Our Energy Story
Home A true story of heat, cost, carbon, and effort by Anna and Tom Sibbald Previous Post
Grants & Crisis Support
A Satisfied Customer
Home / This month we went to catch up with Margaret Rattray. She contacted us a year or so ago because one of her storage heaters wasn’t working, and to cut a long story short she now has 2 new storage heaters, 3 new panel heaters and 6 solar panels, all paid for by the government…but more of the funding later. Old storage heaters have a reputation for letting all their heat out in the morning, well before the heat is needed in the evening. Margaret is delighted that her new heaters are not only far easier to control but are also infinitely more efficient and therefore also cheaper to run. ‘They even look much nicer’, she says. How long did the work take? Heaters, wiring, solar panels – it was all over in about two weeks, and Margaret couldn’t speak more highly of all the workmen who came to install the different parts. Having started the conversation with heaters, getting solar panels installed as well was a big and unexpected bonus. Margaret doesn’t have a battery, so she does her best to use her solar generated electricity in real time, ie using appliances when the sun is shining or at very least it’s a bright day. For example, it pays to look at the weather forecast and put the washing machine on when it is bright and / or sunny. Asked if she had any surprises from our initial visit, Meg said that the best surprise was that all this work would be done for nothing. She isn’t on any benefits (just a state pension) and though there are some criteria (householder and the house itself), it is always worth asking the question, as you may too be pleasantly surprised! If you would like help with the big steps or the little ones, Anna and Tom at Warm Connections would be delighted to chat. Remember, our advice is completely free and there is no catch. 07759 404980, advice@warmconnections.net Previous Post
The most effecient energy is the energy we no longer use
Home Small wins – everything counts….. with all the predicted energy price rises, and a nasty sense of doom, it has been refreshing to meet up with folks who have taken steps to keep their energy use down. Most of these steps don’t cost very much, and Warm Connections can provide materials if it will help. Here are a few wins we have heard about and seen in people’s homes: Draughts Draught proofing around the floor and skirting boards – ‘having used acrylic filler wherever needed around the floor upstairs and down, we have been able to sleep upstairs all summer – last year we slept downstairs as it was just too hot upstairs. We can’t wait to see if upstairs will now be warmer in the winter’. (Barn conversion near Aberfeldy) Curtains ‘We are not really curtain people. We have an old door with single glazing – it’s really characterful and we thought we would have to get rid of it, but we put thick lined curtains up in February, and it’s amazing how much warmer the lounge is’. (Aberfeldy) Secondary Double Glazing ‘We put magnetic strips around our glass to secure secondary glazing – less than £100 and so much difference’. (near Killin) Blinds ‘Warm Connections suggested honeycomb thermal blinds – instant benefits – they fit into frame and were easy to fit. Changing the windows was way too expensive but these blinds have helped so much’. (old stone house in Aberfeldy) Heating and Hot Water ‘We turned the hot water temperature down at the boiler – the water is still hot enough and I now know where to adjust it if it needs to go up a bit for the winter. I can’t tell if it has reduced my bills but I need all the help I can get’. (Fearnan) Radiators ‘It was surprisingly easy to fit radiator reflector foil behind radiators in our north facing bedroom, and it’s definitely made there room warmer’. (Aberfeldy) ‘Just putting some thermal valves on our radiators (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) has given us control of which rooms we heat and how much. The last part of winter was much better’. (Fortingall) ‘The programable TRVs which you suggested allows us to zone our house; we even went for a smart system I can control with my phone. Wow, what a difference’. (Aberfeldy) Cooking ‘I have just got an air fryer; it uses much less power than my oven and cooks really well – I love it’. (near Amulree) ‘I am experimenting with new recipes using with my microwave as I know it uses less energy’. (Rannoch) Warm Connections have been funded to provide a completely free advice service in the Rannoch, Tay and Braan areas west of the A9, and as far as Killin. We would love to arrange a home visit, and as you see from the comments above there is lots that we can help with. We can also steer you towards bigger projects and financial support where needed. Previous PostNext Post