Home energy check

Air source heat pumps are suitable for many types of homes and are the most common type of domestic heat pump, with tens of thousands of installations across the UK. However, there are a few things you should consider before deciding whether a heat pump is right for you.

You’ll need a place outside your home where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It must have some space around it to allow a good flow of air.

Most homes in the UK use radiators or underfloor heating to circulate hot water. A heat pump will also use either option and some upgrades  may be required to make sure the heat pump runs efficiently.

A standard heat pump doesn’t provide hot water on demand like a combi boiler, so you will need a way of storing hot water for when you need it. The size of hot water cylinder required will depend on the amount of hot water that your household typically uses, but the cylinder can usually be fitted inside any cupboard that measures around 80x80cm.

If you have limited space for a hot water cylinder, you still have options. There are some smaller hot water cylinders that can fit inside a kitchen cupboard that are available for heat pumps. You could also consider installing a heat battery, which takes up less space than a hot water cylinder. Instantaneous hot water heaters are also available and can be installed under your kitchen sink to provide a smaller amount of hot water.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are a series of flat panels that can be mounted on your roof, the ground or an outbuilding. Solar panels will help reduce your home's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, by using a low-carbon electricity source. To get the best overall performance throughout the year, your roof should ideally face south at a pitched angle of 30 to 40 degrees. Panels on east- or west-facing roofs however, can still provide up to 85% of the performance of a south-facing installation. North-facing roof installations are not recommended.

You can combine solar panels with space or water-heating technologies such as heat pumps or solar thermal panels. PV diverters can also allow you to divert excess electricity to heat a hot water cylinder.

Solar panels can also work alongside other electricity generation methods such as wind turbines. Several of these electricity generation systems can feed into a battery storage system.

Try to use appliances (like your washing machine) during daylight hours to take full advantage of the free, low-carbon electricity. There are financial schemes for eligible householders to help spread the cost of installations. Incentives, such as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), can provide payments for any unused electricity you export to the grid.

For more information on:
Solar panels, visit https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/solar-panels
Energy storage, visit https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/battery-storage

Home batteries store electricity so you can use it later, helping you make the most of renewable energy from technologies like solar panels.

They work by storing electricity during the day or when prices are low, so you can use it in the evening or when prices rise.

This can reduce your reliance on the grid and may lower your energy bills, especially if you’re on a smart tariff.

A typical home battery system costs between £5,000 and £8,000, and the size you need depends on your energy use, the size of your solar PV system, and any future plans such as buying an electric car or installing a heat pump.

Before installing, check the battery lifespan and warranty, ask how much you could save, and make sure your installer is certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

For more information, visit https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/battery-storage.