Loading a biomass boiler with 15 kg of pellets each day was impractical for Mandy, our customer. A tepeo ZEB heat battery was the green, electric solution she needed.
Read the story here…
The green energy transition, decarbonisation and low-cost energy will look different for everyone. Your home, costs, grants and your existing infrastructure are all considerations, individual to you. But alongside all these, your lifestyle and what will work for you and your circumstances are also key.
Mandy Haslam from Streatley, near Luton, had a decision to make about the biomass boiler she inherited in her 1930s property. The village doesn’t have mains gas, and the house had previously installed the system with the help of a government grant.
The boiler worked, it was part of a government scheme, and it was an environmentally friendly option… so what was the problem?
In winter, the boiler needed to be fed each day with up to 15 kg of biomass pellets. This required regular bulk deliveries, and needed Mandy to lift the weight above her head to drop them into the boiler’s hopper. This was impractical for recently retired Mandy, who, despite being multi-skilled, doesn’t list height as one of them!
“Surely there’s another way…”
As always with Brimstone Energy, it’s about helping customers make the best decisions based on all your options available. Our solution was to work with Mandy to install a tepeo ZEB heat battery and replace her biomass boiler.
Electric battery heating might be what you need, too.
To help you, we’ve put together this case study. Watch the video and read through – there’s always a good answer to your problem when you work with the right people.
Mandy, first up, tell us about your biomass boiler
A biomass boiler is an alternative to traditional gas or oil boilers. Heat is generated by burning pellets, which are made of compressed, combustible materials like wood or straw. You feed the boiler with these (every day in the winter), and they burn to heat the water within your pipes and radiators.
My biomass boiler was in a purpose-built shed at the side of the house and was installed using a government grant. We don’t have mains gas in the village, so biomass is a green alternative to oil.
So, what was the problem with your biomass boiler?
The boiler worked. It heated my house, and I wasn’t relying on fossil fuels.
But the system was impractical for me. I live alone and, despite being fit and healthy, I’m not very tall…
What’s that got to do with your heating, I hear you say?!
To feed the boiler, you need regular bulk deliveries of pellets. You then need to lift 15 kg bags into the boiler’s hopper by climbing steps and raising them above your head.
A good workout for sure, but there’s a limit! Needing to do this each day in winter meant there was a health and safety issue, which is not something you want to be inviting into your home life.
On my final delivery, the bulk bag split coming off the lorry. A tonne of pellets spilt across the road, blocking it for many hours! If I had any remaining doubts about working with Brimstone Energy to make a change and install the tepeo ZEB, this was the final confirmation I needed.
People often have questions about electric heating. Did you have any hesitations?
I knew the biomass boiler didn’t fit with my stage of life and lifestyle.
I also knew I didn’t want to go backwards to oil. I needed an environmentally friendly heating system, so I first looked at Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP). ASHPs will be right for others, but it didn’t seem to be the right fit for me. I wasn’t sure whether it would give me the heat I wanted, the installation was more intrusive for my property, and I’d need to change all my radiators. That’s a big amount of work! The heat pump engineer also had some concerns about my wood burner (which I love), and whether the stove would interfere with the heat regulation of the ASHP.
I had more heat pump questions than answers.
I then came across the tepeo ZEB as an alternative to gas and oil boilers.
What research did you complete about the tepeo ZEB?
I knew the tepeo ZEB was more of the “new” gas and oil alternative, where ASHPs had been around for a while. But the more I read about the tepeo ZEB, the more boxes it seemed to tick.
I liked the sound of the ZEB. Keeping my existing radiators, a like-for-like boiler replacement, removing the need for the biomass boiler and pellets, a “hot” heating system, and the chance to save with flexible, cheap rate energy tariffs.
The more I read, the more it made sense. I wanted to see if the ZEB really would be “plug and play,” like I had sense.
I was “Googling” and found the Energy Savings Trust website, which linked me across to the tepeo website. There’s a set of approved tepeoPRO installers, so I got in touch and was referred to Matt and Brimstone Energy.
One of the things I did was ask tepeo for stats about installations, costs and how the ZEB works. I was really pleased with their response, and it helped give me peace of mind.
What was it like working with Matt and Brimstone Energy?
Matt’s approach to assessing your home and what’s best for you is considerate and personalised. Before retiring, I was a Service Delivery Director for a software company. I know people, and I know quality. I immediately trusted him.
There was transparency from the start, and Matt was happy to talk through all the options available… not just tepeo. While he made his recommendations, he wasn’t pushing one product – it was about finding what was right. Matt was patient and was happy for me to ask the “silly questions.” When you’ve got a company with you like this, it gives you peace of mind.
I asked Matt if I could speak to another local customer, and he arranged this without hesitation. I spoke to a customer who had replaced their oil boiler, and he confirmed what I thought. The tepeo ZEB is a great heating system, and Brimstone Energy do what they say.
Did the tepeo ZEB installation go smoothly?
Yes. The installation was smooth and well managed. I needed to reconfigure my utility room to house the ZEB, and I was grateful for Matt’s input on where to place it. He not only considered the ease of installation and the electrics, but also thought about how best the utility room would work for me.
The team were professional, tidy and polite. This is always important when you’re letting people work in your home.
How do you feel now it’s all done and your tepeo ZEB is in?
I’m pleased. I’ve moved on to an Octopus tariff with cheap off-peak prices. This means I can charge the heat battery at night on a cheap rate, ready to use in the day when the electricity price is much higher.
I’ve tested the system, and my radiators heated up beautifully… but June and July have been pretty warm. So, while I promise I’m not wishing away the summer, I’m looking forward to seeing it in action in the winter.
I guess you could say, “I’m ready for cold weather!”
Would you recommend Matt and Brimstone Energy?
Definitely.
In fact, I’m going to be using Brimstone to install solar panels on my roof. I got a quote for these from another company linked to the Local Council, but it was clear they were pushing a specific product.
Again, Matt is looking at a range of options for me, and he knows the house. So, he’ll be back soon to help me take the next step in future-proofing my home.
And finally, what advice would you have for anyone thinking about replacing their boiler?
There are excellent all-electric alternatives to oil, gas and, in my case, biomass.
The Energy Savings Trust is a good place to start your research because it’s independent. Of course, always get a range of quotes and speak to them so you get a feel for how they work. Then, make sure you choose a company that works with you, not pushes you in a certain direction.
For me, Brimstone Energy was the company to help me make the right choice.
From Matt Hilton, Founder of Brimstone Energy
Mandy, thank you for your kind words.
The tepeo ZEB is a great solution for your home and will serve you well for many years. We’re so pleased you now won’t be loading up a biomass boiler with heavy bags of pellets.
We look forward to being up on the roof and saving you more money with a new solar panel system soon. Maybe we’ll be back for a second case study…
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.