Energy Efficient Blueprint for Transforming Your Home
Nationwide, entrepreneurs are coming up with inventive ways to heat our homes without harming the environment. Did you know that heating our homes and offices accounts for about one-fifth (19%) of greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom? Three-quarters of this percentage are attributable to residential heating. Moreover, the issue is not limited to building heating alone. The predicted rise in summer temperatures in the UK in the coming years is anticipated to have a sustained negative impact on the environment from cooling buildings.
Consider how efficient your home is:
It’s important to remember that most homes in the UK were built before construction laws were established. Up to 25 million of the approximately 27 million houses in the nation were constructed to a level that would be considered insufficient by contemporary standards. Due to this circumstance, it becomes necessary to use more energy to heat homes in the winter and cool them in the summer. There’s always space for improvement, whether it’s building insulation or installing insulated glazing. However, determining your home’s existing degree of efficiency is an important first step. An energy performance certificate provides an indication of a building’s current energy efficiency (EPC). See a full guide to energy savings here.
Wales-based software startup company, Electric Pocket has unveiled a ground-breaking program that could completely change the industry. The HEAT3D software measures a building’s energy efficiency via infrared thermal photography. Originally intended for use in maritime search and rescue missions, it currently gauges the speed at which heat moves through ceilings, walls, and floors. This method differs from others in that it evaluates walls as an entire unit, as opposed to only specific points, as standard systems do.
This creative method produces a 3D visual depiction that gives developers the ability to improve building efficiency and energy conservation. In addition to its improved accuracy, the HEAT3D software is reasonably priced at about £400, which makes it far more affordable than traditional infrared equipment, which can cost up to £4,000. In addition, the app is far more time efficient. Compared to several days needed by other approaches, it can scan a whole structure in just two hours.
Build Test Solutions is a tech business that Electric Pocket has worked with to bring this technology to market. This partnership was made possible by funding from the UK Research and Innovation’s Transforming Construction Challenge, with the aim of testing HEAT3D at Salford University’s unique Energy House facility—the only fully climate-controlled research facility in the world.
What is the problem?
You might be wondering, what exactly is the problem? As the United Kingdom grows more dependent on renewable energy sources to meet its energy needs, a big problem arises. There can be an excess of electricity that the national system cannot handle, especially on days with lots of sunshine or strong winds. This makes the supply of electricity into the electrical grid noticeably unpredictable.
On the other hand, there might not be enough renewable energy available to fully meet customer demand during times of high demand. Armstrong and Kang developed a smart hot water storagetank as a solution to water heating problems. It is intended to act as a kind of “energy battery,” able to store excess energy produced by renewable energy sources.
However, the typical householder might also benefit from this inventive tank. The internet is established by the tank, which has an inbuilt smart controller. Thanks to this connectivity, consumers can control their water heating using a specific mobile app, which lets them set timetables, keep an eye on their usage, and track related expenses. Moreover, the tank uses artificial intelligence (AI) to figure out when water heating is most likely to be needed during the day and alter the schedule automatically. Armstrong and Kang established the firm Mixergy, which is dedicated to promoting their innovation, in order to commercialize this creative solution. Additionally, they have financing from Innovate UK to advance the development of their invention.
Locally made:
A localized and integrated approach to energy generation, delivery, and consumption within a particular geographic area is represented by local energy districts, often referred to as distributed generation districts or microgrids. Through the integration of multiple energy sources and the use of cutting-edge technologies, these districts seek to increase energy sustainability, resilience, and efficiency. The GreenSCIES project, which stands for Green Smart Community Integrated Energy Systems, is another program that aims to deal with the problem of erratic energy supply from renewable energy sources. This concept aims to create districts of self-sustaining energy from residential and commercial assets.
Several places, notably Islington, Sandwell in the West Midlands, and Sheffield, are now running test programs. These areas have an intelligent energy grid that incorporates renewable and low-carbon energy from many sources. This grid computes the energy requirements and timing using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It can then channel this energy in the right places or store it for times when demand is low. As a result, depending on the current local energy demand, energy produced within one building may be used to power another.
Researchers in Islington are using waste heat produced by the London Underground network and nearby data centers to their advantage, turning what may otherwise be lost energy into a useful resource. The GreenSCIES project in Sheffield seeks to utilize an undiscovered source of energy by capturing heat from underground mining water. In order to help the GreenSCIES effort, Sandwell is making use of its canal network. This local resource is being used to produce energy.
This research has the potential to greatly improve the energy efficiency of urban areas across the nation if it were to be scaled up nationally with funding from UK Research and Innovation Prospering from the Energy Revolution Challenge. Additionally, it might result in a decline in local air pollution and ultimately save energy customers money.
In Conclusion
In essence, finding creative solutions is necessary to address the environmental effects of domestic heating and cooling in the UK. To do this, it’s necessary to evaluate household energy efficiency, make use of cutting-edge tools like HEAT3D software, and establish local energy districts with the help of initiatives like GreenSCIES. These programs use a variety of energy sources and AI to effectively distribute energy based on regional demand. They might greatly increase energy efficiency, lower emissions, and lower consumer energy costs if made available across the country.