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It’s never too late to invest in solar heating according to 79-year-old Jessica Pooley.
She opted for a full dual hot water and heating solar system in 2008 and says her
£7500 investment is already paying off.
“I left it for a year to assess how effective the system is but when my gas bills arrived there was no doubt,” explains Jessica, who keeps a close eye on her energy consumption. “I was previously paying £41 per month but I had accumulated £250 in credit so the gas company adjusted my payments to just £20.”
Jessica also received an immediate rebate of £150 from the gas company and expects her next bill to show further savings. Being able to supplement her gas-fired central heating with the solar system has resulted in Jessica relying on the gas less frequently and even when she has a house full of grandchildren, there’s plenty of hot water.
Having money back in her pocket each month is an added bonus for Jessica who strongly believes taking responsible measures to reduce domestic energy usage is something we should all consider. “When I made the decision to have the solar system installed I didn’t really consider the return,” admits the vibrant grandmother. “I’ve reached that age where I probably won’t see the complete payback but I do know that anything that makes the house more economical to run will add value.”
In a bid to keep her modern, three-bedroom property as energy efficient as possible, the former dressmaker has sewn thermal linings into curtains and even created panels to stop heat transfer via the French windows in her lounge. “We should all be doing this,” she continues, gesturing to the solar panel on her roof. “When I decided to go for it, it was all or nothing. I chose to have the heating and hot water system and I think if you’re considering it then you might as well have the whole lot. It’s wonderful in the summertime when you can see the temperature rising on the display unit – I’m really in business then!”
The installation was quick and simple, with a new cylinder fitted in the airing cupboard in a day and the solar panel mounted on the roof in just a few hours.
“I often look across at the roof of the local school and think how great it would be if they had solar there too,” says Jessica, who is a great ambassador for the renewable energy source. “I’ve even convinced all my friends and family; they all think I did the right thing having it installed and my son is thinking of putting solar in the house he’s currently building.”
Meet Mrs Pooley in Suffolk
Type of installation: Solar Heating
