Common Questions and Answers
Here are some commonly asked questions regarding renewable energy systems and their implementation;
| Why should I incorporate renewable energy into my project? | There are many reasons ranging from planning and other legal requirements through corporate social responsibility to energy supply choices |
| Isn’t renewable energy expensive to implement? | The correct choice of system can actually save money as well as providing secondary benefits such as energy independence and usage awareness. |
| How do I choose the right technology? | The right renewable technology will depend on the availability of natural resources, planning constraints, budget and many other factors. A feasibility study to assess your requirements and recommend suitable solutions is the first step. |
| How do I choose the right supplier? | A good staring point is the various trade associations for your selected technologies. Any company providing solutions supported by a grant from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme must be MCS accredited. |
| What about planning permission? | Apart from small domestic solar or heat pump installations you are likely to need planning permission. For large developments it may be a condition of your planning permission that you incorporate a level of renewables into your building. |
| Are there sources of funding available? | The Low Carbon Buildings Programme offers grants for domestic and public sector organisations. The Carbon Trust can provide an interest free loan to SMEs. |