HARNESS THE POWER OF THE SUN ...
The sun is a major source of renewable energy - it is clean, abundant, and, best of all, it is free.
There
is a widely held opinion that the UK does not have enough sunshine to make
solar systems worthwhile. Yet parts of the UK actually have annual
solar radiation levels equal to 60% of those experienced at the equator.
Unfortunately, it is not received uniformly throughout the year - about 70%
of our annual solar radiation is received over the period April to September,
with about 25% occurring in June and July.
In domestic situations, solar energy is most frequently used to heat domestic hot water. We need hot water all year round, and generally have to heat the water from its incoming mains temperature of between 5-10°C up to around 55-60°C. On average, this requires about 5kWh per day of energy - this will vary considerably depending on the type of house and hot water usage.
This energy can be provided by the sun, to the extent that a well designed solar system can provide typically 80% (or more, depending on the weather) of a household's hot water needs between April and September, and make a useful contribution during the rest of the year. Over a whole year, the system can provide 30-70% of a family's hot water needs. This means that the consumption of gas or other energy source that powers your boiler is significantly reduced, meaning lower carbon emissions and lower fuel bills. I speak from experience, having had a system in place in my own home for over 2 years.
The solar radiation is collected by panels either on the roof, on a wall, or even on the ground in some circumstances. The panels may be either flat plate or evacuated tubes, which heat a circulating fluid that is (normally) pumped round the system, and transfers heat to the hot water system via a coil in the hot water cylinder - just like the boiler does.
We use Navitron equipment. We will carry out a survey of your property to determine whether collectors can be fitted to the correct orientation, to assess your hot water needs, and to look at access to the roof and loft. Normally, your hot water cylinder will need to be replaced as part of the installation - however, there are alternative solutions, depending on the property type and space availability.
To contact Gilmar Systems, call:
Mark Humphryes on 0778 654 1000 / 01892 653827
or for REALTIS, call:
Gary Parfoot on 01273 782925