Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2013 | Page 128

EcoGUIDE
Facts, tips and advice by Danny F isher

Rainwater
harvesting

Biomass
takes off
The first pellet top biomass boilers
have now been installed on the
Island. These boilers burn small
pellets which are made from
wood, dried and then extruded
into small cylindrical shapes. The
pellets burn very efficiently and
leave very little ash as a result.
They can be fed into the boiler
either by an auger system or
vacuum blown. The boilers can
be controlled either on a time
switch or remote control system
depending on the model which is
installed.
The pellets are cheaper than
propane gas or oil based systems

The wettest
winter for some
years isn't all
bad news. If you
have installed
water butts
or a rainwater
harvesting tank,
you will be
assured of plenty
of water for the
garden when our
hot spring and
summer burst
out!

The Green Deal
The much hyped

the following years. The

Government’s Green Deal

interest rate is higher than

has been launched with

commercially available;

confusion for just about

there is no guarantee that

everyone. In essence the

savings will be made -

deal will allow property

lifestyle will be important

owners to borrow money

as well as installing ‘green

at seven per cent to install

measures’. Will the green

energy saving measures in

deal work? Our advice is

their houses. This money is

look at the scheme very

then recouped from their

carefully before committing

electricity bill as savings

to it.

in energy are made over

plus they attract the Renewable
Heat Incentive (RHI). The RHI is
a Government-funded scheme
which pays for every kW of fuel
used over a defined period which

128

Feed in tariff extended

will pay for the cost of installation

The very popular Feed in

systems. This is good for

and cover the users fuel bill for

Tariff rates for solar photo

Islanders as many of the

up to 20 years. To qualify for the

voltaic systems have been

less scrupulous mainland

RHI payments F