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Home Becomes Power Station: Zero Energy Bills!
2 Oct
Summary
- Family's house generates and stores electricity, acting as a small power station.
- Zero Bills tariff offers five years of no energy costs within fair usage.
- Santander funded the £20,000 retrofit to test energy efficiency in older homes.
The Naylor family in Milton Keynes has achieved a significant milestone in home energy, with their four-bedroom detached house now operating as a virtual power station. This transformation comes after a comprehensive energy retrofit, including the installation of 17 solar panels, a heat pump, a substantial battery, and four new radiators. This advanced system allows the property to generate its own electricity, store it for later use, and supply surplus power back to the national grid.
As a result of these upgrades, the Naylor household now qualifies for Octopus Energy's Zero Bills tariff. This innovative plan guarantees no energy bills for a period of five years, provided the family adheres to an agreed fair-usage limit. Crucially, the tariff excludes the charging of electric vehicles. Previously, the family managed their energy expenses meticulously, with heating often kept at 18C and supplemented by blankets and jumpers to control monthly costs of approximately £130.
This significant energy retrofit was financially supported by Santander, as part of a project to investigate enhanced energy efficiency in older homes. The total cost for the solar panels, heat pump, and battery, after a government grant, would have been just under £20,000. This initiative addresses the substantial upfront cost challenge often associated with making older homes more energy-efficient. Santander is actively exploring funding mechanisms for such retrofits.
Octopus Energy has previously implemented its Zero Bills tariff in numerous new-build homes over the past five years. The current project, using the Naylor residence as a pilot, aims to ascertain the viability of this model for older properties requiring extensive retrofitting. For the Naylor family, the immediate benefit is a more comfortable and sustainable living environment, free from energy bill worries for the next five years, and the freedom to maintain a warm home throughout winter.
