Terry and Sharon
Terry, Sharon and their 23 year old son live in a detached, four year old house in Preston. They were among the first to have a micro-CHP unit installed in November 2006. The unit is installed in the garage.
Terry explains that he saw immediate financial benefits after the unit was installed. "I believe in getting the best deal I can when it comes to my energy supplier, so I have always shopped around to find value for money. I now use a 'green' tariff that is slightly more expensive than the standard rate. However, because I sell the surplus electricity I generate back into the grid at the same rate I buy it, I have seen dramatic reductions in my fuel bills."
Terry likes the idea of generating his own power. "I know that by the time the electricity generated from power stations reaches the home, it is only about 35% efficient. My boiler is over 90% efficient. This system has to be better for the environment.
"It is important for us to be thinking about the environment for our children and their children, and my family and I are pleased to have been involved in this important step forward."
David and Eve
David and Eve live with their teenage son in a 1943 three bedroom semi-detached property in Padiham. They had a micro-CHP unit installed in their kitchen just before Christmas, 2007.
The unit replaced their existing gas boiler and David said that the family noticed an immediate difference. "As soon as the unit was installed, our radiators and water got much hotter. This boiler was obviously much more efficient than the one it replaced.
"We were sceptical of the unit at first and didn't believe it would make a difference. But our gas bills are lower because we've turned the heating down. We pay our electricity bill by monthly direct debit, and have reduced the payments by more than 35%.
"At the moment, our energy provider does not buy back our surplus electricity, but we are looking around to see about changing to one that does. That will make even more of a difference to our bills. We're pleased to do our bit for the environment, too!"
Nehal
The first day of May 2009 is a date that Nehal Mehta, National Planning Manager for British Gas, is unlikely to forget; it is the day his first child was born and the same day his Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP unit was installed.
Nehal and his family live in a three-bedroom bungalow in Stockport. He is pleased to be one of the first households in the country to have a Baxi Ecogen installed, as part of nationwide field trial activity carried out in conjunction with British Gas.
"The old boiler was in the house when we moved in nearly ten years ago," he explains. "It was a great opportunity to upgrade the heating system to a high efficiency boiler, reduce our home's carbon footprint and to be a pioneer for this exciting new technology.
"The installation only took a day and a half - including moving the boiler and all the associated pipe work to the garage. And it all went extremely smoothly, which was just as well, because our baby chose to come along during the work!
"The British Gas heating engineers found the unit straightforward to install, after watching the step by step installation DVD provided by Baxi. As it was one of the first units the engineer had fitted, the Baxi technician was called to help with commissioning.
"I have been encouraged by the amount of electricity we have been generating: around 70 kWh during the first week. And it is fascinating to watch our electric meter rolling backwards as we export electricity back to the grid rather than drawing from it!
"When you know how they work, the controls are simple to use and easy to understand, and I like the way we can alter the water and heating temperatures to suit us, especially since we have a new baby in the house.
"Before the unit was installed, we were concerned that the engine in the boiler would be noisy, but there are absolutely no issues. It's very quiet.
"I'm pleased to report that mother, baby and Ecogen are all doing well!" adds Nehal.
Baxi Ecogen looks and acts just like a conventional wall-hung boiler. It uses a Free Piston Stirling Engine to generate 1 kW of electricity per hour while it is providing space heating and hot water. Because electricity generated close to its point of use is much more energy efficient than that provided by power stations, the environment benefits from significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
Recently the Government published detailed proposals for the Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme, or Feed-in Tariff to be introduced in 2010. The proposals are a timely boost for microgeneration products, such as micro-combined heat and power like Baxi Ecogen, which can help householders save money on their fuel bills and reduce their CO2 emissions.
The scheme has the potential to ensure that householders who generate their own low carbon electricity receive a fair reward for it, in terms of units generated and sold back to the grid.
Earlier this year Baxi Ecogen added to its impressive list of success, winning the Micropower Council's prestigious Innovation Award.
For more information please visit www.baxiecogen.com, email mchp@baxigroup.com or telephone 0844 871 1525.
