Find out about Brimstone Energy’s recent installation of solar panels, a Powervault battery and a tepeo heat battery boiler. Read the case study to see what could be possible for you and your home?
You, like more and more people across the UK, will be thinking about future proofing your home and protecting the environment by getting rid of gas.
You can do it. But you might be asking some of the same questions as Marge from Central Cambridgeshire.
Will an Air Source Heat Pump work?
What about tepeo’s heat battery boiler?
Can I combine solar panels?
Is it possible to add battery storage as well?
You’ll also be thinking about finding the right company to work with.
Will I be sold a certain product?
Will they find what’s best for my energy needs?
Will they fit in with other renovation work?
Can I trust them?
Will they think about the bigger picture and future-proof my home?
We’ve spent a long time answering these questions for customers across many successful installations. It was exciting to work with Marge, where we had to find the answer to all of these at once, in one single project.
Marge was ambitious, combining a house renovation with full electrification to get rid of gas. As she found, working with a company like Brimstone Energy means you’ll stay focused on the big picture as you secure green, low-cost energy.
Read on and watch the video to get ideas about what could also be possible for you.
Marge, tell us about your home and your project
I live in central Cambridge, in a detached 5-bed property. The house was built in 1996, and I’m currently working through a renovation project.
At the same time, I wanted to be off-grid and do the green thing. Now that we’re in the know about the impact of fossil fuels, I wanted to play my part. There’s also the cost issue. I had a gas boiler and a gas fire… I read that turning on the gas fire to heat my living room was like burning through £10 notes. I’d rather have those in my pocket!
As I’m renovating, it was the perfect time to think a little bigger and go for it.
What options for electric heating did you look at?
I looked into Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and ground source options. I spoke to my friends as one of them has an ASHP in their home.
My garden is quite small, and I was worried about the ASHP taking up space. The real clincher, though, was that I’d need to change my pipework and radiators. This was too big a job.
My builder, Phil, mentioned the tepeo ZEB heat battery boiler, as well as recommending Matt and Brimstone Energy. He knew that Matt worked with tepeo and many other green energy products, like solar panels and batteries. It seemed like the right thing to look into whether the tepeo heating would work for me, as the idea of storing energy made sense.
What help did you get from Matt and Brimstone Energy?
Matt came round on more than one occasion, and we had long conversations about the possible options.
Matt was patient, kind, explained things well, and wasn’t selling in a pushy way. Phil’s recommendation was right! It was clear that Matt was not fazed by the size of the project, the idea of working with the building team on-site, or the possibility of combining solar panels and battery storage.
In fact, he seemed excited by the challenge. He explained the technical things well, and it felt like we landed on the right choices for my house.
Tell us about your new electrified house
So, I have a tepeo ZEB heat battery boiler to replace the gas boiler. I also wanted to remove the radiators in my lounge and dining room as they didn’t look great, so I’ve replaced the heating in these rooms with ThermSkirt, which heats electrically from within the skirting boards.
I’ve changed the water tank upstairs, which will work better with the electric system.
And (the list goes on…), this is all supported by solar panels on the roof and a battery in the garage.
Not a small job!
What made you combine solar and battery strorage with a tepeo boiler?
We needed to make sure the tepeo heat battery boiler was fully supported to work with a house of this size. I’ve got a 5 kilowatt peak solar panel system – there are ten on the main roof, and three on my garage.
In my garage, the 20 kWh Powervault battery gives me another supply of electricity, a bit like a power bank you might have as a back-up to charge your phone. This is where Brimstone’s assessment and experience helped.
How is the system working?
I’m now not using gas in the house.
On top of that, I’ve switched to an off-peak energy tariff. The Octopus Cosy tariff lets me charge my tepeo boiler, the Powervault battery, and my water at cheap prices overnight. I can then use the stored energy during the day when the prices are high – this will save me money.
At the same time, the solar panels are keeping them topped up. My roof is mostly east-facing, so I wasn’t sure whether solar would work for me, but they’re working great, and the battery means I keep any extra energy for later when I need it.
I’ve also got the apps on my phone so I can see what the solar is doing, as well as the charge on the tepeo boiler and Powervault battery. Matt is continuing to support me with these, as I want to get the most out of them.
You’ve had lots going on! How was the installation?
Brimstone Energy was a brilliant choice, and Matt worked closely with my builder, Phil.
I was really pleased because, at the same time as having scaffolding up to install the solar panels, we worked it so that I could change the guttering and paint all the window frames. These things make all the difference when everyone’s working together.
All the contractors in the Brimstone team were lovely, got on with their work, and I enjoyed seeing them put each part of the system in place.
There were some hurdles to get over. At one point, I wondered where the tepeo would go. I though, “Help, I’ve already got a washer and a dryer in my utility!” I love the end result. Once the gas boiler was gone, the team built a stand for the dryer to sit on top, so it matches perfectly with the other white goods.
It’s the same with the Powervault battery. It’s incredibly slim and tucks away nicely in my garage.
Can you answer some quick-fire questions new customers often want to know about working with Brimstone?
How do you feel now it’s done?
I’m pleased. I’m not looking forward to winter, but it will be exciting to see it all working… without gas, off-grid and more self-sufficient.
What was communication like?
Brimstone and Matt were great. Matt visited more than once, I was free to ask questions, and he was patient throughout.
Did you enjoy working with Brimstone?
Yes, definitely. The technology is new, but the service seemed to have a more traditional feel to it. They gave me the time I needed to make the big decisions.
Would you recommend Brimstone Energy?
Yes, of course. I will definitely tell my friends about Brimstone.
And finally, any advice for people thinking about getting rid of gas and going for electric heating and water?
It can be done, but make sure you find the right people to work with.
The technology is new, so you need clear advice and people you trust. Like me, you’ll find there are more options than you might first think, including combining green technology like the tepeo boiler, solar and battery storage.
And finally… scaffolding is essential, so don’t go and buy plants the day before to sort your borders. That can wait until after the work… silly me!
From Matt Hilton, Founder of Brimstone Energy
Marge, we absolutely loved this project, and it was great to come back and see the system working, as well as all the other renovation work you’ve now completed. We’re confident that the winter will be warm and cost-effective.
Well done for thinking big and thank you for trusting Brimstone Energy. It’s a real example of what others can do to secure low-cost green energy in your home.
Want to read a bit more?
Take a look at another tepeo ZEB heat battery installation we recently completed, this time where solar panels and battery storage were already in place and an oil boiler needed replacing.
Or, if you’re a business, see how solar panels and battery storage can increase your profits.
For any advice or a quote, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.