Going Carbon Neutral Stirling

Renewables

Did you know:

• the government will pay you for the energy you generate and you could earn as much as £1000 a year (which helps offset the cost of installing the panels)
• Solar panels can save around a tonne of CO2 each year, significantly reducing your carbon footprint
• GCNS can offer free, impartial and independent advice on your home’s potential for the different technologies
• GCNS has negotiated a fantastic bulk buy price for solar panels which could save you almost £2000

GCNS has been working with manufacturers of solar panels, wind turbines and ground source heat pumps to arrange a bulk buy purchase that will make these technologies cheaper to install.

For example, solar panels to heat water normally cost around £5000 but GCNS can source them from £3000 to £3500.

Solar PV that generates electricity is usually well over £10,000 for a 3kW system (the recommended size for a medium to large home). GCNS is negotiating a discounted price.

For more information, contact GCNS on 01786 468762 or email simon.gooden@ksbscotland.org.uk

Tony McNair from Ochilmount, Bannockburn has received support and advice from GCNS and as a result has recently installed PV panels & cavity wall insulation.

What made you first start thinking seriously about heating your home and installing renewable energy?
I'd always been quite sceptical about the potential returns you could get for your investment but I was interested to see the Going Carbon Neutral Stirling (GCNS) advertisement in the Stirling Observer which offered independent and impartial advice.

Was GCNS able to help you?
Simon Gooden did a survey of the house and, faced with rising bills at that time, I followed up his recommendations with regard to cavity wall insulation, roof insulation and solar panels. He also helped us through the whole process of picking the right installer, getting a good deal and ensuring the work was up to scratch.

What have you had installed?
Simon put us in touch with the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and they recommended a firm which installed the cavity wall insulation. Both Simon and the EST people were very helpful and gave lots of advice. For our Solar PV, Simon recommended Rensus, a local firm based near the entrance to Dobbies Garden Centre. I was very pleased with Rensus - they were easy to deal with and their workmanship was excellent.

What benefits have you seen with the Solar PV?
The 16 panels, which generate around 3000 kilowatt hours per year and should make £1500 per year through the Feed-In-Tariff, produced a quarter of our electricity needs last month.

What has been your total investment and when do you think you will have paid it back?
The insulation and PV has cost £10,000 and I’m hoping to recoup that money within seven years. If we move, what we’ve done will have added to the value of the house. I'm very positive about what we’ve done and we’ve been happy to recommend it to our neighbours.