News: Approval leads to job creation at Greenbuy Energy

Expanding Rotherham green energy company, Greenbuy Energy, is one of the first in the region to gain accreditation for a new energy saving initiative – which enables it to install free energy-efficient boilers to householders.

Greenbuy Energy, which has its headquarters in Dinnington and a showroom in Doncaster, has been approved for the government-backed ECO scheme – which is tasked with reducing carbon emissions, by replacing old inefficient boilers, with new "A" rated models.

The enterprise underwent a stringent assessment process to qualify as an ECO installer for A-rated boilers, which are being offered for free to qualifying house-holders.

Russell Paul, director of Greenbuy Energy, said: “We are very proud to have gained accreditation for ECO which enables us to replaces inefficient gas boilers with an A-rated high-efficiency condensing boiler. House-holders which qualify get a new boiler for free and worth approximately £1,600 - £2,500 depending individual requirements.

"These new boilers make a significant difference to carbon emissions so are good for the planet and can save householders hundreds of pounds each year on their gas bill."

Based at RiDO's Matrix at Dinnington Business Centre, Greenbuy has already taken on nine new members of staff to keep up with demand for the replacement boilers.

Introduced in January 2013, the ECO (Energy Company Obligation) is for the big six energy suppliers, and means that they are obliged to support affordable warmth and reduce carbon emissions. It includes providing heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households, funding to insulate solid-walled properties and providing insulation measures to people living in the bottom 15% of the UK's most deprived areas. To reduce carbon emissions, energy suppliers decided the most efficient way was to set aside a pot of money each year to replace old boilers with the best rated boilers.

Russell explained: "To qualify there are set rules around if you receive certain benefits or tax credits and the household’s income level. The scheme is open to tenants, homeowners and landlords. We can talk people through the process and let them know very quickly whether they qualify for the scheme."

Greenbuy was created when business partners Russell Paul and Steven Peacock teamed up to give home and business owners clear information and advice on how to make their premises energy efficient.

Greenbuy Energy website

Images: Greenbuy Energy

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News: Sunny outlook for Greenbuy

With the weather finally having turned warm with some sunny spells, the last thing on most people's minds is the cost of next winter's energy bills.

However, Rotherham-based Greenbuy Energy are urging home-owners to get involved before the feed-in-tariff rate is due to be reduced at the end of July as part of a gradual reduction.

With a head office at RiDO's Matrix business centre in Dinnington, the enterprise was created when business partners Russell Paul and Steven Peacock teamed up to give home and business owners clear information and advice on how to make their premises energy efficient. They recently opened a high street showroom in Doncaster town centre.

One recent case study is Alan Scott, from Catcliffe, who has had solar Photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of his semi-detached home. Having paid £7,000 for the panels fitted to the south facing roof of their home, he is using an energy monitor to help him to keep track of how much the technology is saving him each day.

Alan said: "We thought a lot about where to spend our money and looked into this very carefully into all the costs. It made sense to invest the same amount as the price of a small, new car, in solar panels. But unlike a car, the panels won't depreciate in value over time and will continue to save us money on our bills.

"In summer the panels are making about £4 a day and in winter it's about £2 a day – and it is satisfying to see the numbers adding up. For us, it's an investment that makes sense."

Generating an estimated £1,000 in saved electricity costs and feed-in-tariff income, the panels will have paid for themselves in just seven years.

Russell Paul, director of Greenbuy Energy, said: "The cost of solar panels is falling dramatically, and tariffs remain competitive, so there's never been a better time to make the first steps towards greater efficiency and lower household bills. The return on investment is now as good as its ever been.

"The solar feed-in tariffs mean that you are paid for generating electricity regardless of whether or not you actually use it, as any surplus electricity goes back into the grid and offers a further payment."

Greenbuy Energy website

Images: greenbuyenergy.co.uk

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News: Greenbuy Energy secures agricultural contract

Greenbuy Energy, the Rotherham green energy company, is expanding into the agricultural sector after securing its first contract to supply a farm with solar energy panels.

With a head office at RiDO's Matrix business centre in Dinnington, the enterprise is extending its operation beyond supplying homes and business premises with renewables, as a change in the law in April means that commercial property owners, including farmers, can now have solar panels installed on their land without the need for planning permission.

Business partners Russell Paul, aged 32, and Steven Peacock, 36, have teamed up to create Greenbuy Energy to give home and business owners clear information and advice on how to make their premises energy efficient. They recently opened a high street showroom in Doncaster town centre.

Russell, from Laughton Common, Dinnington, and Steven from Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, have seven years experience in the heating and energy sector.

Russell Paul, business partner at Greenbuy Energy, said: "The need for planning permission is something which has deterred farmers from solar energy in the past, but this is now no longer a concern for them.

"As energy bills continue to soar more and more farmers are becoming interested in ways to save money and, for many, photovoltaic systems are a great option."

The company has signed its first agricultural deal with farmer Stephen Woodward, owner of the 200 acre, arable Poplar Farm in Woodall, Sheffield.

The deal is for 40 monocrystalline solar panels of 250 watts each on a south-facing barn at Poplar Farm. In a year, the system will produce ten kilowatt-peaks of photovoltaic energy – enough to provide a typical household with all its electricity for 17 months.

It is estimated that Mr Woodward's investment in the solar panels will generate a total benefit of £89,000 in 25 years. He said: "It makes a great deal of business sense and will go a long way to helping secure the financial future of the farm."

Greenbuy Energy predicts that the farm's solar panels will have an average annual return on investment of 18.34 per cent, and within less than eight and a half years they will have generated enough revenue to pay for themselves.

Russell said: "The size of the system we are installing on Stephen's property means that his energy savings will be particularly large. Many farmers have sizeable plots of land or numerous buildings, which means they can have more solar panels fitted to make even bigger savings.

"The solar feed-in tariffs mean that you are paid for generating electricity regardless of whether or not you actually use it, as any surplus electricity goes back into the grid and offers a further payment."

Greenbuy Energy website

Images: Greenbuy Energy

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