Home energy guides

Independent-minded, plain-English guides written by the EcoMatch editorial team. Changing facts such as grants link to the official source and show when we checked them.

20 guides

• Solar panels

  Solar Panel Installation Cost and How to Compare Quotes

  Understand what drives solar panel installation cost in the UK and how to compare quotes like-for-like, without relying on guesswork or hype.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Solar panels

  How Many Solar Panels Does My Home Need?

  A worked example showing how installers estimate the number of solar panels needed, based on electricity use, roof space and yield assumptions.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Solar panels

  Do Solar Panels Work in Winter and on Cloudy Days?

  Solar panels generate electricity year-round, but output changes with daylight hours and cloud cover. Here is what to realistically expect through the seasons.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 6 min read

• Solar panels

  East-West vs South-Facing Solar Roofs: What's the Difference?

  South-facing roofs usually generate more total electricity, but east-west layouts can spread generation across the day. Compare the two approaches.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Solar panels

  Solar With or Without a Battery: How to Decide

  Adding a battery to solar panels can increase self-use of generated electricity, but it is not the right choice for every household. Here is how to weigh it up.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Maintenance

  Solar Panel Maintenance and Signs of Low Generation

  Solar panels need little maintenance, but knowing the warning signs of low generation can help you catch problems early. A guide to safe, sensible upkeep.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Solar panels

  Smart Export Guarantee Explained

  The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for solar electricity you export to the grid. Here is how it works, what affects rates, and how to apply.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Solar panels

  Solar Panels, Planning Permission, Listed Buildings and Ground Mounts

  Most rooftop solar installations fall under permitted development, but listed buildings, conservation areas and ground-mounted systems need extra checks.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Solar panels

  What MCS Certification Means for Your Solar Installation

  MCS certification is often required for export payments and some grants. Here is what it covers, how to check an installer, and what to ask for.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Solar panels

  Solar Installation Timeline: Survey to Commissioning

  From the initial survey to receiving your MCS certificate, here is what typically happens at each stage of a solar panel installation project.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Battery storage

  Can you have a home battery without solar panels?

  A plain-English look at standalone home batteries charged from the grid, how tariff arbitrage works, and the practical limits of this approach.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Battery storage

  Choosing home battery capacity and power: kWh vs kW explained

  Understand the difference between a battery’s storage capacity and power rating, and work through a simple example to size one for your home.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Battery storage

  Adding a battery to an existing solar panel system

  How AC and DC coupled batteries differ, when a hybrid inverter is needed, and what it means for your SEG export payments and MCS paperwork.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Battery storage

  Battery backup power during a power cut: what it does and does not cover

  Not all home batteries provide backup during a power cut. Here is the difference between emergency power supply and whole-home backup.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• Heat pumps

  Is a heat pump suitable for my home?

  How insulation, radiators, flow temperatures and space requirements affect heat pump suitability, including guidance for flats and terraces.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Heat pumps

  Heat pump running costs: a worked example against a gas boiler

  A transparent worked example comparing illustrative heat pump and gas boiler running costs, with assumptions clearly stated throughout.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• Heat pumps

  Boiler Upgrade Scheme: eligibility and how the process works

  What GOV.UK and Ofgem say about Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant amounts, eligibility, and the installer-led application process, checked October 2026.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• EV charging

  Home EV charger installation cost: what affects the price

  What drives the cost of installing a home EV charger, from cable runs to supply upgrades, plus the current grant for eligible renters and flat owners.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read

• EV charging

  7kW vs 11kW vs 22kW home EV chargers: what the numbers mean

  The practical differences between 7kW, 11kW and 22kW home EV chargers, including supply type, vehicle limits and typical charging times.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

• EV charging

  Charging an EV with solar panels and smart tariffs

  How solar-matching charger modes and smart EV tariffs work together, with an illustrative example of combining both for lower running costs.

  Updated 10 October 2026 · 8 min read