Articles – write first draft

Plug-in solar is far from plug-and-play – so is it worth it?

August 15, 2026August 15, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

My heat pump saves me good money, and my planned EV purchase – delayed only by a pesky knee injury – will do the same. But even my enthusiasm for thrifty low-carbon technologies has been tested by the government’s latest scheme: plug-in solar. (more…)...

Safety expert calls for mandatory home wiring inspections for plug-in solar scheme

July 29, 2026August 14, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

A senior electrical safety expert has called on the government to impose a mandatory wiring inspection for any home planning to install plug-in solar. The call comes less than a month before the launch of the scheme at the end of August, and with several retailers already selling uncertified equipment online. (more…)...

Should I buy an EV?

April 17, 2026April 17, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

One of the many things Donald Trump may not have foreseen or intended as he launched Gulf War III was a huge boost for electric vehicles. EV sales in Britain jumped 24pc in March to a new record of more than 86,000, while sales of petrol and diesel cars fell. (more…)...

Could this be the beginning of the end for your energy bill?

November 7, 2025August 14, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

Winter is coming, energy debt is at an eight-year high and more than half of British households are planning to ration their energy use. But for some there’s no need to worry, since they will pay absolutely nothing for their energy bill – they may even be paid by their supplier. (more…)...

The heat pump mistakes that cost me hundreds, and how to avoid them

April 13, 2025August 14, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

It’s not normal, I know – but these days I rather look forward to the arrival of my energy bills. (more…)...

Why heat pump manufacturers should stop rattling their tin mug

November 22, 2024August 14, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

The good news is that heat pump installations in Britain are accelerating. The bad news is that we still won’t hit our target of 600,000 per year by 2028. What to do? At a recent round table event in London, the Heat Pump Association, the manufacturers’ trade body, and Mitsubishi Electric laid the blame squarely on the price of electricity. (more…)...

How to install a heat pump: a step by step guide

October 30, 2024August 14, 2026 By David Strahan Comment Closed

Contrary to what you may have heard or read elsewhere, there has never been better time to install a heat pump. Indeed, there may never be another quite as good. (more…)...