2020 has been a great year for the renewables industry, as new records have been set for lower reliance on coal power, and extended periods of time in which renewable sources delivered all of the power needed.

Our own achievements have been able to stand here too, as we’re set to exceed 10 megawatts of power generated from solar PV installations within the next twelve months. The successes here and the renewed focus on delivering a greener recovery from the pandemic have led to growing funds being approved for renewable projects, with the most represented throughout the year being focussed in wind as capacity is set to grow.

A tracker report from Cornwall Insight suggests that a total of 1.3 gigawatts could be added this winter alone with a 5% rise resulting in 25.4 gigawatts of total capacity installed by March 2021. This doesn’t factor in the news we had brought to you recently with Boris Johnson announcing the £160 million in funding to help build infrastructure for the wind power industry, which will be focussed on upgrading ports and factories within the UK to support the growth. If the goal hoped to be reached by the prime minister for the UK to become a world leader in clean wind energy, this suggested capacity increase may certainly help. Whilst there is no guarantee that many of the planned sites will be completed before the winter is over, this does show a very positive sign of movement for the renewable energy industry.

The wind industry hasn’t been the only positive movement in the renewable energy space however, as solar has been performing extremely well too. Recent announcements for new solar arrays and the records that have been broken have shown the tremendous growth. With growing support for a cleaner recovery from the pandemic too, it is expected more funding will be granted for renewable projects.

To discover which options may be the best fit for your own clean energy goals you can explore our range of energy efficiency solutions, alternatively you can get in contact with our team of experts to have them guide you through your different choices.

The announcement of the UK’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 has helped to grow the renewable energy industry and ensure its importance is like never before.

As we’ve written about many times, we’re committed to helping deliver this change to net zero wherever possible, and we’ve already delivered a number of projects to meet that end, which can be seen through our customer case studies. This has also been shown in the number of projects we’ve been able to complete. In 2019 we had completed over 75 Solar PV installation projects to help the growing number of people looking to reduce their own impact on the climate, which led to us taking home an award at the National Energy Efficiency Awards. Over the next twelve months with existing projects, we’re set to exceed 10 megawatts of power generated from renewable sources too.

Furthermore, this has led to a new era of competition for the suppliers hoping to deliver these green energy solutions to a growing number of energy conscious consumers, who were looking to find out what they could do differently to reduce their own carbon footprint.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has brought even more awareness to this movement however, as earlier in the year, the positive impact had been almost immediately visible and led to growing support to bring the change to net zero as soon as possible.

Our commitment doesn’t end just with our installations either. We also hope to bring awareness to the ongoing issues and look to how renewable options can be a huge benefit, with our carbon offsetting programs and partnerships which plant a tree for every solar PV installation we complete. To the recent project we did with Erasing Nature, which hopes to bring more awareness to the challenges that are being faced around the world.

If you’d like to find out more about the contributions we’ve made to meeting the net zero challenge or would like to explore options to do your part too, you can get in contact with our fantastic team who’ll take you through the best options available to you.

Throughout the year, we’ve been bringing you the latest positive news within the solar energy space, with changing energy needs throughout the year.

This comes as the pandemic had caused many individuals and businesses to shift their energy requirements and after a very long summer, solar has had the opportunity to shine, as performance has hit record highs.

The growing support for solar in general and the performance seen over recent years has also led to further development for the renewable energy source within the UK. One of the latest to be announced has come from EDF Renewables UK, as they have outlined a plan to install a 49.9-MW solar far near Bramford in Suffolk. They hope that all necessary planning applications can be submitted before the end of the year, but there is currently no information on when construction or completion could be aimed for. This is set to occupy around half of the 160.6-acre plot, there may be more room for further development later on.

This announcement also follows news that came earlier this year, as the largest solar farm in the UK had been announced to be built on the north Kent coast. Spanning across a 900-acre plot, it has been suggested that this solar farm could supply power to 91,000 homes and include one of the world’s largest energy storage systems to capture any excess.

The growth in solar is something close to us here at Utility Trade too. Last year we were able to take home an award from the National Energy Efficiency Awards following the completion of over 75 solar PV installation projects, and the next twelve months could see our own network grow as we’re set to exceed 10 megawatts of power generated too. With increasing focus being placed on the development of the renewable space it is certainly an exciting time for solar.

If you’d like to discover more about our own solar farm projects and find out how solar may be beneficial for you, get in contact with our team today. Furthermore, if you’d like to explore our many other energy efficiency solutions, you can find out more here.

Over the course of this year, we’ve been reporting back on the results of numerous surveys we’ve completed surrounding public opinion of electric vehicles, and what may deter any change in perception.

Many of the concerns have often centered around battery capacity and travel distance, but recent announcements could push support for electric vehicles further still.

Both battery capacity and travel distance have been improved dramatically, as the major firms in the EV world continue to innovate and develop new products.

The most recent news comes from Tesla, as they continue to push forward development for electric vehicles. The world’s largest EV provider hosts a yearly event for shareholders and enthusiasts alike to unveil potential changes that may be on the way, with this year focusing on battery day.

The most promising change has been the proposed range increase that will be seen within the next couple of years. Adjustments in cell design, materials being used, and the way these cells are integrated with the vehicle are top of the agenda, with the suggestion being that range could increase up to 54% within the next two years. This could see standard models hovering around the 300 mile range jump up to nearly 500 miles of range, with even more growth being seen in the higher end models.

The other improvement comes in the cost of the improved batteries. The suggestion is that price per KWH could drop by up to 56% with savings being passed onto the cost of a new vehicle. Currently, the price of a new EV is a concern for consumers, so this could help to bridge that gap. Also, with a further announcement that a lower end model being released by Tesla could come around within the next three years, it may continue to drive sales upwards.

If you are thinking about making the change to an EV, we offer a whole host of EV charging solutions – get in contact with our experts today to find out more.

Over the past few months we’ve been bringing you news on the changing electric vehicle market and how there has been a shift in growing support during the pandemic period, as a premium is being placed on a cleaner recovery.

Cars haven’t been the only method of transport seeing attention, as the UK’s first railway to be powered entirely by renewable energy has recently received its certificates. There is a clear interest in preventing climate change in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, as our recent survey indicated that 44% of people are more receptive to using an EV:

The energy supplier behind these, Npower Business Solutions, has granted HS1 with the Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin certificates. This means that moving forward, all energy supplied to the rail operator has the guarantee that it is from sustainable, and renewable sources such as the growing wind and solar market.

This also means that both the trains themselves and the stations that HS1 will run out of will both be powered entirely with zero-carbon emissions and has been heralded as the green gateway to Europe. The high-speed link between London, Kent, and the Channel Tunnels is expected to reach the one-hundred percent renewable energy power by March 2022 – with future hopes that this change could reduce the carbon footprint of every passenger by up to 25% and cut the energy of each train journey by 10%.

The success with HS1 will be followed with the ongoing progress being made on the HS2 line that will connect the rest of the country by linking London, the Midlands, the North, and Scotland. This providing clean transport across the country and being a vital piece in the countries goal to reach net zero by 2050.

The ongoing pandemic has led to some slowing in progress, but this provides growing support for the clean energy solutions across the country too, as the utilisation of both solar and wind power has seen huge successes since the beginning of the year.

We’re fully committed to helping you reach clean energy goals to do your part with net zero too. You can explore our energy efficiency options or get in contact with our specialists, to have them guide you through which choices may be the best fit for you.

As we’ve indicated through all of our posts, we’re committed to bringing you the best sources of energy available, and solar PV installation has been one of our core offerings

Completing 75 solar installations in 2019 and taking home an award from the National Energy Efficiency Awards, we’ve looked to improve further still in 2020, as we’re well on the way to exceeding 10 megawatts produced by solar PV.

Solar PV is becoming ever more affordable, especially in light of the CBILS announcement. As we covered just this week – you can finance your renewable energy products and take advantage of the Government backed scheme, meaning you pay nothing for 12 months.

This is prevalent, as solar is being measured at at 20 to 50 percent cheaper than costs to build infrastructure for energy sources – keeping in mind, however, that this cost isn’t for the consumer, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Much of the reason coal and gas had been used for so long had been within the existing infrastructure and the cost to develop new alternatives. But with the cost per megawatt of solar falling below both gas and coal in most parts of the world, it has become more attractive and the subsidies certainly reflect that which has helped in further reducing costs.

Another helping hand has been within the growing battery and storage technology that have also help propped the solar industry up too. Capturing the energy through solar is just one small part of the battle, but ensuring it can be stored, transported and used effectively is another and has provided another area for solar to shine. Continued development in this space will in time pass the savings down to the consumer to provide the cheapest electricity source for not only subsidised new build plans, but also for the business and home user too.

You can explore our solar PV options to discover what cost savings you’ll be able to find by making the switch over, or through any of our other energy efficiency options, such as infrared heating that can help reduce costs during the winter. Alternatively, you can get in contact with our team today and they can take you through the process for a change to solar.

We have some great news to share. For an extended period (applications by 30th November 2020) you can finance your renewable energy projects and take advantage of the government backed loan scheme.

As a reminder, CBILS is the government backed scheme to help businesses through coronavirus, it is also available on all asset purchases over £25k.

If you are thinking about how to become more energy efficient, please look at our great solutions, you won’t pay anything for 12 months.

This is genuinely something not to be missed out on, in addition to deferred payments, you will benefit from energy savings and start your ROI immediately

Finance Option Benefits:

• Rates from 1.49%
• 12 months interest paid by the government
• No payments for 12 months
• No personal guarantee’s up to £250k
• Decisions within 24 hours
• Terms up to 7 years.

Get in touch with one of our experts today to talk about your energy efficiency plans and see if we can help you.

Throughout the pandemic period, one of the core messages that we’ve delivered has been the need for a clean recovery that puts a focus on the environment as well as the economy.

We’ve recently written a number of pieces showing how business leaders are encouraging these adjustments and it would appear that call is being actioned to a certain extent.

A recent announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson coincided with other news that offshore and onshore windfarms within the UK have found growing support and funding. There has been a new goal laid out to have wind farms powering every home by 2030.

To reach this goal, £160m has been pledged for upgrading ports and factories within the country. However, this funding only applies to those ports and factories that directly support the wind power industry, with a plan to create 2,000 jobs in construction and support the growth of a further 60,000 more.

In his statement at the Conservative Party conference, Boris Johnson had stated he hopes this plan could help the UK become “the world leader in clean energy.” It hasn’t yet been announced if other areas will see a similar level of support, although other changes in the renewable industry are apparent, with solar power setting new records throughout the year. The demand for energy dropped during the pandemic and a long and warm summer has been a huge benefit for the industry too.

This change is part of a 10-point plan for reaching green energy goals. Speculation is that further news will be announced later this year, to unveil other goals within this plan to accelerate the progress towards the net zero goal in 2050. Other news here had come slightly earlier in the UN biodiversity summit, as the PM also announced a plan to protect 30% of UK land for nature and green spaces.

If you’d like to explore the options available to you for making your own shift to clean energy alternatives, you can view our different energy efficiency services. Furthermore, you can also get in touch with our experts today to discover which options may benefit you the most and the savings you may be able to find.

Following our recent articles to help you better understand energy procurement, including why you should change your energy supplier, we’ve put together some reasons why you should choose us to help you make that change!

But why take our word for it? Here’s what some of our valued customers have to say:

“We have used Utility Trade for several years now. They make the arduous task of energy contracts extremely easy and streamlined. Their communication and speed of delivery on each occasion has been first class. My first port of call for such business.” – David, Trustpilot review.

 “Utility Trade aren’t one of those companies that bombard you, that overload the information, that call and/or email you incessantly trying to gain your business. The team provided me with very competitive prices on both gas and electric, listened to what our requirements were. They set out what they would do and delivered on prices and on customer service. Even if a competitor had come out with slightly lower quotes, I think I would still have gone with Utility Trade purely down to the great customer service.” – Vanessa, Trustpilot.

 “Personable and professional! Having had poor service from other companies, I was sceptical when I received the initial call from Utility Trade, thinking that it was going to be more of the same, but within two working days of our initial conversation, we are now in a new electricity contract far cheaper than I was expecting.” – Andy H, Trustpilot review.

“Recommend! I have dealt with this company for a couple of years now and have found them very helpful and cost effective, what have no qualms recommending them. I have dealt with other companies similar to Utility Trade and found Utility Trade are a pleasure to deal with unlike a lot of the other companies, they do not pester you and just contact you when necessary. Very refreshing and gives me complete peace of mind.” – Claire, Trustpilot review.

To discover more about how our energy procurement options can help you secure the right contract for your business, get in contact with our brilliant team today and start making the most out of the best energy deals possible.  (CLICK HERE)

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been bringing you tips on how to save on energy costs through a variety of different approaches.

As the summer now seems to be behind us, and things are starting to get a bit cooler, now may be a perfect time to ensure you’re finding energy savings at a time when usage and costs generally increase.

Government research shows that the demand for energy on a winter’s day can be up to 36% higher than during a summer’s day, and with the long summer we’ve had this year, many of us have been able to fall back on our alternative forms of energy generation through solar and other methods.

However, as usage and demand increase, it becomes more difficult to rely on our renewables during this time of year. This year could also prove to be very different for both business and consumer alike – the ongoing pandemic has caused a huge shift in our home and work life, as many will be spending the winter working remotely, thus making it more important than ever to manage your energy efficiently.

At Utility Trade Group, we can help you manage this spending. We offer a range of energy efficiency options, such as infrared heating and solar PV, ensuring you’re getting more bang for your buck throughout the colder period.

Furthermore, our end-to-end energy procurement service may help not only when it comes to tracking your energy consumption, but also in identifying where savings can be found, with our access to the best energy rates in the market.

You can read more about our energy efficiency options, including infrared heating, here. Alternatively, you can get in contact with us today and explore which options may be of the greatest benefit to you, or even to explore different energy deals to find out if you’re overpaying for your usage. It may be important to lock in your new energy deal today before the opportunity goes away!

We recently shared the experience we had with a local artist to highlight the impact climate change is having on our animal kingdom. Today, we’ll take a look at how effective this approach can be, using the experience from our own team, in their own words. 

Sharing their thoughts on how projects like Erasing Nature can help with key conservation efforts.

One of the biggest challenges to overcome, is raising awareness of the cause. People are simply not aware of the impact and the huge scale of what is happening.

“I found the day extremely informative and eye opening as it really makes you think about the bigger picture. I think the thing that hit home was the thought of my grandchildren not ever seeing animals such as giraffes in 20 years’ time! I liked that there was no right or wrong way of doing this exercise and loved the way the finished article looked. How one thing led to another, that then made you think of something else.”

To really push the message across, it’s also important to make sure everyone feels included, and that’s certainly something our team felt was very valuable during the experience with Tom:

We had an amazing time with Tom during the day and have certainly gained a greater perspective on the extent of just what’s happening.

“I found that the exercise was really insightful, and I loved the idea of how all the pictures & words we drew were erasing away the polar bear. A very smart metaphor of how we are slowly erasing the animals from our word. The result of the almost completely erased polar bear was actually quite an eye opener, as it went from an amazing charcoal untouched drawing to the reality of what is happening to the polar bear species”.

We had an amazing time with Tom during the day and have certainly gained a greater perspective on the extent of just what’s happening.

“What an amazing day with Tom and his drawing of a beautiful Polar Bear, that is on the verge of extinction. Every single person in the world should be thinking of how we can save our planet and all our species, not only animal and insects but plants and trees. Our planet is being destroyed, and this has to stop.! If we all did one thing differently every day eg; reduce how much electricity we use in our homes”.

You can read more about the work that Tom does with Erasing Nature and what it’s all about in our previous post.

If, like us, you are committed to promoting change and reducing your carbon footprint, you can get in contact with us today and explore the growing number of options available for reducing your own impact on the climate at www.utilitytrade.com.

We are extremely proud of all our staff, who recently took part in a project with a local artist to highlight the impact climate change is having on our animal kingdom.

“We were very excited collaborating with a talented local artist. What helped the day become a success was the encouragement Tom gave to our team to engage and throw themselves in to the project. We believe Tom shares our ethos around climate change, and the effects this is having on our wildlife.”

So, what is Erasing Nature?

It’s an art project by local artist Tom Van Herrewege, inspired by his curiosity of the incredible diversity within the animal kingdom and mankind’s interpretation of this across the world. Raising awareness of the developing extinction crisis and communicating what these animals represent to everyone.

The animal’s image (for us it was the Polar Bear) is removed through writing, drawing and scribbling etc, until the original drawing has become faded away enough to suggest its ecological status.

On the day…

Everyone met for a tea, coffee, and a presentation, where Tom spoke about endangered species and the impact humans are having on the world’s environment. During the day, we discussed issues facing the Polar Bear and what that means for us and our future generations.

Did you know Polar Bears will be extinct in 10 years unless there is a stop to Climate Change?

We all took part by etching in symbols, wording, and pictures of what this majestic animal meant to us. Capturing what the impact would be if we lost this species and the overall impact our environment is having on our animal kingdom.

It was great to see how everyone embraced this experience. People were going in and out of the room all day to put their ideas onto the canvass. Every time someone put something new on there it really brought out people’s creative side. “ICE” quickly became “ICE, ICE BABY”

When the piece was complete everyone got together for another chat around how they felt the day went. It was a great opportunity to have our team bond over such a creative experience with a powerful message whilst embracing our business culture too.

We wanted to show our staff and customers that we are not just talking about being committed to making change, but that we’re doing what we can to action these changes too.

Stay tuned for our following post, as we bring you the experience that our team members enjoyed, in their own words, as well as images for the artwork that we created on the day.

A few months ago, we took a look at the emerging technologies from MagniX backed by EasyJet and other big airliners hoping to find a clean alternative for long distance air travel.

These early flights took place in modified aircraft with larger batteries and were deemed very successful, although not without the restrictions of flying electric.

As the market continues to develop alternatives, Airbus look to be weighing in with their own clean alternative.

Three quite different concept aircraft designs were shown, and whilst still very early days, there are hopes that the first zero-emission commercial aircraft could enter service as early as 2035. Whilst the concepts represent different technology pathways that could lead the way to decarbonising the aviation industry, all three rely on one primary power source – hydrogen.

The previous attempts such as those mentioned above have all come with the many challenges associated with electric vehicles, namely in the weight and travel distance, as the batteries required are very heavy, and the ongoing development in the technology limits range.

Airbus have stated that they feel hydrogen holds exceptional promise as a clean aviation fuel and may be the big solution in the aerospace sector, with many other industries able to meet their own climate-neutral targets with the fuel too. With clean hydrogen production being moved forward at an incredible rate, and further advancements in storage options, CEO of Airbus, Guillaume Fuary, stated:

“I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen – both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft – has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact.”

That isn’t to say hydrogen isn’t without challenges however, as airports will need significant changes to support a hydrogen based infrastructure. This comes with funding and technology changes, but with so much promise and a desire to move to clean aviation, it does appear that the interest is there.

Although clean aviation may still be a number of years away, changing to a cleaner electric vehicle has plenty of benefits – check out our EV charging solutions if you’re thinking of making a change or get in contact with our specialists to see how you can benefit from a change to renewable.

Earlier in the year, we took a look at how the ongoing pandemic has led to calls from business leaders across the world seeking to ensure that a greater focus would be placed on delivering an economic recovery.

Furthermore, the calls were surrounding a focus on delivering a cleaner environment at the same time, with a particular emphasis on creating jobs within the renewables industry. According to recent reports, it seems a certainty, as job creation in the renewable sector continues to grow.

New figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) suggest that jobs in the renewable sector surged to 11.5 million globally in 2019. The largest employer in this sector is the solar industry, which had seen an increase of around 4%.  This brought total global employment figures to 3.8 million in 2019, although with recent movements within the solar sector, this number is expected to be much higher. Record numbers that have been set throughout the year, particularly in the UK.

Of these 11.5 million global figures, the UK National Grid Net Zero Energy Workforce have reported that the UK’s renewable energy sector employs 144,000 directly. Some 44,100 of these people are employed in the wind sector, which has seen huge growth this year too, with a number of new projects being announced and confirmed, and further employment being also confirmed in this space.

If current goals are met, the International Renewable Energy Agency suggests that a further 5.5 million transition-related jobs could be created over the three years, bringing the total number of people employed in renewable energy to nearly 30 million in 2030. However, it is also expected that this number could be much higher, as a changing attitude has been prevalent in recent months, particularly with growing support in sectors such as the emergent electric vehicle market.

To do your part for net zero and to help the growing renewable industry, check out our clean energy efficiency options that can save you money and reduce your carbon footprint, or get in touch with our experts today for a more tailored experience.

When making the change to a clean energy alternative, it’s important to know whether or not your new energy partner is as committed as you are to doing the right thing for our environment.

That’s why the whole team here at Utility Trade Group are proud of our many commitments made to deliver a clean energy solution for both commercial and domestic needs, and why we will keep delivering these commitments well into the future.

Last year, we completed over 75 Solar PV installation projects to help the growing number of people doing their part in the campaign against climate change. Our efforts didn’t go unnoticed as we received recognition at regional level, taking home an award at the National Energy Efficiency Awards – and we hope to grow on our efforts last year as our projected installations over the next 12 months are set to exceed generation of 10 megawatts of power.

Our commitment to delivering a clean energy solution does not only end with our award-winning service as a contractor. We have also taken to delivering carbon offsetting too. In an effort to increase total UK woodland cover from the current 13% to a minimum of 17% in 2050, we have committed to delivering our own carbon offsetting project by planting a tree for every Solar PV installation we complete. Now, more than ever, following the impact of the ongoing pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on reducing our carbon footprint and reducing global emission levels, and we’re proud to be doing our part to make a positive change.

You can read more about our carbon offsetting project and how we will deliver this here, and you can also read more about the awards we have been nominated for, and won, as well as the contributions we’ve made as a Solar PV installer and contractor here.

It is now up to you to do your bit. Explore our award winning Solar PV options, or our range of other energy saving and efficiency options – alternatively you can get in contact with our experts today to explore how we can help you make a clean energy change, whilst also doing your bit to help the environment along the way.

Here at Utility Trade, we’ve been covering a number of different approaches being taken in the UK to deliver clean energy to the country – from road advice councils, to the recently announced Green Homes Grant.

However, home heating continues to remain one of the country’s toughest challenges.

We had recently covered how Britain’s homes were posing a big challenge for the 2050 net zero goal in the country, as older heating systems and inefficient insulation were a big cause of emissions. Some studies suggested that up to 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions came from heating, but as we head towards the winter months, a team has been assembled to discover ways to address these issues.

A coalition of experts from different sectors including finance, energy, construction, and different national and local government bodies have come together to form the Zero Carbon Heating Taskforce. This is in an effort aimed at driving the rapid decarbonisation of Britain’s homes and buildings through their heating supply. One of the prime targets here could be in Infrared Heating options, as they offer a huge number of benefits such as a cheaper alternative to wet central heating systems whilst also being just as effective by producing instant heat, they require little maintenance and take up much less space as they can be hung from your walls and ceilings – there have also been a number of health benefits linked to the use of infrared too.

Charlotte Owen, a policy manager at The Association for Decentralised Energy and a key member of the taskforce stated; “To decarbonise the UK’s heating, it needs to be more attractive to invest in low carbon heating, including city-scale heat networks, than in fossil gas boilers and fossil gas networks. To achieve this, we need to reform the signals to investors and ensure policy incentivises investment in a low cost, low carbon, high comfort offer to consumers.”

Although the focus is largely on heating and hot water, it hasn’t yet been announced what the approach by the taskforce will be. However, with steady news over recent months increasing a focus on clean hydrogen that could primarily be used in heating, and also other efforts being pushed forward in the Green Homes Grant scheme, it’s a safe bet that both will play a vital role in helping businesses and homeowners address their heating requirements differently.

If you would like to do your part in helping decarbonising your heating usage, you can explore our different heating options from infrared heating, to air source heat pumps. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our specialists who will help guide you through the best solution for your heating requirements.

It appears as though the summer is coming to an end, as the warm days we have been accustomed to since early March have begun to turn a little colder and greyer.

For many, that means it is time for the windows to close and the heating to go on, but as we move through the pandemic, a traditional heating system may present some troubles.

In order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it has been suggested that those in a confined space, even where properly socially distanced, should endeavour to keep as much ventilation as possible. This means keeping the windows open and for those who will need to remain in the office throughout the winter months, it could lead to some chilly days.

This is likely to result in higher energy usage and may go against our obligations to reduce as such for environmental targets. Fortunately, there are options available for both commercial and domestic requirements.

We had recently wrote a post covering a new range of Herschel outdoor heating options that could help those getting back outdoors ,with the reopening of pubs, bars, and restaurants. Furthermore,  there are indoor options for infrared heating too, for both individual use and uses for heating an entire space.

As a sustainable and cost effective heating option that is proven to be up to 60% more efficient than conventional heating options, it may help keep you on the right path with your energy usage. With ongoing studies suggesting how far infrared heating may in fact provide some protection against airborne and longer lasting surface particles, it could be a win-win for many. “We are not suggesting FIR is the silver bullet for fighting COVID-19, but as this preprint study suggests, its ability to act as a complementary therapy in the fight against airborne microorganisms must warrant serious consideration” was stated in reference to ongoing research in the matter.

You can explore which Far Infrared Heating options may best suit your needs and the benefits they offer, or you can get in contact with our experts today and have them take you through the many benefits offered.

Following our recent articles to help you better understand energy procurement, including why you should change your energy supplier, we’ve put together some reasons why you should choose us to help you make that change!

But why take our word for it? Here’s what some of our valued customers have to say:

 
“We have used Utility Trade for several years now. They make the arduous task of energy contracts extremely easy and streamlined. Their communication and speed of delivery on each occasion has been first class. My first port of call for such business.” – David, Trustpilot review.

 
“Utility Trade aren’t one of those companies that bombard you, that overload the information, that call and/or email you incessantly trying to gain your business. The team provided me with very competitive prices on both gas and electric, listened to what our requirements were. They set out what they would do and delivered on prices and on customer service. Even if a competitor had come out with slightly lower quotes, I think I would still have gone with Utility Trade purely down to the great customer service.” – Vanessa, Trustpilot.

 
“Personable and professional! Having had poor service from other companies, I was sceptical when I received the initial call from Utility Trade, thinking that it was going to be more of the same, but within two working days of our initial conversation, we are now in a new electricity contract far cheaper than I was expecting.” – Andy H, Trustpilot review.

“Recommend! I have dealt with this company for a couple of years now and have found them very helpful and cost effective, what have no qualms recommending them. I have dealt with other companies similar to Utility Trade and found Utility Trade are a pleasure to deal with unlike a lot of the other companies, they do not pester you and just contact you when necessary. Very refreshing and gives me complete peace of mind.” – Claire, Trustpilot review.

To discover more about how our energy procurement options can help you secure the right contract for your business, get in contact with our brilliant team today and start making the most out of the best energy deals possible.  (CLICK HERE)

We’ve recently taken a look at the strength of solar in recent months, as a hot and bright summer combined with reduced energy demands have shown just how valuable solar can be in our efforts to reach net zero by 2030 – we have continued to see a big demand for Solar PV and are set to beat last year’s installations.

Furthermore, this sentiment has been expanded on as the first ever Citizens’ Assembly on climate change shows the support for solar is continuing to not only grow, but to also thrive.

The Citizen’s Assembly is designed to be a comprehensive representation of different demographics of the population. With the climate change topic in mind, 81% of those surveyed said they support the widespread use of solar in the UK showing that the support for the technology isn’t just willingness, but eagerness too.

One of the bigger selling points for many had been the flexibility of solar installations and how they could be located in many different areas. With further advances in long term battery storage, how that energy could be used in the future when production of energy from solar is lower, is fundamental.

The production is another factor that may be changing, following another recent piece we had covered showing how changing technologies may make solar more effective than ever before. With recent grants announced to encourage more efficiency in homes, this could lead to further savings on installing solar PV options.

Solar hadn’t been the only target here either, as there had been overwhelming support for offshore wind too, with up to 78% of members agreeing that because of the UK’s windy nature, it should play a core part of the UK’s goal of net zero by 2050.

There had been some discussion for other areas around solar however, as location and environmental impact, ways to incentivise and facilitate uptake, visual design, and manufacturing were all points that needed consideration for renewable solar to penetrate the market.

If you’d like to discover how solar energy can benefit you, you can explore our solar PV options, or you can call one of our specialists to talk you through the process of acquiring and installing a solar PV system.

With increasing incentives for businesses to go green and the growing energy opportunities for them to do so, more and more are subscribing to the need for change sooner rather than later.

Whilst many are primed to make a more immediate shift, there are those who have taken a step forward to reaching carbon neutral goals and showing the path for many others to follow.

The tech giants of Google are one of the trailblazers in that regard. Whilst other big names focus on offsetting their carbon emissions by buying renewable electricity, investing in reforestation or engaging in other strategies, Google have been carbon-neutral on those measures since 2007. 

The tech firm has now shifting to directly financing the construction of new renewables such as its own 1,600-megawatt wind and solar project that has been planned for construction in the US, Europe, and Chile. Last year Google had been able to meet 61% of its global hourly electricity needs from renewable and carbon free sources, whilst also reaching 100% renewable energy in 2017.

The latest efforts take this a step further however as now Google have pledged to 24/7 carbon free energy by 2030 in its latest efforts to show how a giant tech company can be a pioneer of clean energy. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, recently said “The science is clear: The world must act now if we’re going to avert the worst consequences of climate change.” 

The approach outlined addresses the use of a number of different technologies to deliver the results, such as improving their current battery storage methods to ensure that clean renewable energy can be accessed even at a time it isn’t being produced. This is alongside exploring other technologies, such as enhanced geothermal sources, low-impact hydro, long duration storage, green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage methods. 

Whilst you may be unable to match Google in the pocket money department, there are a wide range of commercial energy efficiency solutions available to you, alternatively you can get in contact with one of our experts who can guide you through the options of benefits of each.