With the Code for Sustainable Homes and carbon emissions targets becoming increasingly demanding on the housing sector, builders and developers need to look for economical ways to meet the guidelines. Solar heating is probably one of the most widely known renewable technologies and has been available in the UK for some time. It is one of the easiest solutions to install and serves to reduce the carbon output of a home and the cost of heating bills.
Solar panels are fitted to the roof; these can either be flat plate systems or tube systems which collect heat from the sun’s radiation. In flat plate systems the water passes through the whole plate where it is heated before returning to the cylinder. Evacuated tube systems each have a liquid filled copper conductor inside; as the liquid is heated it rises to the top of the tube where the heat is transferred in a manifold to the water in the cylinder. On average a solar system can provide up to 40% to 60% of all hot water demands in the home.
There are homes which can not use solar water heating due to their location, only homes facing south/southwest and south/south east should install a system. Most existing boiler systems can be integrated with solar heating and there is now a large UK network of installers.
IT IS ONE OF THE EASIEST SOLUTIONS TO INSTALL AND SERVES TO REDUCE THE CARBON OUTPUT OF A HOME AND THE COST OF HEATING BILLS.
Solar water heating can produce hot water up to around 60°C but this is dependant on the system installed and the amount of sunlight captured on a daily basis. The existing boiler produces any additional heat which may be required. In terms of energy use a solar water heating system can reduce carbon emissions by around half a tonne per year and will pay for itself within seven to fifteen years.
The technology is relatively easy to install and should only take one or two days to complete. Pricing does vary but there are government grants available; a typical system can cost between £3,000 and £5000.
