Energy Alternatives: Solar power

In the modern world most of us are aware of the importance of investigating different types of energy in order to cut down on the use of fossil fuels. But what do we know about these alternative energy sources?

At Arc Window Films we make it our mission to learn more about alternative sources of energy, especially since our window films are a method to not only protect your household items from light rays that beam through the window; but they also keep heat trapped inside your home and cut down on your use of central heating.

This week we are going to take a look at how we can take power from something that cannot be used up; the power that comes from the sun.

Solar energy; the basics

It seems that over recent years solar energy has grown in popularity and can be seen used on houses up and down the country. Simply put, solar energy uses the sun in order to create power, something that is readily available throughout the year (although during the winter it may seem that the sun is scarce).

How does it work?

The black solar panels that you see on the roofs of houses convert the sunlight into a usable energy source; solar thermal panels are able to heat water using sunlight whilst the solar photovoltaic panels cover sunlight that they capture into electricity.

Are there any disadvantages?

The one downside that we have in the UK when it comes to solar energy is something that we noted down earlier on in the blog; there isn’t much sunshine for us to take advantage of. That doesn’t mean however that we cannot have small scale solar panels; as you will see on plenty of houses and businesses, however the UK's climate is not an appropriate base for larger scale solar energy placement. 

But what about the good points?

Whilst we have already seen that the UK is never going to become an entirely solar powered country; there are some really great plus points that relate to the use of solar energy.

As the use of solar energy becomes more popular the affordability of it as a long term option is becoming more of a plus point. Also the carbon footprint that solar energy leaves is lowering as the production of the panels advances and improves.

So why are we not all using it?

Solar power is a great option in the search for clean energy and something that we feel would make an impact if used more in the UK. However the fact remains that not everyone can afford the initial costs and they may not appeal to everyone’s tastes.

At Arc Windows we are embracing these new, clean, green methods of fuelling the world and think that everyone else should take a step towards alternative energy too! For more information about the Arc Window Films please visit www.arcwindowfilms.com.

Good news for draughty rented homes

Today we saw an article in the Guardian that interested us at Arc Window Films, especially as our services and vision are dedicated to providing a warmer and more ecologically friendly way to insulate your home or commercial property.

The article in question is around the issue of a draughty home and more specifically the world of rented properties. Surprisingly we learn that those who live within a rented property may be paying around £1,000 per year more than those who own their home in energy bills due to the house itself being poorly insulated.

This is a rather shocking statistic, especially in the day and age when insulating your home is not always an expensive or difficult thing to put in place.

However this article is showing that for those who are currently living in the breeze there is a warming light at the end of their tunnel. It comes in the form of a new regulation that will mean landlords of properties that fall within the lower energy efficiency bandings of F and G will be responsible for improving these bandings to E by April 2018.

This may not seem that big a deal, but when you look at the statistics it is though that around 10% of properties that are currently being privately rented are falling below the E rating and will need to improve their own efficiency.

On some of our previous blogs we have explored different ways that you can insulate your home and trap some of the warmth within it and it is likely that landlords who are affected by this particular ruling will be looking for the best (and of course most cost effective way) or making these changes to their properties.

This will more than likely be a welcome improvement to those who are struggling with the decisions between living in a colder home and paying out a higher energy bill during those winter months.

With this in mind, whether you are a landlord who is looking to make these changes before 2018 or a tenant who knows that a change could be on the horizon then perhaps it is a good idea to take the time and understand the options open to you.

Perhaps one avenue that you could discover more about is window films. This simple yet incredibly effective tools, just like the films we offer here at Arc Window Films are not only known to improve your energy efficiency but can also protect your belongings against sun damage and limit the amount of harmful UV rays that penetrate through your windows.

Why not get in touch with us at sales@arcwf.com or by visiting www.arcwindowfilms.com and learn more about what we can offer you to help warm your home and also save you some money in the long run! 

Make the change - Top tips for an energy efficient home

As winter draws in you may find yourself cranking up that heating and bringing out the electric heaters for those really cold days. You may not think about it, but alongside this you should also look at how efficiently your house is using the energy that you are pumping into it. After all, an energy efficient home will not only keep you warmer but will also ultimately save you money too.

For many of us, whilst we understand the concept of being energy efficient it might not be something we are entirely sure of how to best approach it and make those changes that can improve your home.

How do you heat?

When it comes to energy efficiency the best place to start is with how you heat your home. Gas heating is not only cheaper but is also energy efficient than electric, you should also take the time to completely familiarise yourself with the controls for your heating as being able to fully control the thermostat and which rooms you heat at given times will be a big help in the long run.

What’s up top?

Over recent years there has been plenty of talk about insulation and primarily the loft space that you have. The thickness of the loft insulation that you use will have an impact on the energy efficiency that you see with 270mm the optimum depth to aim for if you want to see a saving on your yearly energy bills.

Wall it in

As well as being able to place insulation in the loft space of your home, you can further maximise that trapped hot air by choosing to have cavity wall insulation too. In fact, a third of the heat that is lost in an un-insulated home escapes through the walls so by placing insulation in this empty space you can really see an improvement in your energy bills.

The window to some energy savings

Your windows also can have an impact on your energy efficiency. There are three main things to think about when it comes to making improvements in this area of your home; double glazing, curtains and window films. Double glazing has a huge benefit in keeping heat within your home when compared to single glazing and if you use heavy lined curtains instead of thin alternative this will also help.

Window films are another consideration, these are low cost micro-thin layers of polyester sheeting that are bonded to the surface of the glass, just like the ones that www.arcwindowfilms.com provide. Heat lost through your glazing can lead to increased heating costs. By installing energy saving window film you can reduce this heat loss by as much as 40%.

These can not only improve aspects of energy efficiency but also improve glare and provide UV protection too.

Anything else?

Of course there are plenty of other things that you can look out for at home to make an improvement to your energy bills, the age and condition of your boiler, draughts throughout the home, water meters and even energy saving lightbulbs are all items to check off your energy saving plan. It may seem that these things take some time to assess, however in the long run the money that you save should tempt you into making the effort.

Share your ideas on ways of making your home energy efficient by commenting below.

For more information on Arc Window Films visit www.arcwindowfilms.com