Green Homes Network

Ann Patrick downsized to a four-bedroom detached property in Dunblane, Perthshire to focus on creating a more environmentally friendly home.

Ann Patrick says she grew up living with solar panels, and since her parents installed a ground source heat pump in 2007, she has seen first-hand the benefits of renewable technologies and wanted to take her own steps to reduce her carbon footprint.

Research and recommendations

Ann Patrick knew her garden wasn’t suitable for ground source heating, so she researched air source heat pumps instead, reading Energy Saving Trust’s website and talking to others, including her parents, for recommendations. This gave Ann Patrick the confidence to ask installers the right questions and plan what to do next.

Her parents recommended AES Solar, a solar PV panel provider based in Forres, which also gave her details of reputable air source heat pump installers.

Installing the solar panels and heat pump

After a slight delay caused by COVID-19 and waiting on a part, Ann Patrick’s solar panels were fitted in just two days. Because she was considering buying an electric vehicle (EV) she decided to fit as many solar PV panels as possible. AES Solar installed 27 JA Solar 320W monocrystalline modules, providing a total output of 8.64kW, as well as an 8kW Solis inverter. Ann Patrick also installed a Tesla Powerwall 2 in preparation for her new EV. This provides 13.5kWh of battery storage and gives her greater flexibility to save any excess electricity generated by the panels. Ann Patrick has also adopted the Backup Gateway system to help monitor the amount of electricity generated by her solar panels and passed to the Powerwall 2.

The 12kW Panasonic air source heat pump and 300L hot water cylinder took longer to install because she decided to run the heat distribution under the floor in the smaller downstairs rooms. Ann Patrick’s chosen installer, Cumbria-based Heacol, fitted 60m² of underfloor heating and she found the process surprisingly smooth. Not only does underfloor heating save her wall space, but it provides steady heat over a wider area since heat pumps distribute water through the system at lower temperatures than typical central heating.

Ann Patrick took advantage of the Home Energy Scotland Loan, an interest-free loan funded by the Scottish Government, to help cover the cost. She found the application process straightforward, though a little time-consuming, but says the funding was extremely helpful.

Living with the technologies

By monitoring her energy use with a smart meter Ann Patrick says she was in credit over the summer months of 2022, even with a new EV. Although she doesn’t need the heating during the summer she never hesitates before switching on the heating or hot water. The installer showed Ann Patrick how to adjust and manage the heat pump compared to their previous gas boiler and she finds the control panel straight forward. During December 2022 for example she knows the heat pump managed to generate 2008kWh of heat by consuming 534kWh of energy, resulting in a Coefficient of Performance of around 3.7. The heat pump keeps the home at a constant comfortable temperature, so Ann Patrick only needs to turn it down slightly overnight.

Ann Patrick didn’t approach the heat pump installation expecting to save money, and ultimately decided for environmental reasons, but her 18-year-old boiler had a limited lifespan which certainly made the decision easier. She reflects, “we are not concerned about huge energy bill increases - we have taken a financial hit to an extent by spending money on this upfront, but it feels good not to be reliant on gas or petrol anymore”.

Ann Patrick recommends others to consider a heat pump to replace an ageing gas boiler and says that underfloor heating doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker, “there is a bit more up-front cost, but underfloor heating is not essential. Slightly larger and more efficient radiators can do the job just as well – my 75-year-old parents can attest to that”.

She is optimistic her large solar PV array will save her money and is not concerned about the electricity costs but says that her situation feels unusual because the current soaring energy costs may have inflated her savings. Ann Patrick runs her appliances conservatively and on eco-mode where possible and has also fitted LEDs throughout the property to further reduce her energy costs.

For anyone considering a similar renewable project Ann Patrick advises, “solar panels are easy to install and, if possible, you should combine these with a good quality storage battery”. In the future she is considering adding a second storage battery and solar water heating once she has a better understanding of the energy she is using.

Feeling inspired?

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