Air is an important element as it provides the opportunity to breathe and thus to live. We propose to use this power of nature's creation in building our homes. We can assist you to find the right windcraft, which, depending on the location, will be able to produce electricity by itself.

Wind turbines

harness the power of the wind and use it to generate electricity. Small systems known as "microwind" or "small-wind" turbines can produce electricity to help power the lights and electrical appliances in a typical home.

Air source heat pumps

absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air in your home.

 How do air source heat pumps work?

An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can extract heat from the air even when the outside temperature is as low as minus 15° C.

There are two main types:

    * An air-to-water system uses the heat to warm water. Heat pumps heat water to a lower temperature than a standard boiler system would, so they are more suitable for underfloor heating systems than radiator systems.

    * An air-to-air system produces warm air which is circulated by fans to heat your home.

The efficiency of air source heat pump systems is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) - the amount of heat they produce compared to the amount of electricity needed to run them. A typical CoP for an air source heat pump is around 2.5.

The benefits of air source heat pumps

    * Reduce your fuel bills: air source heat pumps run on electricity, so there's no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.

    * Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your home with an air source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.

    * Save space: an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires no storage space for fuel.

Is an air source heat pump suitable for my home?

To tell if an air source heat pump is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

    * Do you have somewhere to put it? You'll need a place outside your house where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It will need plenty of space around it to get a good flow of air.

    * Is your home well insulated? Since air source heat pumps produce less heat than traditional boilers, it's essential that your home is insulated and draught proofed well for the heating system to be effective.

    * What fuel will you be replacing? The system will pay for itself much more quickly if it's replacing an electricity, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) or coal heating system than a gas or oil one.

    * What type of heating system do you want? Air source heat pumps are much better at powering underfloor heating systems or warm air heating than radiator-based systems.

    * Is the system intended for a new development? Combining the installation with other building work can reduce the cost of installing the system.

Wind turbines use large blades to catch the wind. When the wind blows the blades are forced round, driving a turbine which generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity produced.

There are two types of domestic-sized wind turbine:

• Mast mounted: these are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position, often around 2.5kW to 6kW
• Roof mounted: these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home where there is a suitable wind resource. Often these are around 1kW to 2kW in size.

    * Harness a plentiful energy source: for example in the UK we have 40% of Europe's total wind energy.
    * Cut your carbon footprint: wind electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
    * Cut your electricity bills: wind is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be reduced.
    * Store electricity for a calm day: if your home isn't connected to the National Grid you can store excess electricity in batteries and use it when there is no wind.

To tell if a small scale domestic wind turbine is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

    * Are there any large obstacles like buildings, trees or hills near your home? Small domestic wind turbines work best in exposed locations, without turbulence caused by these type of obstacles
    * Is your home is a windy area? To be effective you need an average windspeed of no less than 5m/s.
    * Is your home located away from the National Grid? Small domestic wind systems are particularly suitable for use in remote locations where mains electricity is unavailable.
    * Do you need planning permission? Small domestic wind systems normally do require permission from your local authority, so check before you install a system.