Energy
Designing homes to conserve energy and use it efficiently, from sources that cause least environmental harm.
Micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems
Micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) units are small power generators, similar to a boiler, that generate electricity and produce waste heat that may be used produce hot water for:
- domestic hot water supply
- reticulated hot water heating such as hydronic embedded floor heating or radiator systems.
Micro-CHP units use fuel very efficiently and produce about 1 kW of electricity and 12 kW of hot water heating when running. There are also battery charging units available. A micro-CHP unit can be installed in most houses.
Note: Micro-CHP units often use fossil fuels but can only be regarded as true renewable energy generation systems when they use biogas.
The best location for the unit is in a garage or basement against an outside wall and as close to the hot water cylinder as possible.
