The UK government has published its Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation emphasising that all new homes must be “net zero ready” from 2025. The consultation, which has been published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, also revealed that heat pumps must be a standard within all new homes, something that could
Solar electricity campaigners are celebrating success in their struggle to remove VAT from domestic batteries retrofitted to homes already benefitting from PV panels. Victory in the tax battle coincides today with standards body the MCS confirming 2023 has again smashed records for solar PV installations. Up to early December, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme logged 183,022 certified
In recent years, the business world has witnessed a significant shift towards sustainable energy solutions, with solar power leading the charge. This surge in solar panel investments isn't just a trend but a strategic response to the evolving energy landscape. Companies across various sectors are increasingly turning to solar energy, not only to reduce
You already know that solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. But how? It almost seems like magic. Well, it’s magical, but while it's not an illusion, the science behind it—the photovoltaic effect—is fascinating. Considering the rising costs of heating as well as the effects of climate change, it’s a good time to invest in solar panels for
A couple who slept on their roof for 23 days to raise money for solar panels for homes on their street say they are now extending their project. Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell raised £113,000 last year after they braced rain, hail and snow by sleeping on the roof of their home in Lymouth
The UK government has exempted retrofitted battery energy storage systems (BESS) from its 20% VAT, from 1 February 2024. From the Spring Statement in 2022, energy saving domestic equipment such as heat pumps and roof-mounted solar have been exempt from the VAT. BESS too were exempt, but only when installed alongside other energy-saving materials such
When the grid goes down, most solar systems that lack a battery will also shut down. But with batteries, a home can disconnect from the grid. Each day, the sun powers the home and charges up the batteries, which provide power through the night. Our team atBerkeleyLab explored what it would take for homes and
One of the oft-heard criticisms of electric vehicles (EVs) is that, although they may be zero emission at the tailpipe, millions of tonnes of CO2 is created during the generation of their energy. While there is some truth in this given that huge amounts of fossil fuels are burnt by power stations, an increasing amount
Charlotte Lee, CEO from the Heat Pump Association (HPA), discusses the trade association’s new report, including recommendations to unlock the national-level decarbonisation opportunity presented by heat pumps. The pressing need to combat climate change has prompted the UK government to set an ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Recognising that the
Oliver Dowden this week advised people to stock up on certain supplies – but some people have been doing it for years Kathryn is a firm believer in the 19th-century adage that we are only ever nine meals from anarchy. Having learned the skill of stockpiling from her wartime parents and grandparents, her first mini-foray