Energy efficiency and renewable measures: Solar PV, wind turbine, solid wall insulation, loft insulation, floor insulation, A-rated appliances, Energy saving lighting, recycling, composting. Bedrooms: 2 Occupants: 2

Key features: A 1800s detached house with solar PV, wind turbine, solid wall insulation, loft insulation, and floor insulation.

Energy performance rating certificate: C

 

When retired couple Brian and Elizabeth Gates moved to their detached bungalow in the Dumfries countryside, they wanted to cut their long-term energy costs “we had previously depended on oil in our last home. We found the price of oil just kept on going up and up, and in the winter it was a less reliable fuel source as deliveries were few and far between.” The couple decided to install a wind turbine and solar PV panels in order to overcome this problem, and their decision was also made with the environment in mind “as we are now retired we did install the renewable systems to cut down long-term costs however our decision was partly environmental, as well as financial” explains Brian.