Home Improvement predictions for 2015

Bigger Space

As I mentioned in my previous post, people are starting to expand their home rather than upsizing. Considering the uncertain economic climate it does appear that increasing the size of your home is the smarter route to take e.g. garage conversions. 

Not to mention all the other benefits that come with having an extension built, but it also can significantly increase the value of your home.

Photo Credit: Steve Bennett

Automated Controls

Reminded by a previous post last year in April I mentioned that 'Smart Homes' were starting to pick up a trend in 2014, and it has carried on into 2015! Slowly building up in popularity, people are finding that having thermostat controls, lighting etc automated a big help.

Photo Credit: Charles Hudson

We all need 'One less job to do' around the house and things like being able to preheat your oven via your smart phone is just what we need! If you haven't already started this then you need to get on it now, trust me, it saves a great deal of stress.

Bi-Fold Doors

Photo Credit: North Devon Joinery

Steadily increasing in popularity, bi-fold doors are on the right track to be the hottest trend of 2015! Bi-fold doors create a smooth transition between rooms or outdoor spaces for a light airy atmosphere which makes them perfect for an ever expanding household.

Renewable Technology

I know I go on about renewable technology a lot here, but its growth over the recent years is incredible! For example by the end of 2015 Germany expect to have 80% of its energy coming from renewable technology. It's the next quantum leap in the way we produce energy either it be via big commercial farms or domestically on your roof essentially paying for your own electricity bill, come on, that's pretty cool in itself! 

Right now is the best time to cash in on the RHI scheme because the government our lowering it every year. The average lifetime of a Solar PV system is 20 years with a predicted savings over £17,000 in that time scale. Think about what you could do with that money e.g. Worrying about not being able to pay for your newborn's Uni fees already?! £17,000 could cover the costs in time for Baby (Apologies for shamefully tugging at the heart strings). 

However it's not just Solar you can invest in, there's Heat Pumps and Biomass too that pay more on the RHI than Solar does!

Conservatories

Conservatories look set to regain their popularity in 2015. After the little fad in the early 2000's conservatories haven't really gained that phenomenal status since, until now.  We've noticed a dramatic increase in homeowners wanted quotes for conservatories because they want the extra space!

With materials to suit any home they are the perfect way to  blur the boundaries between the inside and outside of your home.

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Regularly Checking Your Solar PV Can Improve its Efficiency

Verification of system performance

Now we all know that before the installation of solar PV we take a long hard look at the costs involved and the potential return on investment provided by lower energy bills or RHI. So of course you have verify that the performance of the system matches the energy output from the panels. If you start to see a gradual decline, in many cases simple electrical faults or wiring failures can cause a serious inefficiency in the ability of the panel to produce power. Although proper metering will give an indication of system performance, periodic electrical testing is vital to verify ongoing functional performance over extended periods.

Environmental degradation

PV systems by their very nature are exposed to the elements. Damage or corrosion to cabling and connectors caused by moisture ingress can result in degradation in performance or increased risk of fire. Regular electrical testing will enable system performance to be monitored and any necessary repairs or remedial actions to be taken.

Effective grounding

Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Transportation

If you are not already aware, solar panels and their racking systems must be grounded to mitigate potential electric shocks and fire hazards. In some cases, the grounding system can degrade during its later life. This could mean that anyone who comes into contact with a metal piece of the system may receive a shock. While the likelihood of shock is low, should one occur, the chance of substantial injury is great because of the high voltage arrays, and the added danger of falling from roof-mounted systems. So basically, "No, don't touch, no, hot!"

Avoiding fire risks

Due to the exponential growth of rooftop solar installation recently hitting over 500,000 UK homes, there has been an increase in a number of reported incidents of fires. Sadly Household fires started by electrical faults in rooftop solar PV systems have been reported in the UK, but have no fear! Periodic testing of the electrical cabling and components connected to the panels will ensure that you have a safe operation of the system.

Surface contamination

PV modules, like anything over time begin to accumulate dirt and grime. This can reduce the operational efficiency and system performance. Periodically cleaning the panels, much like a window can help prevent this, there are even solar panel cleaning companies that will do it for you! 

Damage to wiring

The most obvious example of bad wiring is when wires hang below the panels and touch the roof or underlying vegetation. Eventually the wire coating will wear or be damaged by rodents and potentially expose the copper wires, presenting a shock hazard. Any deterioration of cable connections and wiring can be identified by applying regular electrical testing to identify potential faults.

Photo Credit: Michael Daines

Warranty fulfilment

Periodic electrical testing of solar PV systems to identify and confirm continued safe operation and maximum energy output performance can be required as part of product warranties and PV system component guarantees.

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Energy prices on the rise and how to combat it

Once again the energy prices are rising dramatically. Over the past 3 years alone they have risen on average 37% according to the Guardian which means that they are rising up to 8 times the rate of average earnings!

Not to mention 'Which?' warning the treasury that the cost of building power stations, replacing grids and erecting wind farms will add £640 a year to household bills.

All information  sourced from Uswitch website

According to the graph, energy prices have gone up by a whopping 172% in the past the decade alone! Although you could argue that 'all things are more expensive these days' but compared to other sectors like alcohol, water and petrol, energy prices dwarf them all!

Why are they going up?

I don't have to tell you that there are many contributing factors that cause this rise in energy bills, but here are some of the main reasons:

• The turmoil in the Middle East
• Investment in the Grid
• Outdated energy market
• We're running out of fossil fuels
• China is a greedy guts

Surely this a sign that we need to transition from fossil fuels to more conservative types of energy? It's a dead end resource and lets face it, we want to be around for a long time, we're humans it's what we do! 

Scientists like James Hansen are crying out warning us that soon that we will reach the point of no return. Why don't they report this properly on mainstream media? The security of our future is being decided now, it is effecting our lives right now, energy bills on the rise, countries facing an unusual amount of environmental disasters. Surely we should be all running around trying to fix this mess?!

The benefits of becoming more independent

Not only will you be cushioning yourself from the dramatically rising energy prices, but you will also be able to make a profit from these renewable energies with the RHI scheme (Read more about RHI here).  Domestic Solar alone can give you returns of up to £17,000 over a 20 year period. What's also important to consider is over the past 10 years how much energy prices have risen, just imagine it over another 20 years! 

The brilliant thing is this means we can weaken some of the almost omnipotent corporations that are causing this environmental slaughter all in the name of making more money, madness. How can one be so self obsessed that they value money over than human life? If we the common man/woman starts to produce their electricity, decrease their dependancy we will see change.

“A single, ordinary person still can make a difference – and single, ordinary people are doing precisely that every day.” - Chris Bohjalian. 

The starfish story is what comes to mind here, and it's true if the majority of us start to have solar panels on our roofs the solar industry will boom. If it does then we will continue to see more and more advancements in the technology, people getting serious about renewable energy and after that only then will we see the benefits it will have on our Earth's climate, energy prices dropping, calm.

Break away from the social norm, decrease your expensive dependency by using renewable energy solutions like solar panels, biomass, Air/Ground source heat pumps. Take matters into your own hands, because THEY won't help you when it comes down to it.

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!

Solar roof tiles (shingles)

To the majority the main reason why they won't install solar panels is that some can look well... ugly. Nobody wants to lose their curb appeal understandably BUT, you don't have to get panels. You can get solar roof tiles and they look just dandy!

What are they and how do they work? 

Solar shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, are solar cells designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles. There are several varieties of solar shingles, including shingle-sized solid panels that take the place of a number of conventional shingles in a strip, semi-rigid designs containing several silicon solar cells that are sized more like conventional shingles, and newer systems using various thin film solar cell technologies that match conventional shingles both in size and flexibility. Solar shingles are manufactured by several companies by now.

Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells, capturing sunlight and transforming it into electricity. Most solar shingles are 12 by 86 inches (300 by 2,180 mm) and can be stapled directly to the roofing cloth. When applied they have a 5 by 86 inches (130 by 2,180 mm) strip of exposed surface. Different models of shingles have different mounting requirements. Some can be applied directly onto roofing felt intermixed with regular asphalt shingles while others may need special installation.

Aren't they just dandy?!  There are all sorts of shapes and sizes that admittedly do aesthetically dance on the eyes more so than the panels!

Downside?

So it is a no-brainer then; fit solar tiles instead of panels unless you want to make a statement to your neighbours with your solar panels. Well – as is often the case – it is not as simple as that. The main issue is cost or, more to the point, return on investment. Solar tiles are more expensive – often double the price – and less efficient – typically 10 – 20% less than than solar panels. And as solar PV systems are being presented as an excellent investment with the Feed in Tariffs this will have an impact on their popularity and applicability.

Solar tiles still may have a part to play in the sustainable design of our buildings however. For those that view the appearance of their roof as paramount or for whom cost is not a concern may still want to make the extra investment. Also with new build homes, it may be practical to install solar tiles instead of conventional roof tiles which will offset some of the cost and look great; particularly if they cover the entire roof pitch.

I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams!