Green energy is becoming increasingly important to homeowners. Here, we chat to Matt about how it shaped his view on buying a new place to live.
When he and his wife were house hunting they put the need for green energy at the top of their wish list. Initially they were sure they wanted another period property. So, when they passed a new Barratt Homes development they didn’t have high hopes. That changed as soon as they walked into the show home – they realised it was perfect for their busy lifestyles. 
“We thought, what on earth are we doing looking for something that’s got rotten floorboards and everything else that comes with an older property, when we can have something that suits our busy lives and would require minimal work and would be easy to live in. The good efficiencies advertised were a key selling point for us and we were attracted by the solar panels, which all the new-builds on the estate have.”
The house has an open plan layout. The kitchen cabinetry, from Symphony, is high-gloss grey and has composite worktops. The floor is by Amtico and has the look of a tiled floor. The walls are painted in Shetland Sweater by Valspar and the look is finished with metro tiles. The glass splashback that came with the house just happened to match the Dartmouth Blue AGA the couple had chosen for the house.
The couple chose an AGA eR3 100-4i, with a twin induction hob. It’s a range cooker that blends modern convenience with timeless AGA quality. Fully electric and low maintenance, this model needs no regular servicing and doesn’t need a plinth or flue. That means it’s not only easier to install but also incredibly straightforward to run.
The AGA has two cast-iron heat storage ovens – one for baking and roasting, the other for gentle simmering. There’s also a handy warming oven, built-in cookware storage and, alongside the classic AGA hotplate, there’s a sleek, two-zone induction hob with a clever bridging feature for griddles or larger pans.
What really sets the eR3 100 apart is its versatility. With a thoughtful mix of ovens, hotplates and induction cooking, it’s a cooker for all seasons.
It’s Matt’s first AGA. Although he’d worked with the brand for a number of years he knew he wanted one. From using the cookers at work, he knew he really enjoyed using them but the background warmth they can provide in the kitchen was a major selling point. This, combined with the AGA Ludlow wood burning stove they have in the living room, would mean they’d need very little extra heating, even in the depths of winter. They wanted to minimise their use of gas and electric heating.
Matt has a modest solar panel setup – just five panels at 250w each, giving a total capacity of 1250w. It’s not a huge system, and the panels face west, so the generation window is relatively short. But paired with careful energy management, it’s made a noticeable difference to running costs.
“I’ve always monitored our energy use closely,” says Matt, “and with Scottish Power now providing 30-minute consumption graphs through the online account I’ve gained some fascinating insights. Even, for example, in January, when solar input was much lower, our overall costs still remained surprisingly low.
“Our AGA eR3 100 plays a central role in our household energy profile. The simmering oven is switched on 24/7 and we have never turned it off. Meanwhile, the baking oven runs on the standard timer available as an inexpensive extra with the eR3. It switches on daily at 2pm and off at 8pm, regardless of what’s on the dinner menu. This means the simmering oven is always up to temperature and the baking oven is hot and ready when we need it.
“The energy data clearly shows a spike of about 25 pence at 2pm every day, lasting no more than 30 minutes, the time it takes for the oven to reach temperature. After that, consumption drops back down to between 2p and 8p per interval as the whole unit retains the heat.”
Perhaps most interestingly, from around 11am as the sun comes round, there's a significant drop in consumption – almost to zero – even though the simmering oven remains on. This demonstrates that once the AGA is up to temperature, the couple’s small solar input does in fact help to offset the cost of running it.
Matt says: “All in, our total household electricity usage, for a four-bedroom home, comes in at just £2.35 including VAT on a typical day, but excluding the Daily Standing Charge. Even back in January, when solar generation was minimal, our daily spend was only £3.14.”
The low energy bill for the house is impressive, particularly as the couple have a four-bedroom house and there’s some working from home.
Matt hasn’t yet set up exporting energy back to the grid but is planning to because even when every oven is on, they are still making much more energy than they need. Even when there’s very little sun, the solar panels still make the house incredibly efficient.
The couple also have a washing machine and dishwasher. When it’s sunny, they use the timer function. Because the panels face west it’s more efficient to use these appliances in the afternoon.
The home isn’t only about efficiency. Matt wanted appliances that add to the feeling of comfort, hence the AGA cooker. He also chose a Novy cooker hood as it is exceptionally quiet. 
The couple both love to cook, so the AGA is in constant use. “We cook everything from traditional British dishes to Asian food. My wife spent a lot of time in Vietnam and loves stir-fries and Asian cooking,” says Matt.
“I used to be a chef and ran pubs and restaurants years ago, so we’ll make anything from quick bangers and mash to something like the Chinese chicken and egg stir-fried rice made last night on the AGA induction hob. I love how forgiving it is – thanks to the gentle radiant heat, you can leave things in the oven for longer without risk of overcooking’’
“We’re often out cycling or at the gym, so we’ll throw something into the simmering oven before we go and it’s ready when we get back. It’s a very convenient way of cooking.”
