Jun 27 - Daily Post; Liverpool

This is the energy efficient home of the future.

Instead of relying solely on commercially produced fuel for heating, lighting and powering appliances, it would also harness the power of the earth, wind and sun.

It would mean a house where fuel bills were only a fraction of what they are today -and many of the products are already available.

A complete home like this could be a reality within three years.

Here's what the future could bring:

1. Domestic wind turbine:

A wind turbine is installed on the roof which uses wind power to generate electricity, saving money on your annual electricity bill as well as cutting carbon emissions. It could produce up to 1kw of electricity to supplement the property's existing national grid supply - enough to power a TV and DVD player, computer, the fridge and freezer and several lights.

British Gas is running the first domestic trial in the UK later this year and if they go well they will be available for sale in 2007.

2. Fuel cell powered boiler

This has the potential to be a world first - a wall-mounted, home energy system using a solid oxide fuel cell. It gives hot water and heat for your home as well as "free" electricity and helps the environment, cutting carbon emissions by up to three tonnes a year.

British Gas is investing in the technology with view to having product available in next three years

3. Ground source heat pump

The earth, a few metres below our feet, keeps a constant temperature of about 11-12C throughout the year, even in the UK, because it stores heat from the sun during the summer. And ground source heat pumps (GSHP) can transfer this heat from the ground into a building to provide space heating and, in some cases, pre-heating domestic hot water.

4. Air source heat pump

Electric air-source heat pumps use the difference between outdoor air temperatures and indoor air temperatures to cool and heat your home.

For more information on the heat pumps contact Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012 or visit www.est.org.uk/myhome.

5. Domestic combined heat & power (DCHP)

British Gas predicts that by 2010 nearly 200,000 UK households, equivalent to a city the size of Liverpool, will be generating their own electricity - through their boiler. The world's first wall- mounted DCHP combined system gives hot water and heat for your home as well as "free" electricity which means you could cut your bills by around pounds 150.

It is highly efficient, cutting annual carbon emission by 1.5 tonnes for a typical home and will be available for sale from British Gas in 2007

The government's expectations for domestic energy savings between 2010 and 2020 would be fully met if only a quarter of all boiler installations were replaced by a microCHP appliance.*

6. Solar thermal panels

These would provide free hot water, even on cloudy days and have real green environmental credentials. It can be purchased from British Gas and is currently available on www.house.co.uk/ee and click on 'Special deals'.

7. Roof and walls

Cavity wall insulation can cut your heating bills by up to 25pc, while loft insulation reduces heat loss by a third.

For more information call 0845 601 2123 or visit www.house.co.uk/ ee and click on special deals.

8. Windows

Double-glazing in your home could reduce heat loss through windows by half. For more information visit: www.est.org.uk/myhome/ insulation/glazing/  

Source: Energy Saving Trust, March 2006

*Source: The Micropower Council

(c) 2006 Daily Post; Liverpool. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.