Energy in Housing


Our personal lives deeply affect others in the struggle for global justice.  We need to lead by example in our lifestyle at home.  Being concerned about energy consumption is also wise financial and environmental stewardship:
  • Energy consumption for heating is one of the main sources of our carbon emissions.
  • Energy costs are already high.  Energy prices are expected to continue to be volatile and increase substantially in the future as demand for oil outstrips supply.





Many people think immediately of renewables, but there are a number of steps you should take first:

Step 1. Assess your current Carbon Footprint and audit activity
  • Read your meters regularly, and understand how you use energy
  • Considering buying an electricity monitoring device - inexpensive, easy to use, and could help you save 40% on energy bills
  • Calculate your carbon footprint on the Act on CO2 website, compare yourself to others, and receive energy-saving tips
Step 2. Use energy more efficiently
  • Cultivate energy-saving habits, e.g. turning lights off when you leave rooms
  • Improve the energy efficiency of your house
Step 3. Switch to green energy
  • Switch to an electricity supplier that provides renewable energy, such as Ecotricity or Good Energy; take the 'Big 6' energy suppliers' green products with a pinch of salt
  • Join the Diocese's green electricity scheme, available to all clergy and congregation households
Step 4. Generate your own renewable energy
  • Generate your electricity or heating from renewable sources, and get paid for it
  • Supply renewable electricity back to the grid, and get paid even more
Step 5. Review - take another look at your footprint and start again


Energy efficiency

Wasting energy is an excellent way of wasting money.  Many households can save energy by taking some very simple actions, and investment in energy-efficiency measures such as lighting or insulation will pay itself back very quickly.  Installing basic energy-efficienby measures is a prerequisite for obtaining grants for renewabl energy projects.

The Energy Saving Trust website is the place to start, providing information on:
  • Getting started - 10 easy ways to stop wasting energy
  • Home energy check - a short questionnaire which is available online, or as a paper copy by calling 0800 512 012 and speaking to your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre
  • Home improvements and products - lighting, heating and hot water, home insulation and glazing, home appliances, home entertainment and electronics, computers and peripherals
  • Recommended suppliers and manufacturers
The Energy Saving Trust also maintains a database of grants and discounts.  Note that many have eligibility rules, and might be open only to people over 60, or with children under 16, or on benefits.

Energy Action Devon are the hosts in Devon of the Energy Saving Trust advice centre.

YouGen is a Devon-based company that mainly focuses on renewables, but also provides guidance on energy efficiency.  It maintains a searchable database of suppliers, installers, consultants, architects and manufacturers, and enables customers to rate them.  And you can also search the database for individuals who have installed energy-efficiency measures.

Renewable energy

Generating your own electricity or heating looks increasingly attractive as energy prices rise, and we rely on fewer countries to supply our oil and gas.  Wind, sun and water are abundant and free sources of renewable energy. It makes sense to use them to make your own heat and power.

Electricity technologies
  • Photovoltaic solar panels
  • Wind turbines
  • Hydro electricity
 Heating technologies
  • Solar water heating
  • Biomass boilers
  • Air-, ground- and water-source heat pumps

YouGen provides guidance on the different technologies (and also on combined heat & power and rainwater harvesting).  It maintains a searchable database of suppliers, installers, consultants, architects and manufacturers, and enables customers to rate them.  And you can also search the database for individuals who have installed renewables.

The Energy Saving Trust also provides guidance on generating your own energy, and the database of grants covers renewables.  There are fewer eligibility conditions here, but grants are dependent on households installing basic energy-efficiency measures.

The main source of grants for installation is the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP).

The government is introducing payments for electricity and heat generated from renewable sources, as well as payments for supplying electricity to the grid.  There is Diocesan guidance for churches on Feed-in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive (pdf, 236k), most of which is also relevant to households.  However, note that households which received LCBP grants will not need to pay them back in order to benefit from these payments.

Renewable Energy for Devon (RE4D) offers free advice and support to householders as well as information on installers.  Currently RE4D covers West Devon, South Hams, Torridge, North Devon, Mid Devon, East Devon, Exeter and Teignbridge, but not Torbay or Plymouth.

RE4D has recently started providing support for farmers.

Useful links


Subpages (1): Energy Efficiency Scheme

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