Cool Power Co Editorial 
The ECO4 scheme can fund free insulation, heating controls and more for eligible UK households — but it closes on 31 December 2026, and the Warm Homes Plan that replaces it runs on different terms. Here’s exactly who qualifies, the two eligibility routes, and what to watch out for.
Radiators, a tumble dryer, or a dehumidifier — what does drying a load of washing indoors actually cost this winter? Here’s the honest maths in real pence, plus the free-heat effect of dehumidifiers that nobody explains properly.
Home battery storage without solar can genuinely pay for itself — through tariff arbitrage, charging overnight at 7.5p and using that power instead of buying at 26p. Here’s the real maths, the catch that determines whether it works for you, and the grid-balancing payments most guides don’t mention.
Most UK homes no longer need planning permission for solar panels in 2026, following changes to permitted development rights that save homeowners the typical £200–£400 application fee. Here’s exactly who’s still excluded — listed buildings, conservation areas, oversized installations — and how to check your own property before you commit.
New battery storage rules become mandatory on 15 October 2026. Loft installations are banned outright, and externally mounted batteries need one metre of clearance from windows, doors and vents. The rules aren’t retrospective — but altering an existing system after October brings it into scope. What it means if you’re buying, and what to ask your installer.
Solar · Buyer Warning · July 2026 Plug-In Solar Batteries Are Excluded From the UK’s New Rules A plug-in solar battery is being sold across the UK right now, often marketed as “plug-and-play”. But the government’s new rules explicitly exclude battery storage — and require every compliant kit to warn you not to connect one. … Read more
The UK government has published its plug-in solar product specification — the technical rulebook defining a legal self-install kit. Here are the confirmed rules straight from the document: the 800VA limit, one device per circuit, the panel caps, and the explicit battery exclusion most coverage is missing — plus the one step that still has to happen before you can legally plug one in.
Amazon is filling up with “Generic” branded portable ACs claiming huge BTU numbers for tiny prices. We found two real listings — one claiming 18,000 BTU at 1,000W, another 8,000 BTU at 2,300W — and ran them through a simple maths test. Both failed. Here’s the 30-second check that catches a fake spec before your money does.
Sold-out portable air conditioners are being resold on eBay at up to 127% over retail price during the July heatwave. We documented the markups on the Meaco Cirro range, explain the warranty trap of buying from resellers, and show you how to get the real thing at the real price instead.
Single-hose portable ACs suck hot air into your room while they cool it. Here’s the £15 dual-hose mod that fixes the design flaw — parts list, step-by-step guide and honest caveats.