4 ways we saved 40% on our client's utility bills

Last year we blogged to report the work we had carried out for our clients CCC in Bristol, there have been some significant results since that time showing that their investment has been a real success. The work undertaken can be split into 4 main areas.

1. Reduced heat loss and stresses on the heating system by;

• Insulating the front facing void beneath the ground floor, and,
• Draft proofing the timber doors

    2.   Improved gas efficiency with;

• A replacement, highly efficient, Viessman gas boiler,
• A new external weather compensation unit, and,
• Thermostatic radiator valves installed to each of the building's radiators.

    3.   Reduced solar gain via;

• The installation of window film to the South facing windows and and roof lights.

    4.   Reduced electricity consumption by;

• Replacing a number of the high energy light fittings and lamps with low energy alternatives, and,
• Installing a V-Phase unit to optimise voltage.

The below table shows how in the 4th quarter of 2011, these services had a huge affect on the money spent by CCC on gas and electricity in comparison to the same period in 2010.

So looking back at our predictions for CCC in the original blogpost:

"We estimate that the result of our installations will be an annual saving of 30% on CCC's electricity bills and 40% on their gas bills. With energy bills set to rise significantly in the near future, these savings will be further exaggerated - allowing CCC to benefit from a annually rising return on the investment they have made in their property.  We expect to see a reduction in the company's annual carbon output of over 4 tonnes."

Whilst the electricity savings have not been as pronounced as we would have liked, the quarter represents a period where lighting would be used more extensively than in other parts of the year, similarly the gas savings are somewhat enhanced by the milder weather of December 2011 - but that only accounts for one part of the quarterly saving.  Most staggeringly we have reduced the annual CO2 footprint of the building by nearly 5 tonnes, smashing our yearly estimate.

All in all it is a fantastic result for Norman Envrionmental and CCC who have written to us to tell us what a "a very worthwhile exercise both environmentally and economically" the project has been for them.  We will continue to monitor and report on the results in this blog.

So if you think that your home or business premises could benefit from an energy survey, then get in touch via email, visit our website, or just comment below.

Don't let your boiler freeze over

As we approach December thermometers across the land are going only one way, and it ain't up!  This means that many homes and properties across the country will be relying on their gas condensing boilers to keep their occupants comfortable in the wintry months.  Sadly, this is when they are most likely to fail.


Last year was the year of the frozen condensate pipes, and whilst things don't look so perilous this winter and installers have been careful to try and protect their customers from suffering the same fate, some installations may still do so.


A condensate pipe carries condensation from your boiler to the the outside drain.  More often than not the condensation barely registers as a trickle, but it can freeze layer upon layer over-time in prolonged frozen conditions, eventually backing up into the boiler and preventing it from operating.


So if your boiler cuts out unexpectedly in very cold weather, before you call a plumber or heating engineer make sure you check the condensate pipe.  The video below shows how you can perform a DIY fix.  Don't worry, it's not dangerous and could save you a pretty penny as well as giving you the heat and hot water you deserve this winter.