Are You Thinking of Buying a Renewable Energy System?
Renewable energy systems such as solar panels, wind turbines or ground source
heat pumps can offer you a great way to potentially reduce your carbon footprint.
The average householder might expect to save around £50-100 each year
by having a renewable energy system installed. Obviously this depends on the
size of your house, the size of your household and the type and size of
system you install.
Do I need plannning permission to install renewable energy?
If you are going to install a renewable energy system you need to check whether
planning permission is required. Our guide will help you decide what to do. The
guidance is available to download  here (249KB,
PDF file).
Where do I find out about the technology?
The Energy Savings Trust's guide on renewable energy technology is available  here.
Free information sheets from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) are
available here.
CAT is one of the UK's foremost leaders in practical applications for domestic-scale
renewable energy technology.
Is there a grant from the council to pay for renewable energy ?
Unfortunately there no grants available at present. Bexley as part of a number
of Local Authorities are presently reviewing the Solar for London Scheme to ensure
consumers get good value for money.
Where else can I get a grant for renewable energy ?
The
Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) Phase 1. provides grants for the installation
of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings to include households,
community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors.
What do I need to know before I buy a renewable energy system?
Renewable systems can cost anything between £2500 to £10,000
or more and whilst there are many reputable businesses that will give you good
service and a fair price, there will always be some that do not.
As you would with other forms of building work it is always sensible to take
precautions and contact your local
Trading Standards and the Government’s Consumer
Direct Advice Website.
Besides taking the precautions above it is always sensible to follow these
basic rules when thinking of renewable energy and you want to obtain a
grant for your system:
- Obtain at least three quotes from only Low
Carbon Building Programme certified installers. Ask to see evidence before
agreeing to anything.
- ONLY buy certified Low Carbon Building Programme approved products. Get
the company to confirm in writing that the system you are buying and the installer
you are using is certified.
- Don't just listen to sales claims – do your own research and investigate
similar systems and read the guides that are available.
- Never under any circumstances agree to sign a sales agreement on the day
just because the salesperson offers you a “special discount” or other
promotion. Similarly claims that you will get 100% of your money back if you
agree to help “local marketing/promotions” are completely bogus.
REMEMBER: If a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is!
- With the express agreement of the salesperson use a tape recorder to record
your meeting or write down what was said between you and the salesperson.
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