Ragged Edge, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire

Client – Mr and Mrs Chapman
Technology: Solar PV, Solar Hot-Water, Air Source Heat Pump

Reg Chapman and his wife Gill who are both retired, live in Cleobury Mortimer in a four bedroom house with both oil and solid fuel central heating. “The oil boiler was as old as the house (35 years) and the solid fuel stove was fine when I was younger and fitter to collect logs etc but it was dirty and needed cleaning out daily; furthermore the price of oil was taking off and so was electricity”

That was in Spring 2011; Reg had already fitted a “solar-ready” hot water cylinder some years previously and so they took the decision to take advantage of the good returns on solar PV and the promise of the RHI on solar thermal to install both on their roof which was East West facing but shallow enough to work all day. They turned off the oil boiler in the summer and relied on the solar to heat the hot water backed up by night tariff electricity for 5p.

More recently the diagnosis on the oil boiler was terminal so they took the decision to replace it with an Air Source Heat Pump as the garden wasn’t suitable for ground source. EZsolar not only installed the kit but also replaced every radiator in the house with larger more efficient ones. Reg comments “we had other people quote but they all asked me what I wanted whereas Andy Perkins measured the volume of each room and told me what I needed. Furthermore he only employs local technicians who all did a great job. The lads in the office helped me with the forms and I have been very pleased with the after-sales care”

Solar PV – 4kWp Caymax 200watt panels with SMA SB4000TL inverter, installed and commissioned 10/06/2011. Annual generation of 3090 units per annum with a projected first year income of £1,681.

Solar Thermal Collectors – 2*20 tube collectors connected 12/06/2011.

Air Source Heat Pump – Mastertherm 8-15kW fitted 26/9/2012 including new radiators. Projected saving £500 pa over oil usage with anticipated annual RHI payments on top.

In the course of twelve months Reg has converted his 1970’s house from oil, coke and mains electricity to clean solar and efficient electric heating and hot water. ” Look at it this way” says Reg” On a sunny day the solar will run the heat pump and for every kWh from the solar the heat pump will produce 4kWh for which the government will pay me 7p at the same time as heating my house for free. How good is that? “