Renewable energy is energy generated from resources that are constantly replenished such as the sun, wind, or water. Generating heat or power from these renewable resources reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and our carbon footprint. There are various renewable energy technologies that can be used in community buildings or premises that reduce your carbon footprint:
- Solar electric panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use in your home.
- Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) absorb heat from the outside air to heat your home and hot water.
- Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) use pipes that are buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems and hot water in your home.
- Solar water heating systems, or solar thermal systems, use free heat from the sun to warm water.
- Biomass is a renewable energy source, generated from burning wood, plants and other organic matter. Biomass heating systems burn wood pellets, chips, or logs to provide warmth in a single room or to power central heating and hot water boilers.
