AMC Renewables is the advertising name for Alex Murray Construction Ltd’s renewables department. Having been involved in the installation of renewable heating technologies since 2008, it was decided in November of 2011 to re-brand this aspect of our service so as to broaden the public horizon as to the services provided by Alex Murray Construction Ltd.

In August of 2011 we became MCS accredited for the installation and commissioning of heat pumps and solar thermal systems after an audit by the Construction Licensing Executive. We are currently in the process of gaining certification for Biomass boiler systems and are scheduled to be audited for this technology in December. Choosing an installer with MCS accreditation is imperative as this is a pre-requisite to obtaining the available grants.

It is no secret that fossil fuels such as oil and gas are running low; and it seems that the lower the supplies are going, the higher the prices are being driven up. With this knowledge, the Government have decided to cast their lot into the renewables industry in a drive to make the country’s homes self-sufficient; a drive which has been shouldered significantly by the announcement that grants are being made available through the Renewable Heat Premium Payment and the Renewable Heat Incentive. In the long run, the grants are expected to more than off-set the higher capital costs involved in installing the systems.

Fuel Price Comparison (based on 100% efficiency)

Oil: 66p per litre = 9.7kWh per litre
Oil = 14.7kW per £1
Oil with a 20,000 kWh annual demand = £1360.54
Annual Renewable Heat Incentive Income = N/A

Biomass (wood pellets): 20p per kg = 4.8kWh per kg
Biomass = 24kW per £1
Biomass with a 20,000 kWh annual demand = £833.33
Annual Renewable Heat Incentive Income = £1800 (true at time of print)

Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP): 11p per kWh (330% efficiency)
ASHP = 30kWh per £1
ASHP with a 20,000kWh annual demand = £666.67
Annual Renewable Heat Incentive Income = £1500 (true at time of print)

Our service can be described in five simple steps:

Step One – Which system is most suitable for the building in question?
Our heating designer’s first port of call when specifying a renewable heating system is to decipher which system is best suited to the building in question. Any honest specifier will tell you that it would be unprofitable to install an air source heat pump in a draughty, poorly insulated house. If the building is unsuitable then we will point you in the right direction with regards to what needs to be done to make the shell more energy efficient.

Step Two – Specification of System Size
The next step is to specify the right size of system. An under-sized or over-sized system can be highly inefficient and expensive to run so it is important that accurate heat loss calculations are made to ensure that the right size of system is installed.

Step Three – Quotation
When a system is specified a quote will be drawn up and sent to the client detailing installation costs, approximate annual running cost, approximate annual saving when compared to old heating system, and the approximate annual Renewable Heat Incentive income. We will also at this time give advice on available grants and how they can be applied for.

Step Four – Installation and Commissioning
Once the quote has been accepted, we will send our heating technician out to install the specified technology. Your system will be installed and commissioned to the MCS standard.

Step Five – Paper Work & After Sales Service
After the work has been completed you will be given a handover pack put together by our designer which will include all the relevant manuals needed to run your system efficiently and all the necessary documents for Renewable Heat Incentive eligibility. Along with this, advice will be given free of charge on energy saving measures and grant funding. Our 12 month labour warranty will ensure that any initial faults with your system will be fixed free of charge. The system warranty will vary depending on the manufacturer (typically 2 years).

A heat pump has been described as “a fridge working in reverse”. While in a fridge, heat is transported from the inside to the outside (therefore keeping the fridge cool and the back of it warm), a heat pump transports heat from the outside (atmosphere) to the inside.

There are many types of heat pump on the market, listed below are a few of them with their characteristics:

• Air to water (air source) – Air used to heat the hot water. Can be used in compact situations where there is little room.
• Air to air – Similar system to air conditioning, generally used in new build homes as ducting is required.
• Ground to water – As the ground temperature stays fairly constant (approx. 6°C) all year round, the heat from it can be used to heat hot water in the home. This system requires ground near to the property where a bore hole can be drilled or where 20-40m² of horizontal collectors can be buried at a depth of approximately 1 metre.
• Water to water – This system is used where there is a loch nearby that can be used to extract heat to feed the heat pump.
• Exhaust air – The exhaust air heat pump takes warm ‘exhaust air’ from your kitchen and bathrooms and uses it to heat your hot water cylinder. As this system requires ducting, it is more common in new builds.

As heat pumps run on electricity, they are not 100% renewable (unless they are powered by Solar PV panels!). However, with the help of a compressor they can run at an efficiency of 300-400%, meaning that for every kWh of electricity that you use to power your heat pump; 3-4kWh of heat energy is being produced to heat your home.

When should I use a heat pump?

Heat pumps run at their best in well insulated, air tight houses. This environment ensures that they are not made to work too hard to provide the required heating and hot water requirements and therefore allows them to maintain their efficiency. As heat pumps run on a lower temperature (approx 40-50°C) than your typical oil or gas boiler it is often necessary to resize your radiators to ensure that the same output is provided. Their lower temperature output makes them ideal for under floor heating. Heat pumps are used with unvented hot water cylinders, meaning that your old vented cylinder will probably have to be replaced.

AMC Renewables currently have dealings with the following manufacturers:
• Mitsubishi
• NIBE
• Dimplex
• Grant UK
• Kingspan

Solar thermal panels use free energy from the sun (they do not require electricity to run) to heat your domestic hot water. They are used primarily for your hot water needs and are rarely used to fulfil your heating requirements as when the sun is at its hottest during the summer; your heating requirements are at their lowest. The flipside is that, in the winter, when your heating requirements are at their highest, the production from your solar panels are at their lowest. It is a common misconception that solar panels need direct sunlight to produce heat; in actual fact, all they need is the UV rays from the sun meaning that they are still productive on a cloudy day.

Solar thermal systems work best when fitted to a South facing roof (SE & SW are also productive) with minimal shading. They require an unvented hot water cylinder to run and are often used to supplement a primary heating system such as a heat pump.

AMC Renewables currently have dealings with the following manufacturers:
• Grant UK
• Velux
• Dimplex
• Kingspan
• NIBE

The most common biomass boilers make use of one of the following three fuels:
• Wood pellets
• Wood shavings
• Solid wood (logs)

Biomass Boilers come in many different shapes and sizes and are increasingly being used as a feature in modern kitchens and living rooms. The beauty of this type of system is that it is a direct replacement for your oil boiler; there is no need to resize radiators or change your hot water cylinder. Depending on what manufacturer is specified, the boiler will have to be cleaned fairly regularly (approximately once a week) although there are also manufacturers which make self cleaning systems which only have to be emptied once a year. It should also be noted that this system needs to be flued, preferably out through a chimney. Different sized hoppers (wood pellet stores) are available which are used to self-feed the boiler, cutting out the need for the system to be continually fed. These hoppers range from 50 litres to 1000 litres.

AMC Renewables currently have dealings with the following manufacturers:
• MCZ
• Grant UK
• Windhager
• Maxi

Solar Photovaltaic panels and wind turbines are used to generate clean, free electricity. Whereas Solar PV captures the sun’s energy using photovoltaic cells, wind turbines harness the power of the wind to generate electricity. Both systems have proved successful and can claim back money through the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff (currently 21p per kWh for Solar PV and 28p per kWh for wind turbines).

There are a number of considerations which have to be taken into account before choosing whether your situation is suitable for one of these systems. These considerations include:

Solar PV Considerations
• Do you have a suitable roof (if roof mounted) which faces South or near?
• What sort of capital do you have available?
• Is the roof easily accessible?

Wind Turbine Considerations
• Do you have a suitable piece of land to site the wind turbine?
• Is your land near to houses?
• Do your proposals satisfy all relevant planning requirements?
• What sort of capital do you have available?

Although AMC Renewables do not carry installers of Solar PV and Wind Turbine systems, we are happy to manage your project for you using trustworthy, MCS accredited, sub-contractors. This way you can take the risk of yourself in your purchase and be sure that you are receiving correct, unbiased advice that will enable you to move ahead confidently with your project.

When you are trying to bring a cold and draughty house up to an energy efficient standard, a heat pump is not generally going to be your first port of call. It is important to first of all make the shell of your property into a building that can keep the warmth, therefore reducing the need to continually re-heat your home. There are several ways of doing this, a few of which are listed below:

Insulation
The better insulated your home is, the less money that you will spend heating it. It is therefore important that your house is able to retain the heat that is being produced and one of the most successful ways of doing this is through the use of insulation. There are many forms of insulation, all of which have their own uses:

• Internal Wall Insulation – This system is used by most timber frame kits as there is room provided between the studs for insulation to be fitted. In a retro-fit situation, there is a fair bit of disruption involved as the internal plasterboard will have to be removed and the walls strapped with timber. To meet today’s standards, it is recommended that a solid boarded insulation like Kingspan be used with a thickness of approximately 100-150mm.
• External Wall Insulation – This method uses a special system which ties solid boarded insulation to your outside walls and then roughcasts over it. A good system if you want to avoid disruption to the inside of your property.
• Cavity Wall Insulation – Cavity wall insulation can be used in traditional double leaf block houses which have a cavity. This system, which pumps insulation into the cavity through holes made in the outer leaf, has proved very successful in the past reducing people’s heating costs by up to 40%.
• Floor Insulation – The floor isn’t an element of the building that people tend to immediately think of when insulating their home. However, experts claim that insulating your floor can save you up to £60 a year on heating costs. On a concrete floor this involves strapping the floor and laying solid board or mineral wool insulation between the timber runners. On traditional timber floors this will usually involve filling the void with mineral wool insulation
• Loft Insulation – Heat travels upwards; loft insulation provides a barrier that ensures that the heat produced in your home stays in your home and doesn’t escape through your roof. 270mm of mineral wool is a standard amount which will improve thermal capacity as well as satisfy any grant requirements.

Windows & Doors
If you currently have single glazed windows and thin timber doors, then the chances are that your home’s heat losses are sky high. It is important to therefore ensure that your windows are double or triple glazed and that doors are insulated and well sealed to minimise draughts. With 20 years of experience in fitting quality windows and doors, we are in a prime position to specify, supply and fit new ones in your property.

Draught Proofing
Having recognised the amount of waste in draughty buildings, our Building Regulations are finally cramping down on draughts in new properties. Although this is specific to new build, the rest of the nation who already live in draughty properties are also encouraged to improve the air tightness of their homes and therefore reduce heat losses. There are numerous ways of doing this, a few of which are listed below:
• Sealing around windows and doors with silicone.
• Using draught proofing tape to make sure that joints are properly sealed.
• Sealing any gaps around skirtings and pipes.
• Sealing any cracks in walls.
• Blocking off un-used fireplaces, extractor fans, loft hatches etc.
• Using draught excluders on internal doors.

Alex Murray Construction Ltd have a head start over most other companies in this aspect of energy efficiency as we have just delivered a building conforming to the air-tightness standards for the Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn in Galson on the west side of the Isle of Lewis. Although many of these draught proofing remedies can be attempted by home owners, you are encouraged to seek out an experienced professional for noticeable results.

Although renewable heating systems are in themselves cheaper to run than most fossil fuel fired systems, it is anticipated that the main driver for the installation of these systems is going to be the grants available to the general public. AMC Renewables are in a position to give you advice on applying for these grants as well as helping you to fill out any necessary forms. A summary of the main grants is listed below:

Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP)
The RHPP is the forerunner for the long awaited Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI, below). As the RHI for domestic properties doesn’t begin until October/November 2012, a further incentive has been set up to give home owners a one off payment to help pay for initial installation costs. The tariffs are as follows:
• Air Source Heat Pumps – £850*
• Biomass Boilers – £950
• Ground Source Heat Pumps – £1250
• Solar Water Heating – £300

These grants are only available until money runs out so you are advised not to delay your project. The following requirements must be met for your project to be eligible:
• You must be the owner of the property and you must currently be resident in it.
• The new heating system must be replacing your main source of heating (except for Solar Thermal).
• You must have at least 270mm of loft insulation as well as cavity wall insulation where applicable.
• Your system must be installed and commissioned between the 1st of August 2011 and the 31st of March 2012.
• Both the product and the installer must be MCS accredited.

*AMC Renewables will offer a further £400 grant (taking the total grant funding to £1250) if you decide to install a Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
The RHI is the Government’s main driver for renewable heating technologies in the UK. It is a unique scheme, similar to the Feed-in-Tariffs for Electricity, which pays users a tariff for each kWh of heat energy produced. Although the non-domestic side of this scheme is scheduled to begin in November 2011, the domestic side is not expected to start until October/November 2012. The proposed domestic tariffs per kWh (yet to be confirmed) are listed below with an annual payback for a house producing 20,000 kWh of energy for heating and hot water:
• Solid Biomass – £0.09 – £1800 – Up to 45kW – Lasts for 15 years
• Air Source Heat Pump – £0.075 – £1500 – Up to 45kW – Lasts for 18 years
• Ground Source Heat Pump – £0.07 – £1400 – Up to 45kW – Lasts for 23 years
• Solar Thermal – £0.18 – N/A – Up to 20kW – Lasts for 20 years

To qualify for the RHI your heating system must have been installed after the 15th of July 2009. The product must be MCS accredited and it must be installed by an MCS accredited contractor.

Please have a look at the following website for more information on the RHI:
http://www.rhincentive.co.uk/

CERT Funding
CERT funding is supported by large energy companies such as Scottish Gas and it allows home owners in the ‘Super Priority Group’ to access grants to insulation, heat pumps and other energy saving measures. To find out if you qualify please check yourself against the requirements on this website: http://domesticheating.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/cert/cert_checklist

Funding for Insulation
The Government have also made funding available for cavity wall and loft insulation. To access this, it is necessary to prove eligibility and to fill out a number of forms. AMC Renewables are happy to advice and assist you with any paper work required and then to manage the works.