| Considering Buying Solar Panels? | | | | could save you anything up to £100 per year. This is |
| I think that we all know that the Sun is an immensely | | | | in addition to the British Government paying owners of |
| powerful entity. But did you know that it transmits as | | | | such systems up to £200 a year under their |
| much energy to the surface of the Earth in one hour, | | | | renewable heat incentive. |
| as the entire planet consumes in a whole year? The | | | | There are several factors to consider before choosing |
| application of solar technology aims to capture and | | | | a Solar Thermal System; your average hot water |
| reuse some of that energy, converting it to either | | | | consumption, the area of the South-facing roof, the |
| electricity or heat energy. | | | | existing hot water system, and the depth of your |
| Before you even consider applying solar technology in | | | | pocket - how much can you afford to spend? |
| the form of buying a solar panel or an array of solar | | | | Approximately one square metre of collector area is |
| panels, you should ensure that you house or business | | | | required per person. Each square metre of panel then |
| is efficiently insulated and up to current standards for | | | | requires up to 60 litres of water tank volume. The |
| double glazing, lost insulation, cavity or solid wall | | | | integrity of the roof where it is to be situated is also a |
| insulation, an efficient boiler and other energy saving | | | | consideration. |
| measures. You can access grants for the installation | | | | Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels work by generating |
| of solar panels, but these could be turned down if your | | | | electricity from the Sun's energy, which can then be |
| building isn't found to be as energy efficient as possible. | | | | used to run household appliances, or returned back to |
| You can make use of the Sun's energy by passively | | | | the grid for a financial rebate. They are able to do this |
| capturing the solar energy, but this would involve | | | | by employing ultra-thin and extremely pure layers of a |
| designing or redesigning your building to make the most | | | | semi-conductor, typically silicon. There are three basic |
| of the Sun throughout the hottest and sunniest part of | | | | types of PV panel; monocrystalline, polycrystalline and |
| the day, typically 9 am to 3 pm. Actively capturing the | | | | amorphous. All are manufactured from silicon, but are |
| Sun's energy involves use of solar panels. | | | | different in the way that the silicon is employed. |
| So what types of solar panel are there? Basically | | | | You do not have to have the PV panels on a South-f |
| there are two types of solar panel; water heating solar | | | | acing roof or wall, but it does have to be within 90 |
| panels (those which make use of the Sun's energy to | | | | degrees and without obstruction from trees or other |
| heat your domestic water for bathing and heating), and | | | | buildings. The PV panels are considerably more |
| photovoltaic (PV) solar panels which convert solar | | | | expensive than, their essentially "clever plumbing", |
| energy to electricity. | | | | counterparts Solar Thermal panels. The cost of |
| Solar Water Heating Systems (also known as Solar | | | | installing a system is typically between £8,000 and |
| Thermal) uses solar panels fitted to usually your roof | | | | £15,000 dependent on the size of the property. The |
| to heat water for use around the home. There are | | | | savings made are currently approximately 40% of |
| two main types of solar water heating panels | | | | your electricity needs - though this is dependent on the |
| (flat-plate and evacuated tubes) which utilize water to | | | | size of system installed. |
| be heated directly and pumped into the house. | | | | There are obviously many things to consider before |
| Evacuated tubes are more efficient than flat-plate | | | | choosing to buy Solar Panels or indeed a solar heating |
| versions, so tend to be smaller but generate equal | | | | system - cost being the main consideration. I can |
| amounts of hot water as the larger alternative. A | | | | strongly recommend a large piece of paper and |
| typical system is said to be able to provide a third of a | | | | carrying out a cost versus benefits analysis. However, |
| family's hot water needs, based on a typical family in a | | | | the long term benefits to your personal budget, carbon |
| three bedroom semi detached house. Presently this | | | | footprint and long-term future are considerable. |