Heat Pumps
Our cottage was heated by a Liquified Propane Gas (LPG) boiler fed from a 1200 litre gas tank. LPG is the most expensive means of domestic heating but at the time there was no other option for our rural location.
In 2019 we had the LPG boiler replaced with an Air Sourced Heat Pump (ASHP) system which cut our annual heating bill by half. Our annual costs dropped from £1250 to £600.
Planning
Before proceeding with the installation planning is essential. That said our installation was completed within 6 weeks from initial enquiry to completion.
After attending a small energy efficiency show in Inverness. There were only 2 companies dealing with heat pumps. We went with Greener Energy Group based in Paisley near Glasgow. We had a consultation visit which including a limit survey. The numbers were explained and looked good. A cost of £16000 was quoted mitigated by a Renewal Heat Initiative (RHI) grant of £11000 over 7 years and reduced running costs. We signed up that day.
Two visits followed with a home energy efficiency survey and a detailed survey. We were advised that our existing microbore piping and radiators needed to be upgraded. It was explained that the ASHP operates at a low temperature so more efficient and slightly larger radiators. Calculation also defined a 13kW ASHP.
Installation
The installation day came with 2 engineers and the delivery of all the components. We would be without heating and hot water for 2 days.
Comfortable Temperature
One of the main concerns about moving to an EV is reliable charging.
We are fortunate in having our own drive so installing a home charger was the logical first step. I was already a MyEnergi customer so opted for their Zappi2 smart charger. This allows charging from the mains and from solar.
At the same time as getting the eNiro and Zappi2 I moved electricity supplier to Octopus Energy. This innovative and progressive company offers several specific EV tariffs that utilise a Smart Meter. The Octopus Go and more recent Intelligent Octopus Go offer cheap overnight rates to keep runnning costs down. A typical charge is less than £4 once a week.
The best driving experience ever
I have driven many petrol and diesel cars since I started driving in the mid-1970s from Hillman, Ford, Renault, Saab, Toyota and Honda. The move to electric has been a pleasure and I would never go back to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICR). Electric is the future.
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