Ritika Janiya
Julian and Juliette Rayner never thought that changing into a zero-carbon energy-efficient home would bring such a drastic turn in their lives. Their last decision to leave the gas-heated old house and change into a modern, eco-friendly house near Bristol was two years ago. They hardly think about the energy bills now.
Their new home is part of a development, taking with it cutting-edge technology that allows them the comfort of a greener way of living while saving money. An air source heat pump, solar panels, and a range of other energy-efficient features have dramatically cut energy costs for the Rayners.
A New Way of Living
Julian and Juliette did not know it would be changing their lives when they began their research into zero-carbon homes. More used to traditional gas boilers for hot water and heating, like most people are, they hadn’t contemplated cutting out all that comfort until now. Then they researched what was available in energy-efficient homes and leapt in the dark, hoping to pull out a winner from one of 32 properties in this new development.
Their home is totally equipped with eco-friendly features. They have solar panels on the roof and outside-mounted air source heat pump, underfloor heating, high-level insulation, and even an electric vehicle charge point. To complement the major setup on their solar equipment, they also purchased a battery for storing energy produced. This together allows them to live more sustainably and be able to save a lot of money on electricity bills.
“We’ve lived in older houses before, and we know how much they cost to heat,” says Juliette. “It’s a lot.”
Massive Energy Payback
One of the biggest benefits they have seen since moving in is that they save an absolute fortune on their energy bills. In the warmer months when it’s producing most of the electricity, it costs as little as 50p to £1 a week for all their power needs – including heating, cooking, and hot water. Indeed, during June this year they were even £12 in credit with their energy supplier.
When winter time arrives and they have to draw more extensively on the National Grid, their bills are still significantly less than they used to be. The average energy bills when the colder months are on average £33 a week, or £150 a month. This is a tremendous saving compared to what they spent on heating their old houses.
“Whereas before we always worried about how much the heating cost us, especially during winter, now it’s like we don’t think about it anymore.”
The Heat Pump Experience
At the core of their new home’s energy system is the air source heat pump. Not much of a traditional gas boiler burns fuel to create heat, a heat pump extracts heat from external air and transfers it inside to warm the house. It’s more energy-efficient and extremely better for the environment since it produces zero carbon emissions.
He says it’s taken a little getting used to. “It definitely takes some getting used to,” he admits. “It’s not like a gas boiler where you just turn it on and it heats up really fast. If you turn it off and let the house cool down, it takes longer to warm up again. But the upside is that we have a much more consistent temperature now. We don’t get those sudden cold spells where you have to crank the heating up.”
This has made the Rayners’ house a much more comfortable place to be. Instead of constantly having to adjust the thermostat, the heat pump adjusts automatically, maintaining a steady, comfortable temperature throughout the day. “It just does its thing, and we don’t really have to think about it,” says Julian.
A Green Future
The Rayners weren’t the only ones on their street new to this world of heat pumps and solar panels. Their neighbors were, too, and everybody’s been learning together. “It’s been nice to go through the experience with others who are also figuring it out,” says Juliette.
Two years on, the couple believes that they did the right thing when they made up their minds to go green. “We feel we are doing our part for the environment but also saving a lot of money,” says Julian.
Their experience has piqued the interest of friends and family, many of whom have been asking how the heat pump works and whether it is worth making the switch. Julian and Juliette are always up for sharing some insights as their lives have gotten so much easier and cheaper since making the switch to a zero-carbon home.
A Change of Mindset
Julian thinks that when the world becomes greener homes, more will need to think about living differently. “Not only is this a technology issue; there’s something also in mindset.” explains Julian. “You need to get used to a different way of heating your home and using energy, but after you get used to it, it feels normal.”
For the Rayners, it has been worth this change. They don’t have to worry about energy bills anymore, and they feel good knowing they are contributing to a more sustainable future. “We don’t have to worry about it anymore and that is exactly what we wanted,” says Julian.
