When Paul moved into his new home last year, he saw it as an ideal opportunity to reduce his household’s carbon footprint and long-term energy costs. A broken boiler became the catalyst for a full transition to green tech. His journey began with a heat pump installation and later expanded to include solar panels, home batteries and an EV charger. His primary motivation was to “lower bills” and reduce the cost of running the heat pump with solar and battery support.

Paul wanted his new home to be both environmentally responsible and economical to run. The broken boiler prompted his first major step: installing a heat pump. Solar and battery systems had already been part of his plan, and a compelling offer from Utilita Home encouraged him to proceed with their installation soon after. From that point, Paul’s green tech setup developed rapidly and strategically.

Instead of replacing the boiler, Paul chose to install a heat pump. Despite some negative press coverage surrounding heat pumps, he was confident in his decision after conducting his own research. He notes that there was some “fine-tuning” required to achieve the right comfort levels and that he “did not nail” this during the first year. However, the system kept his family “warm through the Winter,” and he describes the current comfort level as equal to what a gas system could provide.

The £7,500 government grant was a major factor, as it brought the cost closer to that of a standard boiler installation. Paul selected a smaller company because the prices “were really good and the staff were really friendly.” The installation process itself was “easy but took a long time” because all radiators needed replacement. Although the two-week process was lengthy, Paul did not find it disruptive. There was “a slight problem with the Heat pump not being configured correctly,” but it was resolved quickly. Paul states that he “wouldn’t do anything differently” if he were to start again.

His winter electricity bills have increased, but his gas bills have fallen “by roughly the same amount.” While he acknowledges that the heat pump unit is “quite large,” he appreciates that he cannot hear it while indoors.

Paul believes he is currently on the “best” tariff for heat pumps. But as he contemplates getting an EV, he intends to find a tariff that works well with this too. He notes that a service like Loop Optimise’s Tariff Recommender would be useful for identifying the most beneficial option.

Paul sought several quotes before deciding on Utilita Home. He found that they offered the best value and provided the clearest explanation of the process. Their detailed survey outlined the number of panels that could be installed and the associated costs. Paul appreciated that the Utilita Home team “really cared” about the project and worked to deliver the best setup.

Once grid approval was granted, the installation was scheduled within three weeks and completed in two days. Paul describes the installation as “pretty smooth” and would not change anything about it.

He highlights the strong financial benefits, explaining that “you can make significant savings with no lifestyle changes at all.” However, he has still achieved “the last 5% of savings” by making minor adjustments, such as using the dishwasher at night when electricity prices are lowest.

The home battery quickly became one of the most significant components of Paul’s system. He refers to it as “the easiest way to save money” because it allows him to charge during cheaper periods and use stored energy when prices rise.

Utilita Home demonstrated the expected savings associated with different battery sizes. Paul ultimately chose 20 kWh of storage, which he acknowledges is “a lot,” but which suits his heat pump usage. By opting for two batteries, he can “maximise the amount of energy that [he can] store at the cheap rates” in Winter.

The batteries have increased the family’s sense of energy independence, particularly in the summer months when they generate more energy than they consume. Paul also says that a surprise benefit of his battery is being protected against power cuts.

After only two months, the family has saved almost £200 and Paul anticipates “£3-5 a day” in ongoing savings. He considers the batteries to be the “most important” aspect of his setup.

Paul currently makes manual adjustments to optimise his system, although he is “looking to move over to Loop Optimise” because it will “save [him] lots of time” and “will do a better job” of improving both savings and environmental impact.

His conclusion is clear: he “absolutely recommends a battery” as the simplest way to take advantage of low-cost electricity.

Paul’s story shows just how beneficial but easy opting for green tech can be. Today, he’s greener, more energy independent, and saving money every day.

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