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CONSIDERING THE COUNTRYSIDE ADVERTISEMENT FINDING CHEAPER WAYS TO HEAT


CHILLY OLD HOUSES Pete Downes, from Commercial Biomass Ltd, talks about how we can reduce our heat ng bills while gaining an extra income at the same t me


OWNING AN OLD house in the countryside brings with it its own set of problems — I’ve visited many a grand old manor where the owners retreat to just three heated rooms every September, like a form of hibernation, only venturing into the rest of the house when spring comes around. They invariably love their Aga, and spend the dark winter evenings huddled beside it in the kitchen. They don’t have the option of installing


double glazing in the whole house — either the building is listed, or the windows are so huge that it’s just not fi nancially viable — and the standard issue white UPVC wouldn’t look right. They can’t do wall cavity insulation because there’s no cavity. They can’t do loft insulation for fear of disturbing the bats or collapsing the roof. What’s left that you can do to make the rest of the property habitable year-round? Well, as part of our government’s


commitment to tackle climate change, they’re promoting the use of carbon-neutral heating with biomass boilers and other


‘renewable’ heat sources. It’s called the


Renewable Heat Incentive, or RHI. With Domestic RHI, the government sends you a payment every quarter for seven years. It’s index linked, too. If you have another house on the grounds


with a separate council tax, or you have an offi ce on the premises for a business, then you can sign up for the Non-Domestic RHI, which pays you for 20 years. Similar in concept to a gas meter, a heat meter is installed in the pipework. You read it once a quarter and send the bill to the government (by entering the reading on a website), and the money is paid into your bank a week or two later. It’s as simple as it sounds. The catch? Biomass boilers are expensive,


so there’s a high initial outlay. However, you may be eligible for a grant to help with the cost of installation and it’s not unusual for the boiler to pay back four times the initial outlay over the course of about 20 years. For more information: T: 01935 476927 commercialbiomassuk.com


in RHI payments and reduces heating costs. BOILER FACT


This domestic boiler earns £1,500 per year


Birdfair 2017 supporting


Saving Paradise in the Pacific


Artwork by Carry Akroyd


Rutland Water 18–20 August 2017 • Opens 9 am daily


Wildlife personalities • Events and talks • Wildlife art Latest products • Excellent birdwatching • Great food


www.birdfair.org.uk THE COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE 33


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international wildlife event of the year!


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