIGHTING COST ACTUAL
POTENTIAL COSTS
SAVINGS
HEATING COST COMPARISON OVER 3 YEARS
£10,000
£9,000
£8,000
£7,000
£6,000
£5,000
£4,000
£3,000
£2,000
£1,000
£0
Fig.11
MIN
MAX
HEATING COST ACTUAL
POTENTIAL COSTS
6.
SAVINGS
HOT WATER COST COMPARISON OVER 3 YEARS
£2,500
£2,000
£1,500
MIN
£1,000
MAX
£500
£0
HOT WATER COST POTENTIAL COSTS
- ACTUAL
Fig.12
SAVINGS
When we consider the minimum figures it should be remembered that these
figures are relative and generally from houses that have already adopted some cost
saving installations such as LED lights, high efficiency boilers and controls. It can
also be seen that those figures on the maximum scale can benefit most from energy
saving measures which tends to suggest these houses are the least energy efficient in
the survey.
The following 4 charts, (Figs.13-16) show the average spends on light, heat,
hot water and total spending compared to the potential costs and the savings
therefrom.
£350
Average Spend
£300
£131
£250
£200
£150
£329
£100
£198
£50
£0
Fig.13
Average spend on Light
Average cost
difference
7.
Average potential
spending on Light
£3,000
Average Spend
£2,500
£493
£2,000
£1,500
£2,705
£2,212
£1,000
£500
£0
Average spend on
Heat
Fig.14
Average cost
difference
Average potential
spending on Heat
£600
Average Spend
£500
£117
£400
£300
£479
£200
£362
£100
£0
Average spend on Hot
Water
Average cost
difference
Fig.15
Average potential
spending on Hot
Water
£4,000
£3,500
£741
Average Spend
£3,000
£2,500
£2,000
£3,513
£1,500
£2,773
£1,000
£500
£0
Fig.16
Average spend on
Total
Average cost
difference
8.
Average potential
spending on Total
Recommended measures for insulation, indicative costs and savings. (Figs.17-20)
The capital costs of the recommended measures to improve energy efficiency are
taken from the theoretical averages of the estimated costs of installations given by the
surveyors. Estimates given for individual properties are shown with maximum and
minimum values, extrapolated data is based on averages between these values.
£6,000.00
AVERAGE INSTALLATION COST OF INSULATION.
£5,000.00
£4,000.00
£3,000.00
£2,000.00
£1,000.00
£0.00
Fig.17
FLOOR
LOFT
WALL
DR PROOF
D/GLAZ
AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS DUE TO RECOMMENDED
INSULATION IMPROVEMENTS
£250.00
£200.00
£150.00
£100.00
£50.00
£0.00
Fig.18
FLOOR
LOFT
WALL
DR PROOF
D/GLAZ
Comparisons of average costs of insulation against average savings and payback.
(Refer to Figs 17 & 18)
Floor insulation cost £971, saving £101 per year, payback time 9.5 years.
Loft insulation cost £777, saving £92 per year, payback time 8.5 years.
Wall insulation cost £5,384, saving £236 per year, payback time 23 years.
Draught proof cost £100, saving £72 per year, payback time 1.4 years.
Double glazing cost £4,833, saving £132 per year, payback time 36.5 years.
9.
From the above it can be seen that the most cost effective measures for insulating a
property are floor and loft insulation and draught proofing.
INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES:
AVERAGE INSTALLATION COSTS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MEASURES.
£14,000.00
£12,000.00
£10,000.00
£8,000.00
£6,000.00
£4,000.00
£2,000.00
£0.00
LE LIGHTS
HTNG CNTRLS NEW BOILER
Fig.19
£250.00
SOLAR
WATER
SOLAR PV
WIND TURBINE
AVERAGE POTENTIAL ANNUAL SAVINGS WHEN RECOMMENDED
CHANGES TO ENERGY USE ARE IMPLEMENTED.
£200.00
£150.00
£100.00
£50.00
£0.00
LE LIGHTS
Fig.20
HTNG
CNTRLS
NEW
BOILER
SOLAR
WATER
SOLAR PV
WIND
TURBINE
From the ECPs we can see the average cost of installation of various energy saving
methods, these can be compared with the expected savings. From these figures we can
assume the most financially advantages forms of energy saving methods. For
example, the average cost of a small wind turbine (domestic) is £2,750, the potential
savings in electricity are predicted at £50 per year, at present costs the investment will
take 55 years to recoup.
Looking at Solar PV, the average investment for a domestic system is £12,500, the
savings in electricity on average, are £191 per year, the time taken to recoup the
investment, nearly 65 years.
10.
It is the failing of people making claims in their sales bulletins that they tend to over
exaggerate the benefits of their product. One such company extensively advertising
solar panels on the internet claim that an installation could save UPTO £14,000 over
the life of the installation which is considered to be 25 years, that works out at about
£560 per year. There is no mention of the size of the installation required to achieve
this figure. According to the survey analysis only 6 houses out of 92 used electricity
as their primary energy source for heating and only 9 specified electricity as the
secondary source.
The ECPs showed a typical cost of installation for solar PV systems at £12,500 with
an average saving of £191 per year. Solar PV systems have an estimated life of 25
years, which means that the 'savings' total is £191 x 25 = £4775, about £10,000 short
of the claim by the company selling them. In 25 years the savings do not even cover
the installation cost. Neither the government ECPs nor the Energy Saving Trust ECPs
say anything about the feed in tariffs in the performance figures. Even when such
schemes are accounted for, the householder is losing on the investment.
Looking at Solar Water Heaters, the average investment cost of £5,075 for a domestic
system from which the average savings are £36 per year, time taken to recoup the
investment is 141 years.
The average cost of a new econ boiler is £2,700, generating savings of £140 per year,
time taken to recoup the investment, 19 years.
Improvements in heating controls, the average investment cost is £358, savings
generated £80 per year, time taken to recoup the investment, 4.5 years.
Replacement LED lights, average cost of investment, £60, savings expected of £41
per year, pay back period 1.5 years.
From the above figures it is clear that the improvements and replacement to existing
heating and lighting systems are the best options where cost and savings are
considered. These figures are based purely on price comparisons and do not include
the availability of grants towards the costs of installation and/or contributions from
feed in tariffs etc., these are covered later in the report.
It can be seen from the above and from he ECPs that other sources of renewable
energy have no been considered, for example, heat pumps, biomass, wood and biogas.
Heat pumps are perhaps the easiest to install and produce recognisable results
immediately for the home owner. A brief description of heat pumps, their uses,
varieties and cost savings is given on page 20 of this report.
11.
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN QUESTIONNAIRE.
The figures and details following are taken from section 4 of the Greetham
Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire, "Sustainable Development".
Regarding questions 1,2,3, and 4, these ought to have been directed to the head of the
household and not have been open to being answered by all adult members of the
household. For example, if more than one person per household answered question 1
with YES, this will skew the results for the number of houses insulated.
FIGURES TAKEN FROM THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS:
Question 1. "Have you insulated your home?"
As regards to house insulation, the question confines its' inquiry to general
insulation of a house. Further probing would have produced a better result, for
example, "Which of the following is installed in your house, roof insulation, floor
insulation, wall insulation and double glazing.?"
Have you insulated your house?
19
31
YES
NO
NO ANSWER
Fig.21
230
For the results shown in Figure 21 to be relevant the numbers given will have
to be quantified between the number of houses insulated and the number of people
questioned who said their house was insulated. From the questionnaire there is no way
of knowing how many houses are insulated, only the number of people who said their
house was insulated. The question "How many adults over the age of 18 live in your
house?" was omitted from the final survey questionnaire. This is an important filter
point to give relevance to many of the questions.
12.
Question 2. "Would you be interested in advice on insulating your house to
lower your energy bills?"
Would you be interested in advice on insulating
your house to lower your energy bills?
40
46
YES
NO
NO ANSWER
Fig.22
194
Question 3. "Thinking about the rising cost of energy, would you consider
joining a community scheme buying energy in bulk to reduce costs?"
Would you consider joining a community
scheme buying energy in bulk to reduce costs?
41
YES
NO
NO ANSWER
78
161
Fig.23
Question 3 should have been asked after question 4. Again this question ought
to have been directed to the head of the household since only one member of the
household would be buying the fuel. More than one person in the household
completing this question skews the results. However, there appears to be a consensus
of opinion that buying energy in bulk is a good idea.
13.
Question 4. "If so, what fuels do you use?"
If so, what fuels do you use?
22
49
133
GAS
ELECTRIC
OIL
OTHER
166
Fig.24
The results to Question 4 are skewed if more than one person in the household
completes this question, and could be indicative of its disparity with the results shown
in Figure 1 from the ECPs. The choices of fuel cast as "other" must be broken down
further especially as this part of the survey is intended to increase awareness of low
carbon and carbon neutral fuels. Everyone uses electricity for part of their energy
consumption, some for all of their energy consumption and some for secondary
heating. Those using oil as main heating source probably do not use oil for any other
purpose and most probably not for secondary heating but use electricity for washing
machines, lights and TV etc. Those using gas for mains heating probably use it for
secondary heating also as well as electric for all the other accessories. All in all, the
results for this question are ambiguous.
Question 5. Would you consider supporting a wind farm in the parish?
Would you consider supporting a wind farm in the
parish?
25
91
YES
NO
NO ANSWER
164
Fig.25
Question 5 shows that the majority of residents are opposed to a wind farm,
however, the questionnaire does not elicit opinions concerning the installation of
individual domestic wind turbines in the village.
14.
Question 6. "Would you consider joining a community scheme to purchase
solar panels in bulk?"
Would you consider joining a community scheme to
purchase solar panels in bulk?
32
83
YES
NO
NO ANSWER
165
Fig.26
From the results of questions 5 and 6 it can be seen that wind and solar power
are seen as unacceptable by the majority - the question does not call for reasons why
the choices were made. Do people already realise that these investment costs take a
very long time to recoup?
Question 7. "Would you support a community project to build a bio-gas
digester to convert sewage into gas for use in the village?"
Would you support a community project to build a
bio-gas digester to convert sewage into gas for use
in the village?
45
YES
149
NO
NO ANSWER
86
Fig.27
The building of a bio-gas digester seems to be the most popular of the
alternative energy options.
Question 8. "On a scale of 1 - 5 how important is sustainable development for
you? 1 = Low, 5 = High"
The average of 1 - 5 priority mark = 3.88
15.
Greetham village annual energy consumption.
These figures are based on the average household consumption of energy taken from
the Energy Performance Certificates, the results are then multiplied by the number of
households in the village.
Energy attributed to space heating:
Energy attributed to water heating:
5,635 MWhr/year
655.5 MWhr/year
Total energy to space & water heating: 6.3 GWhr/year
There is insufficient data in the EPCs to give figures for energy consumed in cooking,
lighting, washing machines, refrigerators and other electrical appliances. On the
Energy Performance Certificate (Appendix 2), it states that the figures show how
much a household spends on heating, lighting and hot water and excludes energy used
for TVs, washing machines, computers, cookers etc.
EXTRACTS FROM THE RUTLAND CORE STRATEGY: (as it applies to
energy.)
.
Strategic Objective 14: Resources, waste and climate change. (page 15)
To reduce the impact of people and development on the environment by
sustainable design and construction, reducing pollution, encouraging the prudent use
of resources, including minerals, waste management and recycling, increased use of
renewable energy and provision of green infrastructure and addressing the
implications of flood risk and climate change.
Sustainable development principles: (page 16)
2.1
Sustainable development is the key principle underlying planning which seeks
to ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for the future generations.
Sustainable development is defined as that which "meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs".
Policy CS1 - Sustainable development principles.
New development in Rutland will be expected to:
a) minimise the impact on climate change and include measures to take
account of future changes in the climate; (see Policies CS19 and 20)
b) maintain and wherever possible enhance the county's environmental,
cultural and heritage assets; (see Policies CS21 and 22)
f) minimise the use of resources and meet high environmental standards in
terms of design and construction with particular regard to energy and water
16.
efficiency, use of sustainable materials and minimisation of waste; (see Policies CS19
and 20)
The spatial strategy.
2.5
The spatial strategy identifies broad locations for sustainable development in
Rutland that will give access for all to services and facilities, while minimising the
impact on climate change and protecting the natural environment, landscape and the
unique character of the towns and villages.
Relevant Core Strategy Policies with regard to energy.
Policy CS20 - Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Energy Generation
Renewable, low carbon and de-centralised energy will be encouraged in all development. The
design, layout, and orientation of buildings should aim to minimise energy consumption and
promote energy efficiency and use of alternative energy sources.
All new housing developments will be encouraged to meet the minimum energy efficiency
standards of the Code for Sustainable Homes in accordance with the government's proposed
timetable for improving energy efficiency standards beyond the requirements of the Building
Regulations. All new non-domestic buildings will be encouraged to meet BREEAM design
standards for energy efficiency.
Wind turbines and other low carbon energy generating developments will be supported where
environmental, economic and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily and where they
address the following issues:
a)
landscape and visual impact, informed by the Leicestershire, Leicester and
Rutland Landscape Characterisation Project and the Rutland Historic Landscape
Character assessment;
b)
effects on the natural and cultural environment including any potential impacts on
the internationally designated nature conservation area of Rutland Water;
c)
effects on the built environment, public and residential amenity, including noise
intrusion,.
d)
the number and size of wind turbines and their cumulative impact;
e)
the contribution to national and international environmental objectives on
climate change and national renewable energy targets.
Sustainability Implications
Encouraging the reduction of carbon emissions whether through decentralised or renewable
sources means that there may be environmental benefits. However, with no sanctions to enforce
this, the extent of those benefits may be assumed to be limited.
This approach supports renewable and low carbon energy generation through the requirement to
meet minimum energy efficiency standards in the Code for Sustainable Homes and through the
17.
identification of support for wind and other energy generation in accordance with certain
criteria. This will deliver significant long and short term environmental benefits.
The Post-examination change to this policy which now encourages rather than requires
minimum energy efficiency standards has the effect of reducing the positive environmenta l
benefits that would have been delivered had those higher standards been required.
Policy CS21 - The Natural Environment
Development should be appropriate to the landscape character type within which it is situated
and contribute to its conservation, enhancement or restoration, or the creation of appropriate
new features.
The quality and diversity of the natural environment of Rutland will be conserved and
enhanced. Conditions for biodiversity will be maintained and improved and important
geodiversity assets will be protected.
Protected sites and species will be afforded the highest level of protection with priority also given
to local aims and targets for the natural environment.
All developments, projects and activities will be expected to:
a)
provide an appropriate level qf protection to legally protected sites and species;
b)
maintain and where appropriate enhance conditions for priority habitats and
species identified in the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Biodiversily Action
Plan:
c)
maintain and where appropriate enhance recognised geodiversity assets;
d)
maintain and where appropriate enhance other sites, features, species or networks of
ecological interest and provide .for appropriate management of these;
e)
maximise opportunities for the restoration, enhancement and connection of ecological
or geological assets, particularly in line with the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
Biodiversity Action Plan; mitigate against any necessary impacts through appropriate
habitat creation, restoration or enhancement on site or elsewhere;
f)
Mitigate against any necessary impacts through appropriate habitat creation,
restoration or enhancement on site or elsewhere.
g)
respect and where appropriate enhance the character of the landscape
identified in the Leicestershire. Leicester and Rutland Landscape Characterisation
Project;
h)
maintain and where appropriate enhance green infrastructure.
Sustainability Implications
This policy offers a broad approach to protecting and enhancing the natural environment within
Rutland and to maintain and protect biodiversity and geodiversity sites. The policy also seeks to
protect landscape, which will encourage high quality design but it does not explicitly restrict
inappropriate development. This is dealt with elsewhere. With regard to the historic landscape it
18.
allows for sensitive change to allow a natural environment which is utilised and still evolving but
with respect to landscape character.
Overall this policy is largely in accordance with sustainability Objectives 11, 1 2 and 18. It
also performs well against Objective 10, however there is some uncertainty with regard to
the creation of wildlife conservation and woodland as this is largely dependant upon
individual development proposals. There is no conflict with any objectives although it is
noted that protecting biodiversity and geodiversity may have little impact on increasing
participation in recreational/cultural activities since such sites frequently have restricted access.
The quality and character of the built and historic environment of Rutland will be conserved and
enhanced.
Particular protection will be given to the character and special features of:
a) listed buildings and features;
b) conservation areas;
c) scheduled ancient monuments,d) parks and gardens;
e) known and potential archaeological sites.
All developments, projects and activities will be expected to protect and where possible enhance
historic assets and their settings, maintain local distinctiveness and the character of identified
features.
Development should respect the historic landscape character and contribute to its conservation,
enhancement or restoration, or the creation of appropriate new features.
The adaptive re-use of redundant or functionally obsolete listed buildings or important buildings
will be supported where this does not harm their essential character.
SOME COST COMPARISONS ON LIGHT BULBS.
Light Bulb Efficiency and Cost Comparisons
Clean Energy, Green Home, Green Tips
We’ve all heard the arguments about incandescent vs CFL vs LED light bulbs. So, what’s the
current situation with these 3 choices?
As you know, incandescent light bulbs are very inefficient. Only about 10% of the energy goes
to light, the rest is wasted as heat. However, they are very cheap. The Compact Fluorescent
Light (CFL) bulb is more efficient since about 75% of the energy goes to lighting. However,
they do contain mercury so it is a problem when it comes to disposing of them. They cost a
little more than incandescent bulbs, but their prices are becoming more competitive. Light
Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are very efficient as very little of the energy is wasted as heat.
They are environmentally friendly, but are still more expensive although their price has come
down a lot. It will continue to come down as production is ramped up. Also, LED’s last a lot
longer than the other 2 types of bulbs.
19.
In today’s world what bulb is the most cost effective for the consumer? Based on a recent
article from a Daily Casey Dispatch from caseyreseach.com here is a table comparing costs.
60 Watt Equivalent
Incandescent
CFL
LED
Life in hours
1000
8000
25000
Initial Cost
£0.76
£3.20
£6.40
Yearly Operating Cost
£4.63
£1.16
£0.93
So, the yearly operating cost is cheaper for the LED, but the initial cost is a lot more. However,
when you add up the advantages over the 25,000-hour lifetime of the LED, the advantages to
the LED are much clearer. See table below.
60 Watt Equivalent
CFL
LED
£4.63
£1.16
£0.93
23
23
23
23 Year Operating Cost £106.43
£26.64
£21.34
Initial Cost
£0.76
£3.20
Replacement Cost
£18.28
£6.40
£0.00
£125.47
£36.24
£27.74
Yearly Operating Cost
Total # Years
Total Cost
Incandescent
£6.40
Although, LED’s only have a small advantage in cost against CFL’s, CFL’s contain mercury,
which is a toxic substance that we want to keep out of the environment. Plus, CFL’s are costly
to recycle.
Hopefully, this information will make it easier for you to decide which type of bulb to
purchase.
HEAT PUMPS.
Heat pumps are nothing new, they have been around for a long time. Back in 1980, 80 % of
Japanese homes were heated by heat pumps. This was because Japan relied heavily on imported
energy sources having little local resources of oil, coal or gas. Most of Japan's electrical energy
is provided by nuclear power.
Heat pumps do exactly what the description says, they pump heat from one place to another.
Heat pumps are a reliable source of heat and can reduce heating costs by as much as 66%. A
heat pump is not a carbon free or carbon neutral alternative since the compressor and fans in a
heat pump are powered by electricity, unless all the electrical power is derived from nuclear,
wind, wave, solar or bio-gas.
Heat is extracted from either the air, water or the ground and is pumped via a compressor to the
inside of the building. The medium used to transfer the heat is of special importance in that it
must be able to be transformed from a liquid into a gas and back to a liquid. We call this
medium a refrigerant, of which there are various formulae. The refrigerant in its gaseous form is
20.
cold, the gas passes through the outside collector where its temperature rises due to the higher
temperature of the air, water or ground source. The gas arrives at the compressor where it is
compressed into a liquid form turning the gas back into a liquid where it increases in
temperature, the heat thus generated is released into the building. A pressure valve ensures the
rate of compression necessary to turn the gas into a liquid. When the liquid passes through the
pressure valve it expands and turns into a gas, the result of the expansion to gas is a rapid
reduction in temperature. The gas is now at a lower temperature than the environment around the
collector, referred to as the outdoor coil. The temperature of the gas rises as it passes through the
collector, the compressor turns the gas back into a liquid where the act of compressing the gas
causes it to increase in temperature. The heat thus generated is released into the building as
either warm air or into a central heating system or hot water tank through the indoor coil or
evaporator. It is important that the heat pump is sized to meet the demand expected in order to
achieve the highest savings.
Types of Heat Pump.
1. Air to air heat pumps are probably the most common because they are reversible and are used
as air conditioners to provide cooling in summer. These come in two versions, the single
package version is self contained, the outdoor and indoor coils are contained within a single box
including the compressor, fans etc. These are most often mounted on the roof with air ducts
taking the warm air into the building. The other version is the split system where the outdoor
coil, fan and compressor are situated outside the building. The indoor coil with its fan and
controls is installed within the building; pipes carrying the refrigerant between the outdoor unit
and the indoor unit pass through the wall of the building.
2. Air to water heat pumps collect heat from the outside air, pumping it into an indoor heat store
or hot water system. The hot water can be used for washing and/or central heating and is easily
piped into an existing water system. This type of heat pump is not reversible except for de-icing
the exterior coil in winter.
3. Water to water heat pumps collect their heat from an external water source such as a lake,
river, ground water or a well. However, installation of this type of heat pump usually requires
permission from the local water authority to extract their water. It will also require an additional
pump to take the water from the source to the heat pump and back to the source. Again this type
of heat pump is used to heat water for washing and/or central heating.
4. Ground source heat pumps collect heat from the outdoor coil which is buried underground and
requires considerable area to be effective. The problems with ground source heat pumps is the
installation of the ground coil involving substantial digging in a garden big enough to take it,
also if there is a leak of refrigerant at any time in the outdoor coil this will require digging up the
law or flower bed to investigate and repair the leak and the coil must be at least 1 metre below
the surface.
We have included a few examples with diagrams etc. in the Appendices for further reading.
21.
APPENDIX 1.
APPENDIX 2.
APPENDIX 3.
APPENDIX 4.