200W 12V Immersion Heater
Heating water using a wind turbine is one of the most efficient uses of that renewable resource. When a wind turbine is used to charge a battery bank a lot of power is wasted in heat in the coils of the turbine alternator etc. particularly …
DIY Solar Water Heating
Building your own Solar Water Heating Panel is not beyond anyone with basic DIY/handyman skills, and no specialist tools or equipment are required. In this article we will look at making a basic but efficient and robust solar water heating panel using materials you can …
DIY Solar Water Heating Prototype
Solar water heating is probably the easiest way to use less energy and save money. Payback time - i.e. the time taken for the capital cost of the complete system to be offset by reduced energy bills - can be under a year for DIY …
Valiant Heat Powered Stove Fan Testing
In our article Ecofan Woodburner Fans we looked at a range of fans which can be placed on top of stoves to circulate warm air around the room, help to maintain the room at a comfortable temperature, and reduce fuel consumption. There are now quite …
Thermosyphon Solar Water Heating
A Thermosyphon Solar Water Heating System takes advantage of the fact that hot water rises and cool water sinks. As water is heated it expands and so, as gravity pulls down the relatively heavier cool water molecules, the warmer molecules rise up.
The diagram below shows …
Radiator Booster
The Radiator Booster pictured above (and seen on BBC2's Dragon's Den) is a product designed to increase the efficiency of your central heating radiators. Sitting on top of the radiator, the original Radiator Booster used energy efficient fans to suck heat from the radiator and …
Valiant PremiAIR 4 Stove Fan Testing
A couple of years ago we carried out some in depth tests of the Valiant Heat Powered Stove Fan. Now in the winter of 2014/2015 Valiant have a new stove fan - the Valiant PremiAIR 4 on the market which we have been testing through …
Make a Stirling Engine
A Stirling Engine is an extremely efficient device at extracting energy from heat differences (i.e. one side hot and one side cold) and it can be run from any fuel or energy source from the sun, to a candle, or from burning wood to the …
Heat Recovery Ventilation System
Good ventilation is very important in a home if cooking smells, excess humidity from bathing and washing are to be removed, and if the air is to remain fresh and free of pollutants. In many modern homes with thick insulation and double-glazing, the old 'problem' …
Aladdin Auto Vent Radiator Bleeder
The Aladdin Auto Vent is a product designed to automate the bleeding of radiators. Over time air can build up in a central heating system which results in the tops of radiators feeling cool when the bottom is very hot. This increases the energy required …
Ecofan Woodburner Fans
One problem with woodburning stoves is that a lot of the heat generated goes immediately up to the ceiling and is not distributed into the living area closer to the floor.
A woodburner fan is a device designed to help circulate the heat from a woodburner …
Pipe Clip Temperature Sensors
In the majority of the circuits we put together for which we need to measure temperatures we use LM335Z temperature sensors. These are affordable and easy to use, but they are fragile, sensitive to damp conditions and static electricity, and not always easy to fit …
Compare Heat Pump to Condensing Boiler
In our articles Geothermal Heat Pump, and Air Source Heat Pump we looked at how heat pumps can be used to heat water (and air) in a building in an efficient manner.
The typical boiler installed in the vast majority of new homes (and now retrofitted …
Molten Salt for Heat Storage
One problem with most types of renewable energy generation is finding ways to ensure that electricity is available when it is needed. For example, wind turbines may turn all night when electricity demand is low, and then not turn at all when demand is high …
Twin Coil Cylinder Solar Water Heating
Before the invention of the modern combi condensing boiler, most people had a hot water cylinder (tank) upstairs fitted in an airing cupboard. A single coil of copper pipe is fitted into such a cylinder through which water is pumped after it has been heated …
Immersion Heater Time Switch
Many people who have installed solar hot water systems also have one or more immersion heater elements in their hot water storage tank to provide back up water heating during periods of no sunshine. Typically these are fitted with a standard ON/OFF switch, and often …
Electric Under Floor Heating
In our article on Under Floor Heating we introduced underfloor heating and its benefits. In this article we will focus on electric underfloor heating - most commonly used to heat one particular room such as a conservatory or bathroom rather than heating a whole house.
Electric …
Combined Heat and Power
When electricity is generated by burning fuel such as gas or coal in power stations, the main byproduct of generation - heat - is often wasted. However, some commercial generators and districts around the world actually distribute the heat generated so that it can be …
Under Floor Heating
Underfloor heating is a very efficient way of heating the rooms of a house. It is relatively cheap to install, there are no radiators or heaters on show, there is no maintenance, and the heat is distributed evenly around the rooms. Underfloor heating is very …
Solar Storage Combi Boiler Pre Heater
In our article Simple Solar Water Pre-Heating System we introduced a design for pre-heating water before it passes through a combi type (tankless) boiler.
The water fed into a combi boiler comes directly from the mains supply, and is typically at around 13 degrees Celcius. This …
Renewable Heat Incentive Tariffs
The UK Government has announced (July 2013) the domestic tariffs payable for renewable heat generation systems within the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. In the same way that Feed in Tariffs have been paid for domestic solar photovoltaic and other renewable electricity generation since April 2010, …
Finns Use Waste Water to Heat Homes
Homes in Helsinki will soon be heated by heat extracted from waste water. After domestic waste water has been treated at the Viiki sewage works, it will pass through one of five heat pumps built under Katri Vala Park. Its heat is removed, concentrated and …