Category Archives: BLOG

Fluorinated gases (also known as F Gasses) is a type of refrigerant most commonly used in HVAC systems. It was extremely popular for a long time, and became the dominant refrigerant used to provide cooling in commercial HVAC systems. It’s man-made, easy to mass produce and is incredibly efficient at cooling, which all made it immensely popular.

It’s also a significant cause of global warming, which is why most HVAC companies are moving away from using F Gasses.

What Are F Gasses?

F Gasses are a collection of man-made fluorinated greenhouse gasses that are used in all sorts of industrial applications. After years of research, we know now that F Gasses can stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, meaning they are contributing more to the ‘greenhouse effect’ and global warming than carbon dioxide. Around 23,000 times more than carbon dioxide, in fact. F Gasses are most commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning and heating. They include HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), PFCs (perfluorocarbons) and SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride). And despite how effective they are for refrigerant purposes; the industry and the government couldn’t ignore the harm they were doing.

Phasing Out Plans

In 2014 the EU triggered a plan to phase down and eventually phase out the use of F Gasses, including introducing new regulations on their use. Since around 75% of F Gas use was in refrigeration, air conditioning and heating, the landmark F-Gas Regulation was designed to reduce the use of the harmful gasses. The regulations introduced a quota system based on the highest GWP (global warning potential) F Gasses, designed to phase down their use between 2015 and 2030. The target is to reduce the CO2 equivalent of all gasses to 21% of the baseline by 2030.

It’s also now a legal requirement for all companies handling F Gasses to hold the F-Gas Company Certification. Even sole traders have to be certified by an approved body if they’re servicing equipment operated by others that contains F-Gases. No one is allowed to work with F-Gasses without the correct certification.

So now that the plan has been in place for 7 years, it’s time to review how things are going.

Is It Working?

Using the 2015 data as a baseline 100%, by 2020 F Gas use had reduced to 63%. Projections show that between 2021 and 2023 the rate should reduce to 45%, with the baseline meeting 21% by 2030. However at the moment, there is no ban on any particular type of F Gas, and equipment using them can still operate. Instead, the quota system makes the gas more expensive the more global warming potential it has. Higher GWP, more expensive gas. Which does mean that gases with the highest GWP have already been eliminated thanks to the impact on service and maintenance costs.

In 2020, a service ban was brought into force, which means that equipment with a charge in CO2 equivalent greater than 40 tonnes could no longer be refilled or serviced using F Gasses with a GWP higher than 2,500. This means that once these machines need servicing or their gases run low, operators will need to switch to a new refrigerant.

At Bonus Eventus Maintenance we are fully F Gas certified, and are able to service any and all varieties of HVAC systems. But we do prefer working with HVAC systems that are kinder to the environment and are always happy to help our clients switch to a different refrigeration method. If you’d like to find out more about F Gases or how to move away from them, just get in touch with the team today.

There is a lot of talk happening about sustainability at the moment. The climate change debate is heating up, and more and more businesses are getting on board to start making real changes. But that means the big question needs to be addressed –  what does corporate sustainability really mean, and how can businesses embrace it?

Because while consumers may be focusing on reducing their consumption of single-use plastics, businesses should be investing in new technologies and creating more efficient ways of operating to not only lower their impact on the environment but attract new audiences and stabilise their future.

What is the Definition of Sustainability?

The first step in working out what something should mean to your business is to understand what it is. When we talk about ‘sustainability’, it means:

“Something that can go on, and continue and be maintained at a certain rate or level.”

For consumers, that might mean their health, their environment or the health and environment of others – but also their budgets.

But sustainability also means:

“The avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.”

Which on a large scale is much more applicable to businesses. Businesses, particularly those in manufacturing, are the biggest consumers and wasters of natural resources on the planet – and it’s them who are making the real differences, both positive and negative. Because if more businesses were committed to reducing their use of natural resources, they could make a real impact on climate change and the general sustainability effort.

The Three Pillars for Business Sustainability

For businesses, sustainability is a completely different ballgame. At a corporate level, there are many more elements to consider, and the need to achieve sustainability across the board grows with every passing year. And while the same ideas of health, environment and budget apply, the way these are approached, implemented and managed is completely different. It’s clear that there are 3 areas of interest, known as the three pillars or the triple bottom line. These are:

• Environmental – Reducing your carbon footprint, packaging waste, waste use and overall effect on the environment.
• Social – Having the support and approval of employees, stakeholders and the community, treating employees fairly and being a good neighbour.
• Economic – Ensuring your business is profitable and compliant, with proper governance and risk management in place.

The Business Benefits

Research shows that companies with high ESG ratings have a lower cost of debt and equity, and that sustainability initiatives can help improve financial performance while fostering public support. According to McKinsey, nearly 3,000 employees said the strongest motivating factors to adopting a sustainable mindset are to: align with a company’s goals, missions, or values; build, maintain, or improve reputation; meet customer’s expectations; and develop new growth opportunities. In simple terms, “doing good” can have a direct impact on your company’s ability to do well.

At Bonus Eventus we are particularly passionate about that first pillar – reducing our carbon footprint and helping other businesses do the same so that they can reap the benefits of a sustainable business. After all, the biggest carbon emission of any business comes from its buildings, and by installing carbon-neutral HVAC systems powered by renewable energy you can reduce that to almost 0! If you would like to know more about how we do that, or how you can reduce your business carbon footprint, just get in touch with our team today and see what we can do.

Air conditioning systems aren’t just machines. They are actually more like the human body. Each unit has its own set of systems, all dependant on one another and carefully in balance, and all need taking care of. Depending on the size of the building and the system, it could be even more delicate.

After all, if you avoid the dentist for years, eventually you’ll get a cavity and have to go for a long and expensive procedure – the same goes for your air conditioning! So, here are a few facts about air conditioning maintenance, and why it should become a regular habit rather than an afterthought.

Being A Clean Freak Is Good!

A clean air conditioning system is a happy air conditioning system, and just like your tumble drier at home, it needs a clean out every now and then. But it’s about more than just keeping the mechanisms looking good. Systems that are dirty are not as energy efficient as clean ones, resulting in a significant reduction in performance and climbing running costs. Not only will it cost you more money to run, but the dirt build up will also increase the stress on the mechanical parts in the system, making them work harder than they should and reducing their lifetime. To top all that off, not cleaning your system can risk a decline in air quality when ventilated and throw off the temperature regulations, resulting in wildly varying air temperatures. In short, if you want your air conditioner to run at its best and not need replacement parts as often, keep it clean!

Being Reactive Costs You Much More

Despite assurances to the contrary, a lot of companies still operate in reactive mode when things go wrong with their air conditioning. This means that they only bother to maintain it when something goes drastically wrong, rather than scheduling regular cleanings and maintenance checks. The downside to being reactive is that a repair on a big failure, or just a full deep clean, can cost you far more than regularly scheduled maintenance. Not only does it cost you more in running costs (see the point above) but your system failing could result in a huge bill for a replacement. By scheduling regular air conditioning maintenance, you can catch and replace failing parts in a staggered way, before they cause problems, and prolong the life of your components.

How To Tell If Your Air Conditioning Needs A Tune Up

There are a few main warning signs to help you figure out when your air conditioner unit needs a little TLC.

Age: You’re not the only one who worries about getting older! We suggest replacing your unit every 15 years, as this is the average age of failure. So, if your air conditioning system is getting to that age, make sure you are looking out for signs of failure, and planning a replacement strategy.

Rising Energy Bills: This is an easy way to test if your air conditioning unit is starting to break down. Take this month’s energy bills, and compare them to last month. Then do the same with this year and last year. If you see a marked increase in the more recent bills, then there is something wrong.

Leaking Water: Finding puddles of water where they shouldn’t be isn’t always a sign of a faulty roof. Sometimes it can point to a leaky air conditioning unit. This leaking is usually caused by a liquid backup, or the overflow of excess condensation. Either way, your first call should be to your air conditioning professional to get it fixed and prevent further problems.

Unpredictable Temperatures: If you’ve set your AC to 20 but you’re still sweating, odds are there is something wrong with your unit. This could be something as simple as a faulty thermostat, or it could be a worn-out unit that’s struggling to cool the air as much as it should. So, if everyone’s getting hot and bothered, get your unit checked.

Strange Noises: Are strange noises ever a good sign? Well, they aren’t good when it comes to your air conditioning unit. If you are hearing whistling noises that sounds like a ghoul is stuck in your pipes, creaking, clunking or any other kind of strange noise, this could be a sign of a bigger problem with your unit, and it needs looking at.

So, if you haven’t checked on your air conditioning unit in months, or just think yours needs a tune up, why not give us a call and arrange your free consultation? At Bonus Eventus Maintenance we specialise in preventative maintenance plans for HVAC equipment, including air conditioning units for domestic and commercial use. If you’d like to know more, or have any questions about your air conditioning, just get in touch with the team today.  

You may have heard the phrase ‘your website is your shop window’. And for a lot of businesses, that’s very true – which is why they invest a lot of time and money in making it flawless. But what if your business’s shop window actually is a shop window? How can you make your wares look enticing enough for busy customers to stop and look, and then come inside? It’s not easy, especially in today’s society where there is so much demand on everyone’s time. And while it might seem like a small thing, the lighting choices you make can significantly impact how many people come into your shop, how much they buy and even what they choose to buy. But there are a few key things you can to do design retail lighting that’s effective, safe and enticing for passers-by.

Know Your Lighting Styles

Accent Lighting: This is the lighting you use in areas you want to draw attention to, like a prominent display or a demonstration area. Anything you want to highlight within your store. This can come in a few different forms, including internal cabinet lights to ceiling spotlights to emphasise racks or free-standing displays.

Task Lighting: Lighting that has a very specific purpose, and is usually found in areas where more lighting is needed to help employees perform tasks or customers make important buying decisions. Task lighting is more often found around checkout counters, dressing rooms, service desks and stock rooms.

Decorative Lighting: This is the light you use to create an atmosphere and make your shop look and feel like a nice place to be. It’s much broader than the previous 2 types of lighting and is usually used as a way to continue your branding throughout the premises. For example, if your shop sells luxury goods then you might have a chandelier. If it’s more modern and edgy then pendant lighting might be more appropriate. It’s your chance to get creative and playful with lighting.

Ambient Lighting: This is arguably the most important since it’s the main source of light in your shop Ambient lighting fills the gaps between all of the other forms of retail lighting and ensures that your customers can actually see. It’s also to make your customers feel comfortable, and ensure they can safely explore the entire shop.

Understanding Colour Temperature

Did you know that all lights have a different colour temperature – or that it has nothing to do with heat? Lighting can come in a range of temperatures, from warmer tones (usually more yellow) to cool ones (usually a brighter white colour). The colour temperature of the lighting you chose can hugely impact the ambience of your shop and how people view your products. For example, if you want to create a cosy, inviting feeling, you’ll want to choose a warm colour temperature. Colder tones give off a modern, crisp tone – which makes them great for tech shops like Apple, or brands wanting to create that futuristic feel. What we’re trying to get at is that the colour temperature you choose will set the tone and feel for your entire shop, so it’s a pretty important decision.

Turning Floor Plans Into Lighting Plans

Before you start buying light fixtures, you need to know what to buy and where it will go. You’ve already done part of that by understanding your lighting styles. Now is the time to sketch out your shop and work out what lighting needs to go where. This is an important step, as it informs not only your buying decisions but also helps your electricians know what wiring needs to go where.

Identify Key Display Areas: Are your displays going to be mounted on the wall, in the centre of the floor space, or a mixture? These are the areas you should place your accent lighting.

Mark Workspaces: Any areas where staff will be performing tasks will need to be lit with task lighting solutions. You should also think about task lighting in key customer areas light changing rooms.

Add Decoration: Now comes the fun part. Think about how you want your shop to look, and let your inner interior designer run wild. Add some decorative flair to your shop wherever you like, to bring a bit of personality and brand identity to the space.

Fill The Gaps: Now that you have the essentials in place, look over your plan carefully. Are there any gaps? Can you see any spaces that might end up being dark, or just on the edge of any other lighting, creating dingy pockets of space? This is where your ambient lighting fits in.

At Bonus Eventus Maintenance we don’t just take care of your HVAC needs. We also have a team of skilled, NICEIC-approved electricians on hand to create well-designed electrical solutions, with the maintenance plans in place to ensure your wiring is always up to code and performing well. Whether you’re installing a new access control system or opening a new retail unit, we can be there to make sure it all goes smoothly. If you would like to know more about our electrical services, just get in touch with the team today.

Today we wanted to ask you a question. Are you happy with the service you’re getting from your HVAC maintenance contract?

That might sound like a loaded question, but you would be amazed how many facilities managers either have no feelings towards their contractors or are actively unhappy with the service they receive. But they stay with those contractors because they need the service, and they often feel that moving to a new provider will be too disruptive.

Over the years we’ve heard lots of different reasons why businesses have decided not to move HVAC contracts, even when they’re getting a sub-par service. Today, we want to take a look at the 3 most common and show you why there’s no good reason to stay in a bad HVAC maintenance contract.

I’ve Been Using Them For Years

A long-standing relationship with any contractor is, of course, something you should value. But if that relationship isn’t productive, proactive, and profitable, then it’s always worth re-evaluating. Contractors can become complacent over time, and service levels can dip unless that relationship is maintained properly. So, if your only reason for staying with your current HVAC maintenance company is that you’ve been using them for years, it might be time for a change.

It’s Too Much Effort To Change

True, finding a new HVAC maintenance company to work with can take some time and energy. But the actual handover should be effortless for you, and the benefits of the new maintenance contractor will show themselves very quickly. After all, if moving to a new maintenance contractor will save you time and money, plus reduce your stress levels – isn’t that worth it?

They’re Doing OK

So, your current HVAC maintenance company is doing OK. They’re nothing special, but things are ticking along. That’s not a bad start. But if you can’t say with confidence that your contractor is doing a good job, is proactive and exceeds your expectations on a regular basis, then it might be time for a change. One of the things to look out for is a maintenance contractor who will set up reports based on KPIs that are important for your business. This shows they understand what you need from them and means you can track their performance with confidence.

BUT while there is no good reason to stay in a bad HVAC contract, there are plenty of reasons to make the change and try someone new. For example…

A Fresh Start

If you’ve found yourself stuck in a contract that isn’t delivering what you need, changing contractors gives you a chance at a fresh start. With a new contractor, you can be clear about your priorities, expectations and needs from day 1, and build a relationship that works for you.

Fresh Eyes

A big advantage of switching HVAC maintenance suppliers is that you get a whole new group of professionals casting their eyes over your system. They may be able to see things your old contractor didn’t or have a different approach to working with and maintaining your equipment that will save you money in the long run. A fresh set of eyes is never a bad thing, especially in the HVAC world!

Long-Term Gains

Yes, we admit that the initial changeover part of moving HVAC contractors requires some effort on your part. But in the long term, it’s almost always worth it. You can find maintenance companies with more competitive rates, better service or a fresh focus on cost-savings and energy efficiency. It also gives you the opportunity to evaluate your needs and choose a provider that makes the most commercial sense to you – something you should be doing regularly anyway!

So, is it time for a change? At Bonus Eventus Maintenance we specialise in the installation and maintenance of commercial HVAC systems. With years of experience advising customers in a variety of industries on their heating and cooling needs, we offer a tailored HVAC maintenance service that takes your maintenance from reactive to proactive. If you’d like to know more, just get in touch with the team today.

Heat pumps are a fantastic thing. Whether it’s for a commercial building or your own home, having a heat pump installed can lower your energy bills and be better for the environment, all while providing you with year-round comfort. But just like any other heating system, things can go wrong. Especially at this time of year, when we start getting cold snaps and the weather gets colder and wetter. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of heat pump problems so that you can head them off while they’re still small. Not sure what they are? Read on.

Icing Over

When the temperature dips to below freezing, your heat pumps will feel the pressure. One of the most common issues in low-temperature years has been the coils of heat pumps becoming covered in ice. This happens because the liquid refrigerant flowing through the system is freezing as it flows over the coils. That might sound counter-intuitive, but bear with us, because we’re going to give you a mini-science lesson here.

When air cools down, it becomes more difficult for molecules to move around – including those that make up liquid refrigerants. When liquid refrigerants start to freeze, they expel heat energy and become lighter – just like regular water does when it freezes into ice cubes. The resulting pressure drop across the now-frozen liquid refrigerant causes the remaining fluid (and all of its heat) to evaporate quickly. Since the heat pump is supposed to pull just enough heat from the outside air and transfer that into your home, it also pulls this heat away from the now-light refrigerant. Sometimes this causes a significant drop in pressure – low enough that the coils of your heat pump start to freeze over.

Ok, science lesson over!

Exposure To The Elements

Heat pumps will work all year round, but they do work best in hot weather when the outside air is warm. If the temperature outside is too low, your heat pump will not be able to work as efficiently, or not at all. This is because the coils on your heat pump are made of metal, and they need help to stay warm enough for them to transfer heat to or from an area.

When the outside temperature dips below about 7°C, it becomes difficult for the refrigerant in a normal heat pump to flow through the copper coils. The refrigerant starts freezing within the tubes that make up the coils of your heat pump system, and this reduces its ability to transfer heat. The result of this is that cold air comes into your home and then cold air goes back out into the environment. This can be a huge waste of energy – as much as 30 to 50% of your total heating and cooling costs! It can also damage your heat pump over time, which can increase your maintenance bills.

Non-Functioning

Sometimes you might find that your heat pump might stop working altogether. This is far from ideal as it will quickly get cold! This often happens as a result of any of the above problems being left too long or happening suddenly. When the refrigerant can’t transfer heat anymore, the system stops working altogether. If this happens, then you need to contact a heat pump service and repair service to fix the problem for you.

At Bonus Eventus Maintenance we specialise in heat pumps for both commercial and domestic installations. Our preventative maintenance contracts ensure you never have to worry about common problems because one of our team will visit you and carry out regular inspections, maintenance and repairs throughout the year. If you’re worried about keeping your eat pump running this winter, just get in touch with the team today.

By now you may have noticed that electric cars are becoming more and more popular. Not only are they better for the environment than petrol and diesel cars, but they are soon to be one of the only options, available, since the U Government has banned the sale of all petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030. So it’s no surprise that so many people are hopping on the bandwagon and buying them now. But what that does mean is that there is a rapidly rising demand for electric car charging points in public spaces – something that anyone who owns a non-residential building has probably noticed. The demand has been so intense that the Government actually brought in new EV charging requirements in June this year, so today we’re going to look at what they are, and how commercial spaces can handle them.

Minimum Charge Points

Up until June this year there were no UK wide legal requirements for EV charge points. Instead, there were just guidance and planning documents available if the owners of commercial properties decided to install charge points off their own backs. Many businesses did make this decision and were free to install as many charge points as they wanted.

However, there is now legislation in place for all new non-residential buildings. If there are more than 10 parking spaces on the property, then there must be a minimum of one charge point installed, along with cable routes for 20% (or 1 in 5) of the total number of spaces. This is to allow for the charging of at least one electric vehicle at a time, while ensuring there is future capacity available as electric cars become even more common. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to only install one EV charger – the fact is you could install more than one to provide a wider range of accessibility to your customers, as well as ensuring adequate cabling for further expansion if needed. Many businesses are opting for this route as a way of future-proofing their business and preventing further disruption later down the line.

Renovation Work

If you own a non-residential building that is currently undergoing any form of major renovation work, you will also be required to install an electric car charging point. Again, this only applies if you have over 10 parking spaces on the property, and you must have a minimum of 1 charge point and the cabling for 1 in 5 spaces. This legislation is designed to ensure older buildings are retrofitted with EV changepoints while existing work is going on, as well as new buildings having them installed. The aim is to get to a point where every commercial premises has EV charge points – either through retrofitting or new construction.

Covered Car Parks

Of course, many commercial car parks will have more than 10 parking spaces, but in some cases, they will be under ‘cover’ – for example in a multi-storey. As with normal car parks, many of the owners of these covered car parks are already installing EV charge points – which is great! But the new legislation came with a small update just a few days later. The update states that developers aren’t currently compelled to install active charging points into covered car parks. Instead, they only have to fit cable routes to supply charge points in the future. This is because of a query raised during the consultation phase of the legislation, and due to a lack of research the decision was made to make an exception until more information was gathered. Independent research is being done as we speak, and we expect more formal guidance to be given shortly.

At Bonus Eventus we are passionate about the environment, which is why we created a sister brand, Bonus Eventus Charged. This allows us to provide guidance on EV car charge points, as well as full installation and maintenance. If you would like to know more about EV car charging points, or if you have questions about instating them in your commercial space, just get in touch with the team today.

When you think of a smart building, what do you see? Do you see your home with a smart thermostat, maybe a home control system that allows you to put the kettle on when you’re still in the car? It’s true that these are all smart technologies, designed to help make life a little easier for you at home or at work.

But systems, the IoT (Internet of Things) and environmental technology have evolved much further than that, allowing us to create buildings that are designed around the technology, allowing every system to be coordinated and in sync. So today we’re going to take a look at what’s considered the pinnacle of smart building design – The Edge in Amsterdam – and what makes it so unique.

Introducing The Edge

The Edge is located in the financial district of Zuidas in Amsterdam. Completed in 2015, it’s 40,000 sq-meters, 15 stories high, and has been given the prominent title of the ‘smartest and most sustainable’ office building in the world. It’s owned and managed by Deloitte, and was commissioned to bring all of their Amsterdam staff into one building that was perfectly suited to their needs. To create it, they commissioned PLP Architecture, a London based firm famous for creating sustainable, human-centric environments for businesses.

Sustainability At Every Step

Before we get onto what makes The Edge the ideal smart building, we also wanted to touch on its unique approach to environmental efficiency. Because it was designed and built with technology and sustainability in mind, the building itself is a remarkable example of what can be achieved when suitability is put at the heart of design.

• The Edge was built and shaped to make maximum use of the sunlight throughout the year. The windows give the office spaces the best use of daylight, while an integrated 6,00 sq. meter solar array on its south absorbs excess solar radiation and provides all the energy needed to run the building.
• It was built over an aquifer, which the buildings heat pump systems use to draw thermal energy and manage the heating and cooling of the building.
• The entire building is fitted with 6,500 low-emission LED lights, with motion sensors to ensure light is only provided when the building is occupied. This detail alone saves the building upwards of $100,000 a year in energy costs.
• All the flooring is made from rapidly renewable and recycled concrete.
• Relocatable walls are fitted on 14 of its 15 floors, giving workers power over their own space, meeting the highest standard of acoustic performance and made from durable and responsible sourced materials.

These decisions were not made in passing, or lightly Each detail of the building was carefully considered to ensure maximum sustainability and minimum environmental impact. Thanks to this attention to design The Edge has achieved a huge number of sustainability targets and even won awards – while showcasing that sustainable design is both possible and profitable.

Smart Tech Bringing It All Together

The sustainability achievements of The Edge are quite remarkable, but what sets it apart as the cornerstone of modern design is its integration of smart technologies. You see, Deloitte wanted to create a building that would serve their needs, save money and ultimately make them more efficient. To that end, the whole building is connected via the Internet of Things, enabling all systems to be controlled and monitored at all times. A few examples of smart technology within The Edge include:

• Nearly 30,000 IoT sensors throughout the building, all collecting anonymous data about everything going on inside. From heating and cooling systems to lighting, room occupancy and even coffee machines – that data is being collected and used to improve functionality at all times.
• Sensors are installed within the heat pump systems to track both water usage as well as local climate conditions.
• Machine learning algorithms are constantly working to optimise the energy consumption of the building, as well as user comfort and profitability.
• The building uses 30% of the energy a conventional office building of the same size does.
• Lighting, temperature, CO2 levels and humidity are all monitored and adjusted to ensure optimum comfort for the people inside.
• The IoT system includes a bespoke app, allowing employees to find parking spaces, open desks, report issues to facilities management and see their own energy consumption within the building – all from their own phone.

All of this means that The Edge is more than just a building – it’s a living, learning organism that’s been designed to adapt to the way people use buildings, all while keep efficiency high and costs low. The Edge is one-of-a-kind, but it’s our hope that it won’t be for long. It’s a proof of concept, showing that smart and sustainable buildings can make a huge difference to the environment, to employee productivity and business profitably, and we hope more businesses will follow suit. At Bonus Eventus Maintenance, we are always looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of the buildings we work in, and will always recommend eco-friendly solutions like heat pumps where possible. If you would like to know more about creating a sustainable building, just get in touch with one of our team today.

Hopefully by now you know that we are pretty passionate about renewable energy. As part of our work as HVAC maintenance specialists we are always looking for new ways to power buildings that are less harmful to the environment. One of those methods is heat pumps, but they still require power to run, so alone they can reduce your carbon footprint, but not completely erase it. For that, you need to consider a renewable energy source – step up solar panels. Solar panels are great for both home use and businesses, and today we’re going to tell you why.

What Is Solar Energy?

Solar power is a type of energy harnessed from the power of the sun’s rays. There is no need to mine coal or oil, destroy natural landscapes or worry about shortages – it’s the greenest source of energy there is. Just like the wind, solar power is a virtually unlimited and inexhaustible fuel resource that does not require mining or gathering. And the best part is you can harness it yourself – all you need is the right equipment to become energy self-sufficient, and help save the environment too.

The solar panels you commonly see installed on the roofs of private homes or business properties are PV cells made from layers of semi-conducting material. This is usually silicon but could be other things. These cells are activated when light shines on them, creating a small electrical field across all the layers. The stronger the sunshine, the stronger the electrical field becomes, and the more electricity is produced. Dozens of these cells are often placed together to maximise effectiveness, sometimes powering entire homes in the height of summer.

The cells used in solar PV are measured in a unique way called kilowatts peak (kWp), which measures the rate of electricity generation in full direct sunlight during summer. In real-world terms – a 4kWp system can generate, on average, around 3,800 kilowatt hours of electricity every single year, which is roughly the same as a typical household’s electricity consumption. But the reason it is fast overtaking gas as the preferred power source is this – it is cheaper to produce and can save nearly 2 tonnes of CO2 from being pumped into the atmosphere every year.

Living Off-The-Grid

For most people, being able to fund their electricity bill using natural sunlight is a dream. It could save you hundreds of pounds over the course of a single year, and can come in handy in an emergency! But as well as the obvious benefits above, there are a few other great advantages to solar PV panels. While they might cost a little to install, the benefits vastly outweigh the drawbacks, and you will start seeing results quickly. Some of the benefits you will see from solar PV include:

Low Monthly Rates: Despite the initial cost, installing renewable energy will save you plenty on your monthly power bill. Anything you produce yourself will cut back on what you need to pay the power company, and if you produce more, you can sell it back for a profit!

Flexible Living: If you prefer wide open spaces, refreshing views of nature, or the peace of rural life to noisy, rude neighbours, you can benefit from renewable energy. Producing your own power will give you the freedom to live just about anywhere you want.

Positive Environmental Impact: Of course, the environmental impact of choosing renewable power is huge. By going off-grid, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and doing your bit to prevent climate change.

And the best part? All of those benefits apply to business premises as well as residential ones. So, if you own a business property, solar panels could be an incredibly good investment. Not to mention there are always grants available for businesses looking to install solar panels, working as an incentive to help reduce the Co2 emissions of our country. Just ask your local authorities what schemes they are running to find out how you could save money on the cost of installing solar panels.

At Bonus Eventus Maintenance, we’re really passionate about the environment. We’re always looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and passing that knowledge on to our clients. By advising our clients to combine solar panels and heat pump solutions, we hope to help you save money, and do your bit to save the planet. If you’d like to find out more, just get in touch with the team today to book your free consultation.