Archive for the ‘Solutions’ Category

Heat pumps are a great alternative to solar hot water systems with panels on the roof. The electricity savings are substantial (about 70% compared to 90% for a solar hot water system in Queensland). All solar rebates are available for a heat pump and the installation costs are substantially lower.

In addition, the innovative Dux Airoheat Sub-Zero Heat Pump works even when there is frost without adding anything to the costs. This is a huge advantage over solar panels, especially in areas where it is hot all year and then there are a couple of frosty nights in winter. Solar panels needs to be protected against that. With our heat pump, you don’t have to worry about frost.

Heat Pump Advantages

The Dux Airoheat Sub-Zero Heat Pump has range of advantages over other systems:

• It is the most efficient heat pump in its class in Australia, ensuring maximum energy savings and minimum greenhouse gas production
• It is the quietest product available so that you will not be disturbed
• It is the shortest heat pump available so that it fits under every eave (1.8m high)
• Two sacrificial anodes ensure long tank life in all water conditions
• High impact polymer louvers and lid improve durability
• It works at temperatures below zero making it suitable throughout Australia

Innovative Product

The Dux Airoheat Sub-Zero heat pump is the latest development from Dux in their commitment to offer innovative products. It includes an automatic de-icing function which switches back to normal heat pump operation as soon as the ice is gone. That ensures maximum efficiency without wasting the heat that is generated to de-ice.

No backup booster element is necessary, which would reduce efficiency. Instead the Dux heat pump uses fans to defrost the evaporator coil, therefore optimising comfort and efficiency in any climate.

The new lid & louver section is moulded from high impact, highly UV stabilised European automotive polymer. It adds to the heat pump’s durability, prevents colour loss and reduces the weight of the system.

How do Heat Pumps Work?

The basic operation is based on the same principle as a fridge. Except, the other way around. A fan draws in air which is compressed. The temperature increases and is then transferred to a liquid which heats the water.

For details you can have a look at the wikipedia article on heat pumps.

Heat Pumps or Solar Hot Water Panels?

We used to recommend heat pumps only for situations where a solar hot water system was not feasible (e.g. too little sun or a roof that was too steep). However, the simpler installation reduces costs by up to $1,000. That makes it a very interesting alternative, not only to solar hot water systems with panels, but especially to the old electric systems.

If you have a plumber, we can just ship the heat pump to you. We still look after all the rebate forms to make sure that you get the maximum you are entitled to. Or you can leave it all to us and we organise the installation of the heat pump for you.

The free online quote will give you an instant comparison between the heat pump and solar hot water system with all costs and the possible savings.

Find Out Whether You Can Benefit From Solar Hot Water.

You can get an instant quote right now. There are 23 simple questions that lets our online calculator work out the best solution for your situation. That way you know exactly whether you can benefit from solar hot water.

Start with 1. Find System.

Nega-Watts (energy conservation) is overlooked in favour of “mega-watts” (energy generation).  So says Dr Morgan Williams, previously New Zealand’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for the last 10 years says.

“Get Smart, Think Small” concludes that local energy systems are cost effective, resilient, provide good market returns on investment, and should be emphasis right now.  Since Thomas Edison over 80 years ago, the whole regulatory environment has been focused on unlimited, large-scale, centralised energy supply.  It’s time to change the paradigm.

Mega-Watts Take the Media and Money Headlines

The smart money is hot on the trail of the next industrial revolution.  A riptide of capital is mainstreaming biomimicry and clean tech, now the third largest domain of venture capital investment. In Silicon Valley, the “watt.com” era has dawned. Compared with $100 billion for the entire Internet market, the worldwide energy market is $6 trillion.

Google just put forth a $4.4 trillion Clean Energy plan. By 2030, it proposes to slash fossil fuel use by 88% and CO2 emissions by 95%. Quercus Trust , a Californian VC has over 34 companies funded.  Quercus runs second to Khosla Ventures for VC money.

There’s mounting pressure on Uncle Sam because government policies make or break markets; and for the past 8 years Bush has not provided direction except for more oil wells!

Astoundingly the US has no national energy policy. That’s hopefully about to change. David Orr, the nation’s leading environmental educator, helped assemble a national network to deliver PCAP — the Presidential Climate Action Plan. It’s a pragmatic 100-day action plan for the incoming Obama 2009 administration, and it’s in play.

But for now, in the US the real action is happening at local and regional levels and has a way to go to catch up with the rest of the world.

California, the world’s sixth largest economy, passed AB 32, the world’s first comprehensive climate change legislation, and is gearing up to install 12.5 square miles of Photo Voltaic solar panels (PV);  12 times the previous largest. Massachusetts just passed the nation’s most far-reaching package of renewables and green jobs legislation. Texas is about to build the biggest wind installation ever, surpassing Germany as the world leader.

Other Countries

The number one use of solar energy is Germany. It invested nearly US$5 billion and captures almost 50% of the world market of PV cells. The “solar park” in Arnstein, Bavaria is one of the biggest PV plants in the world at 12 MW. It became operational in 2006 with more than 1,400 PV solar panels.  Germany legislated with Renewable Energies Laws (EEG) in 2000.

Germany’s solar industry is not limited to the production of PV for electricity. Other notable usage includes solar panels for home water heating system. The solar hot water market is over US$1.5 billion per year.

The next biggest country in terms of usage of solar energy is Spain. Their PV solar energy usage has a world market share of 27%. Their latest is a 60 MW solar field in Olmedilla de Alarcón, near Cuenca. Opening in 2007, a solar park 12 miles outside of Salamanca, has 70,000 PV panels divided into three 36-hectare arrays of 13.8 MW and powers 5,000 homes.

Spain in 2006 mandated all buildings supply 30 to 70% of hot water by solar, and if over 4000m2 use PV as well.

Japan and the US have an 8% market share in the PV world market.

Israel required all residential buildings to install solar water heating systems in the early 90s.

China is the single largest solar hot water producer, partly due to energy shortage. The Evacuated Tube was an Australian invention, taken back to China because the economic and legislative framework is Australia was not supportive of solar energy.

Conclusions:

Get Smart, think Local is the smart way to address climate change initiatives cost effectively. Dreaming the Future Can Create the Future is an article about how to achieve these local solutions.

There needs to be the right legislative environment and it is clear that Australia has only partially addressed some of these issues with initiatives such as RECs and ETS.  Australia, state and Federal, needs to mandate energy efficiency, to make the process happen now.  Initiatives could be similar to Spain, to mandate solar hot water, and mandate PV for larger buildings.
Lobby politicians.  Without informed politicians, the focus will be on big schemes not small schemes and established mega-watt producers will continue to get air-time.

Leave the high tech solutions to the money men. Go with the local energy supply and install a solar hot water system to reduce your residential energy footprint by 30%.  No fancy technology required; get an immediate return on your investment; and it is safer than money in a bank (or in market led securities!)

I have heard some salespeople vigorously defend the heat pump as a solar hot water system. It does use the heat (or warmth) of the air to heat water. The source of that heat is the sun. Therefore it can be seen as a solar hot water system.

But there are no collectors involved and it does need electricity to function. Far less than any electric hot water system though. That is the reason that it receives the full federal government rebate and renewable energy certificates (REC’s).

Heat Pump  Advantages

The biggest advantage: no direct sunlight is necessary. We also recommend a heat pump where a solar hot water system is not feasible (e.g. for properties with an asbestos roof, when the North facing roof space is too far from where the water is to be used and of course where there is a lack of sunshine).

Heat Pump Disadvantages

The disadvantage: while producing hot water, it makes a noise (similar to an air conditioning unit). It is therefore best to put it away from any living areas. Electricity is necessary to power the fan that draws in air. This is minimal compared to an electric hot water system.

Dux Aeroheat Subzero Heat Pump

We offer the Dux Aeroheat Subzero Heat Pump for its efficiency, quality and quietness. It runs at 50dB, half the noise of some other systems available.

One of our goals was solar hot water with no upfront costs AND being able to pay it off out of the electricity savings.

To achieve that, NAB helped us out with their low-rate credit card as a payment option. The advantage is that you can pay the solar hot water off over 5 years (or even longer).

However, we do suggest to pay it off as quickly as possible, so that interest payments are minimised. (See the comparison on full payment vs no upfront cost.)

Green Loan

Various banks offer green personal loans for the purchase sustainable products. Usually the interest and fees are lower than for conventional loans. The problem: Most banks stipulate a minimum amount of $5,000. This is far too high to be used for solar hot water.

The great exception: Bendigo Bank. They offer a minimum loan amount of $2,000 - perfectly suited for a solar hot water.

There are no setup fees, no monthly or yearly fees and an interest rate of 10.5%. You are free to pay back early with no penalties.

The one huge difference to the NAB credit card is that you have to repay a loan of $2,000 within 2 years. The downside: you are paying more than you are saving in those 2 years. The upside: You stop paying for your hot water much earlier and save a bunch of interest.

You can find all details at the Bendigo Bank Green Loan website. They also have an online application process, but you need to go to a branch to finalise it.

Example

Please note that these are rough figures and make sure you check with the bank which particular financing option is suitable for your situation. The Bendigo Bank also offers a finance calculator to check out different scenarios.

Is a solar hot water quote the answer to global warming? Not for everyone, but for many.

“Once you knew what did you do?”

I cannot remember who that quote is from, but it stuck in my mind ever since I heard it.

Man-made global warming is a reality very few people deny today. We all know it is happening, we all know something needs to be done about it. But most people are stuck as to what can be done on a personal level.

Sure, I can go and plant trees as a volunteer. I can turn off lights. I can walk sometimes instead of driving. But reality is that we value convenience and an immediate personal benefit above most other things. I am certainly being driven by these two motivations.

Convenience

Life is very full. So every change in behaviour needs to be convenient in two ways:

1. Making the change
2. Living with the change

Immediate Personal Benefit

With a choice of doing something for the greater good or getting an immediate personal benefit, most people would go for the latter. It is normal and human and ensures our survival as individuals.

So we need solutions that combine:

1. Immediate personal benefit
2. Positive impact on the planet

Solutions to Climate Change

Most proposed solutions do not meet any of these requirements. Many are actually contrary to them.

My goal was to come up with a solution that covered all four areas and I found it in Solar Hot Water

Living with the change is very easy. You do not really notice it (apart from the guilt-free hot showers).

Making the change requires a bit of effort. Finding the right system, finding the right installer, finding the money, understanding the rebates takes a bit of time. Hence the Solarpay service that does all that for you.

Reduced energy bills (savings of $300 to $700 each year) are an immediate personal benefit. And that will continue for the life of the system (20 years or more) and rising with increased electricity prices.

The positive impact on the planet is reduced greenhouse gas emissions (25% of each household or 3,000kg per year).

Once You Knew What Did You Do?

The problem: climate change and global warming

The best solution I could find: solar hot water

The question: What will you do?

1. Take action and get a solar hot water quote now.
   
2. If there are unsurmountable obstacles for you, leave a comment so we can find ways to overcome them.
3. If you have a better solution, please share it so we can all benefit from it (directly and indirectly).