Question 1

What is an EPC rating?

Accepted Answer

When a home is built it needs an Energy Performance Certicate (EPC). This shows you how much a building will cost to heat and light, what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be.     An EPC rates a property in bands from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years from the date it's issued.   Using the government's Standard Assesssment Procedure (SAP) your home will be given a numerical score from 1-100 SAP points. These scores are divided into bands as follows:  EPC rating A = 92-100 SAP points (most efficient) EPC rating B = 81-91 SAP points EPC rating C = 69-80 SAP points EPC rating D = 55-68 SAP points EPC rating E = 39-54 SAP points EPC rating F = 21-38 SAP points EPC rating G = 1-20 SAP points (least efficient)

Question 2

What is net zero-carbon emission housing?

Accepted Answer

A net zero-carbon emission home is a building with potential zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of renewable energy created. This requires the use of technologies such as air source heat pumps, high efficiency windows and hot water cylinders, high levels of insulation and solar panels with iBoost convertors. Wyro Green Homes use all of the above to attain zero carbon emission status which is assessed and determined by the Government approved SAPs (Standard Assessment Procedure) 2012 and which is shown on the individual EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) produced for your home.

Question 3

Why aim for zero-carbon emission homes?

Accepted Answer

Man-made CO2 emissions from lifestyle changes and deforestation are the main causes of climate change and greenhouse effect. A home built to achieve zero carbon emission standards is capable of either completely avoiding any contribution to climate change or even helping to reverse it by very small amounts by producing more energy than it uses. In real world situations we generally still need to use power outside the times that we produce it (e.g. with solar being produced in the daytime) as with limited energy storage capability we would still need to draw energy from the grid (e.g. on dark evenings). The extra energy produced by your solar panels that is not converted into stored hot water though your iBoost system is fed back into the grid to attain a potential net zero energy consumption, but this is of course dependant on how much energy you use in total.

Question 4

What is Fibre to the Premises FTTP Broadband?

Accepted Answer

Fibre to the premises (FTTP) is a pure fibre connection from the exchange, directly into your home. It offers higher broadband speeds to specific premises in areas that have been enabled for FTTP (speeds in excess of 350 Mbps with appropriate broadband packages). Once installed, FTTP is far more stable than alternatives and delivers committed speeds irrespective of the cable run distance.

Question 5

What is an air source heat pump?

Accepted Answer

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) are a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuel heating systems. They work by transferring heat absorbed from the outside air to heat your home. Heat pumps work similarly to a refrigerator: they absorb heat and transfer it to another medium.   Grant+++ heat pumps used by WYRO Green Homes are ‘air to water’ systems (as opposed to ‘air to air’ heat pumps) which means that they capture heat energy from the air and transfer this into ‘wet’ heating systems, such as radiators or underfloor heating, absorbing heat from the outside air and then transfering it via your central heating system to provide hot water heating, radiator, or underfloor heating. They work well in low temperatures as well. Air source heat pumps are placed outside in the garden area and should not be covered.   "They use a vapour compression cycle which is similar to that used to extract heat from a domestic fridge. The heat pump draws air in and transfers it over an evaporator where R32 refrigerant is exposed to this air. The liquid refrigerant, which has a low boiling point, boils off to a gas and absorbs the latent heat energy within the air. The gas is then compressed which increases the heat content in the refrigerant before passing through a heat exchanger. Here, the gas condenses back to a liquid while transferring the heat to the water of the heating system. The liquid refrigerant is then re-circulated through the evaporator and the cycle is repeated.The system water which has been heated up then exits the rear of the heat pump via flow and return pipework and is circulated throughout the rest of the central heating to provide space heating and hot water within the home."  (www.grantuk.com)   With an air source heat pump, you can save money on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint compared to a gas or electric heating system.

Question 6

What is an A-rated hot water cylinder?

Accepted Answer

Cylinders effectively store hot water as part of a central heating system and are ideal partners for air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems. Cylinders are the ideal solution for domestic hot water requirements. A cylinder comprises of a highly insulated shell designed to reduce heat loss, various inlets for the water supply to enter and exit as well as one or more coils fitted within the cylinder. The system water which has been heated up by the heat source travels through the cylinder’s coil(s) where the heat is then transferred to the mains water stored within the cylinder. The hot water exits the cylinder at the top ready to fulfil the household’s hot water demand such as running taps or showers. The current market leading Hot Water Cylinder emits just 1.04 kW/h standing heat loss over 24 hours and earns the prestigious 'A' Energy rating.

Question 7

How do solar panels work?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels are groups of photovoltaic (PV) cells that turn sunlight into electricity. Solar is a plentiful, renewable source of energy – and solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to function. Solar panels generate a direct current of electricity which is then passed through an inverter to convert it into an alternating current, which can then be funnelled into the National Grid or used by the home the solar panels are attached to.

Question 8

What is iBoost?

Accepted Answer

iBoost is a device that enables you to use more of the free energy produced by your solar power system, reducing your energy bills even further by heating water with the excess energy generated by the solar panels.

Question 9

What is U-value?

Accepted Answer

U-values measure how effective a material is an insulator, how effective they are at preventing heat from transmitting between the inside and the outside of a building The lower the U-value is, the more slowly heat is able to transmit through it and so the better it performs as an insulator.

Question 10

What is an LABC Warranty?

Accepted Answer

A 10 year insurance policy which protects buyers of new homes from structural defects. For further information visit www.labc.co.uk

Question 11

What is the Consumer Code for Builders?

Accepted Answer

"The Consumer Code for Home Builders (“the Code”), which came into effect in April 2010, applies to all Home Builders registered with the UK’s main new Home Warranty Bodies: LABC Warranty, NHBC; Premier Guarantee and Checkmate and consists of 19 requirements and principles that Home Builders must meet in their marketing and selling of Homes and their after-sales customer service (www.consumercode.co.uk)."

Question 12

What is  PEFC?

Accepted Answer

PEFC (The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization which promotes sustainable forest management.   For further information visit www.pefc.or

Question 13

How do I reserve a Wyro Green Homes property?

Accepted Answer

Question 14

Argon filled double glazed windows

Accepted Answer

Condensation on the inside of your window shows your windows are working as they should to keep your home energy efficient.   Only condensation between the panes can be a sign of an issue with your windows.   New windows are most likely showing internal condensation more than old ones because they are more airtight – less air is entering your home from the outside. Condensation is water vapour from the atmosphere in the building and cannot under any circumstances be generated by windows or doors. It is introduced into the air inside the building by the users of the building carrying out such activities as breathing, cooking, washing, showering, bathing,drying clothes etc. In the case of a new home the amount of water vapour generated by the users is significantly added to by the materials used in the construction of the house itself drying out, which can take as long as 18 months in some cases. When the house is warm the air accepts this water vapour until it reaches saturation point. As the house cools down the saturation point of the air drops and it can no longer hold the amount of water vapour which it accepted when it was warmer. This excess has to be deposited on the various surfaces in the room and the flat cold glass surface provides an ideal surface for this to happen.The formation of condensation on a surface does not indicate any problem with that surface – it merely indicates the presence of excessive levels of water vapour in the air.   Some useful tips to prevent excessive moisture in your home: -Opening windows for at least 20 minutes a day. -Use the extractor fan when cooking, showering or bathing. These tasks are notorious for creating excess moisture in the home. -Make sure you dry your washing outside if at all possible. If this isn’t an option, dry it in a well ventilated area. -If condensation persists, ventilate your home more frequently. Purchasing a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity levels, but reducing humidity and improving ventilation is the best option.