The excitement of a home heating assessment.

There's a little fresh snow on the hills this morning, but the hot weather I described in the last blog continued for pretty much all of last week. The heat from the sun only added to the excitement of Phase One of the Home Heating Assessment Surveys we were carrying out.
For 3 days a biomass heating systems expert was in the glen and the tension was almost palpable as glen residents gathered past fuel bills and awaited the knock at the door. A knock that could change their life for the better (especially over the winter months).
I accompanied Mr Heat, generally known as Bernd Pinamonti during the majority of the surveys, and for me it has been a very interesting experience on a variety of fronts. The intention of the survey was to gather baseline data concerning housing and heating demographics in the glen. There are various noticeable types, sizes and clusters of housing in the glen and part of my hope with this survey  was to be able, through Bernd to build up an overall picture of what might be involved  in both heating these houses individually and also as possible components of a small district heating system.
GWI have been distributing our own heating survey form (and getting a great response in terms of completed forms - thanks everyone) but following some horror stories about data protection and minefields, Bernd produced his own more heat specific form. The questions concerned things like current insulation levels, fuel types used, consumption and cost of (pretty much everyone knew straight-away) and size of house in metres (one couple knew). We also discussed peoples aspirations for heating their homes. Bernd and I would then measure the house and record some layout details.

Surveyees look at their fuel bills with dismay.
 As a result of these surveys Bernd will be able to calculate the thermal needs of each house alongside their potential for using woodfuel.
A report will then be produced for each property  or property type in areas of identical housing (like Pubil). Boiler options (chips or logs) size and and fuel consumption will be detailed as will a basic cost estimate and payback time and possible future payments under RHI.
Most of the households we surveyed appeared, on the face of it,  very likely to see positive economic benefits from a woodfuel conversion.

Faces brighten as woodfuel conversion is discussed.