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RENEWABLE ENERGY
Domestic Solar Heating System
What is Solar Power?
Solar energy is a method of harnessing the suns energy into useable heat which is transferred to your hot water cylinder supplementing your original gas boiler.
What Makes it Work? Flat plate solar panels are fitted to your roof and through a heat transfer system are then connected to a solar hot water cylinder.
The cylinder is usually heated throughout the day and provides hot water until the following day.
Will it Suit my House? The panels are ideally fitted on a south-facing wall at a pitch of about 30 degree, this gives highest exposure to the sun. However, they can be fitted to a south-east/south-west facing roof as long as there is minimal shading.
Supporting the Solar Collectors The roof will need to be strong enough to support the panel weight. On flat roofs, bespoke ‘A’-frame structures are made to achieve the weight support.
Other Requirements Your existing hot water cylinder will have to be removed and a ‘twin-coil’ solar cylinder will take its place. We will estimate the hot water requirements of the house-hold and fit the most suitable cylinder. How Much will this Cost? The cost of the system can vary depending on the size of the household and how many solar collectors are required, but typically ranges between; £4,450 – £5,100.
From our research it takes anything between 11- 17 years to claw back your initial installation investment.
Would I require Planning Permission? Some conversation areas and paces of natural beauty planning permission may be required, please consult your local authority for rules and regulations in your locality.
Listed building are not permitted to install solar collectors on roofs but ‘A’-frames can be constructed onto gardens.
The Benefits
An immediate reduction of 50-70% on your fuel bills.
It works even on cloudy days.
Massively decrease your carbon footprint.
Increase the value on your home.
Below is an example of how a domestic solar heating system works.
Solar Heating Animation
Visit our showroom for further information!
Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat Pumpstakes energy from the air and raises it to a higher temperature, using a process which is similar to a reverse refrigeration process. For commercial and large spaces a row or bank of Air Source Heat Pumps (Air Handling Units) will be required along with internal Heat Pump and Pressured Hot Water Tank for ongoing water usage. This is a system which utilises no external pipes and most of the working elements reside within the building. The air handling unit draws air across the water-anti freeze solution and transfers this energy into the refrigerant. The refrigerant boils and the gases from this are compressed to produce temperatures in excess of 100°C. This part of the process mirrors a ground source heat pump.
Air Source Heat Pumpscan be used in many more applications including large commercial projects where land space is restricted.
Air Sourced Heat Pumpscan be used as a complete solution for room heating using the same distribution system as a ground source heat pump or a traditional system.
Air Sourced Heat Pumpsare ideal for very tight spaces and within an eco architectural design or within the design of a building which has large internal spaces such as audience halls and public places.
A Ground Source heat pumpis an electrically powered system that taps the natural energy stored in the earth to heat your home. This system utilises the energy in the ground to provide all the heating and hot water your home requires. The principle is simple, and the result is low-cost comfortable heating that uses sustainable energy and causes no direct emissions or other damage to the environment.
For every single kilowatt of electricity used to power the heat pumps, this system could generate four kilowatts or more in energy for your home.
What’s more, it also help to conserve the earth’s dwindling supplies of non-renewable fossil fuels- coal, gas and oil.
FAQ’s
What is sustainable energy? Sustainable energy is best thought as energy that can be replenished within a human lifetime and which causes no long term damage to the environment. Solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy, amongst others are all self-sustaining, They all have sources that cannot be depleted. Extended use of these energy sources aids the conservation of other non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels.
How does a heat pump work? The technology inside a heat pump works on similar principles to those of a domestic fridge. Heat pumps take advantage of the principles of thermodynamics in order to achieve their results.
A water and glycol mixture is pumped around the collector circuit and causes the refrigerant in the evaporator to turn to gas. This refrigerant passes through the compressor, causing the temperature to rise significantly. The hot gas moves to the condenser, where it condenses and the latent energy is released into the heating circuit.
How is energy collected from the ground? There are three options to obtain the energy from the ground. In a horizontal collector, lengths of pipe are buried underground to a depth around 1 metre. This is a good solution if the property in question has enough land to accommodate the collector.
An alternative to the horizontal collector types is the vertical collector. A bore hole is drilled to a depth of between 60 and 200 metres, and the collector is fed into the hole. A vertical collector minimises the amount of land required on the surface of the collector.
Will I also need a boiler with a ground source heat pump? In the majority of circumstances, the answer is no. A geothermal ground source heat pump is all you need to satisfy your total heating and hot water requirements. However, we will advise you on your individual situation.
Can I keep my existing radiators? Ideally, for maximum benefit and efficiency, a heat pump is best used with underfloor heating, but oversized radiators are also an option.
How is the efficiency of a ground source heat pump measured? The co-efficient of performance is generally accepted as the method of measuring efficiency and relates to the amount of energy extracted for the ground for each unit of energy used to run the heat pump.
A heat pump could provide between 3-5kw of heat for each KW of electricity used. The return varies according to the temperature of the heat collected and the heat required to heat your property. For example: 3KW of heat is provided by the pump and 9KWof heat is provided by the ground source, making a total of 12KW.
Is there any Government funding available? The department of Trade and Industry is funding an initiative called the Low Carbon Buildings Programme which offers a grant of up to £1,200 towards the cost of a heat pump installation. For further information visitwww.dti.gov.uk
We're Planting Trees
RJS Heating Limited have made a pledge for every new high-efficient gas appliance or solar system installed, we will make a donation to the Woodland Trust. As an owner of a new energy saving appliance you will receive a certificate from the Woodland Trust and you will have made a difference!
