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.

“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!)

1. they make money,
2. they lose money or
3. it is the law.

(money in this context is a general human reward such as ego and/or emotion). Climate change, and our approach to making changes raises some interesting questions.

A Strong Global Climate Pact

“We are entering territory here that humanity has not been in before” Professor Ross Garnaut said to reporters upon his handover of his 620-page report to the Rudd government 30 September 2008. “Failure to deal with climate change now will haunt humanity until the end of time.”

Professor Garnaut then went on to hinge his recommendations on a ’strong global climate pact’, which, if you could pull it off, would enable Australia to make “a 25 per cent cut in emissions by 2020, keeping atmospheric carbon concentration to 450 parts per million (ppm)”.

But he wasn’t hopeful of the world agreeing to this ’strong mitigation deal’: If that proved impossible, Professor Garnaut said, he wanted Australia “to push for a deal for global atmospheric carbon concentration of 550 ppm, which means Australia cutting emissions by 10 per cent by 2020″. And, if no climate deal is forged out of the United Nations process, Australia should “cut emissions by 5 per cent”, Professor Garnaut said.

Consumers Will Wear the Cost

Professor Garnaut then went on to tell us that “Consumers will wear the majority of the cost of an emissions trading scheme, paying more for a range of goods and services as businesses pass on the emissions price.” ‘We (the taxpayers)’ cannot be expected to pay, but ‘We (the consumers)’ are going to have to pay for everything anyway.

Rather than have the government (representing the taxpayers) regulate directly and force the polluters to clean up their act, we have to rely on the market (without any involvement of the consumers, except through their ability to pay) to bring about the required changes. The Treasury modelling, released a couple of weeks ago, says consumers will pay about anther $5 per week electricity, and $2 for gas.

So do you feel happy about this. We, the consumers, pay extra. Why is the government not prepared to implement a raft of measures to complement or speed up this process?

Climate Change Solutions?

The Mckinsey Global Institute has published a detailed review of some simple measures that provide high returns, use existing technology and do not cost the consumer more. It is estimated that 50% of global energy demand from now to 2020 can be met from better energy efficiency using existing technology and will pay for themselves.

Examples include energy efficient appliances, heating, cooling, lighting, and transportation. These really simple measures combine savings to consumers and savings to the environment, but the government appears loath to legislate. McKinsey wrote a paper on The Case for Investing on Energy Productivity (Feb 2008).

There are 4 areas that Mckinsey say governments should intervene to give immediate returns:

1. Set energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment
2. Finance energy upgrades in new buildings and renovations
3. Raise corporate standards for energy efficiencies
4. Invest in energy intermediaries

Maybe these will implemented as part of the Emissions Trading Scheme, or maybe the Government will only do a mediocre job and not act on climate change decisive enough.

Household are expected to payout about $7 per week more for gas and electricity.

Treasury modeling says the ETS would mean households pay about $5 per week more for power while gas would add $2 per week.

Did you know you can save those rising costs, which are nearly $400 more each year, simply by installing a solar hot water heater?

If you install a system now you won’t pay anything more than you are currently paying for hot water heating. Furthermore you don’t have to be concerned about the $5 per week price increase due to ETS, or the 5% to 8% annual increase which bites you every year from now forever.

Treasurer Wayne Swan conceded the cost would hit lower income families harder and said the Government would work to help all Australians in managing the cost. “The Government is of course committed to helping households adjust to the scheme by compensating them for the impact,” Mr Swan said.

No firm figure of assistance has yet to be given.

The scheme would mean carbon as a unit was given a value in the hope of reducing emissions. Mr Swan says Australia could reasonably expect to cut emissions by at least 60% by 2050 with little impact on the economy. The expected price is around $23 per tonne of C02

The Treasurer also said the modeling, which was completed in response to a report by Australia’s peak climate adviser Professor Ross Garnaut, showed a higher cost if Australia failed to act now.

Mr Swan said the alternative energy sector would grow by more than 3,000% if the scheme was introduced.

“Low emissions technologies and production processes will become more competitive and low emission goods will become more attractive to consumers,” he said.

The good news is that installing a solar hot water system frees you from most of the impact of a emissions trading scheme, and saves you over $10,000 over the life of the system.

Liza Neil from the Caloundra Community Climate Change Relocalisation Group has recently whipped up a storm for a bulk buying initiative for solar photovoltaic panels. The Sunshine Coast Environment Council was able to source high quality panels for an exceptional price.

Now Liza is getting ready to bring people together for a second bulk purchase. This time it is for both: solar photovoltaic and solar hot water.

The Caloundra Carbon Action Bulk Buying Initiative

Anyone interested in solar hot water can get an instant online quote which shows the most suitable solar water heaters, the total costs including installation and all rebates that you are eligible for. You will also see an estimate of how much you will save (carbon emissions and money). And of course the extra money off for being part of the Caloundra Carbon Action Bulk Purchase.

To find out how much comes off, get a quote and look for the Caloundra Carbon Action Rebate.

If you want to be part of the bulk buying group, you can then register your interest online. You might get a call from us to confirm some details with regards to the installation.

When we have 10 people together, we confirm the final costs and you make a decision to go ahead. We’ll find a date for the installation that suits you and install the system.

Caloundra Carbon Action Group Bulk Purchase

• Contact:
  Caloundra Community Climate Change Relocalisation Group
  Liza Neil, Phone 07 5491 7687 (for information about the solar photovoltaic purchase, please give her a call)
• Solar Hot Water Bulk Buying Groups of 10
• Installations: within 3 weeks of order
• Area covered: Caloundra and a 40km radius

What You Need to Do

1) Get a quote now and decide whether solar hot water is right for you.

2) At the end of the quote, you can register your interest.

3) Let your friends know - the more people participate, the quicker you will have solar hot water.

Solar Hot Water Bulk Purchase in Other Areas?

If you do not live close to Caloundra and are interested in organising a solar hot water bulk buying initiative in your area, please contact me. I’ll support you to get it going.

Naturally I cannot take credit for that happening. However in the meeting that was set up for all solar hot water plumbers in August, I asked whether it was not possible to waive the inspection fee. The answer back then was: “No way, this is a completely different section of council.” So it is really heartening that the Brisbane City Council is taking sustainability serious and is doing everything possible to make it accessible to Brisbane residents. And silently I can imagine that my question started the inner process.

And I also want to point out how helpful the plumbing section of council is. They are really accommodating in organising the inspections at convenient times.

So apart from the 20 pages that are necessary to get information to the various government departments for the rebates, the process is working quite well.

I have recently switched over to a virtual fax service so that we do not waste paper any more. We are handling most of it digitally now.

Impossible? Israel has achieved its 90% solar hot water goal, Spain is well on the way. It did however take Israel almost 60 years. Not sure how far Spain got, as they only started in 2004 to make solar hot water mandatory.

What would that mean for Australia? Looking at the 10 biggest cities in Australia, there are approximately 3.7 million freestanding houses (source: 2006 Census). Currently less than 5% have solar hot water, so an additional 85% (3.145 million) solar hot water systems need to be installed. If we draw that out over 60 years, it is only 52,500 per year.

View Larger Map

Zoom into this map of Brisbane and have a look whether you can find any solar hot water systems. There are actually two pretty much in the center of the picture. Now imagine 90% of those homes with solar water heaters.

Are we achieving that now?

Here is an estimate of solar hot water sales, based on the registered REC’s since 2001:

2007 is the first year where we are coming close to the required number of solar hot water installations to catch up with Israel in 60 years!

So here is a better solar hot water goal:
90% of homes have solar hot water by 2018.

Australia needs to install 314,500 solar hot water systems per year. What does it take to achieve that?

• Higher rebates?
• Cheaper systems?
• More education about the benefits?
• Taking the hassle out?
• Making it “hot” to go solar?
• Banning electric hot water?

Probably a mix of all of those strategies. If you know of any more, let me know.

By the way, Queensland is the first Australian state that has banned electric hot water systems for all new homes and from 2010, replacements will also be disallowed (in gas reticulated areas). Gas systems are also allowed, so it is not purely a solar hot water goal, but it is a start.

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.

I find it interesting how there are hundreds of articles about various industries that will “suffer” from the Carbon Emission Scheme. Yet there is only this tiny little mention of how it will affect our daily lives.

Having to pay twice as much for electricity sounds outrageous at firt. However, that is only the case, if we do not change our behaviour. And that is exactly the point of the emission scheme:

Changing behaviour from the wasteful use of non-renewable resources with its attached pollution.

So I really welcome the increase in costs and hope that it will spurn many new solutions that can be offered to the market and will enjoy a quick uptake.

Panel Size

Most panels are about 1×2m. Depending on the tank size, you will need between 1 and 3 solar water panels. Usually a system comes with the right number of panels and any installer will always make sure that they are adequate for your situation.

If you have an existing solar hot water system that does not generate enough hot water, you might want to look into getting an additional panel. It is best to go back to whoever sold you the system, to make sure all the fittings go together.

Technology

There are two major technologies to choose from: flat plate and evacuated tube.

Flat plate technology has been around the longest and is the most widely used. The glass is sturdy and they usually get a slightly higher REC rating than the evacuated tube system.

Evacuated tubes have two advantages: they produce a little more heat when there is no sun and in cooler climates and they are not prone to frost damage. The drawback: tubes break more easily (but can be replaced individually), in summer they might be too efficient, which leads to wasted water and they are more expensive.

We have chosen flat panel technology, because for the hot climate in Queensland they give a better return on investment. In colder areas, the tube technology certainly has its place. See solar water panel system differences.

Casing

Yesterday, we replaced a solar hot water system where the panel casing had rusted away. To prevent that for our clients, our panel casing is aluminium. The corrosive layer that forms has the same silvery look and more importantly prevents all further disintegration.

Many panels are made of zincalume. It is coated steel (the coat is made of zinc and aluminium). As soon as the coat is broken at any point (corrosion or any scratch might do that), it will start to rust.

Black Chrome

An advanced flat panel technology uses more efficient materials to heat the water. It is especially important if you do not have a North-facing roof. (My own system faces due West, but due to the Black Chrome technology, it easily produces enough hot water for our family of 4.)

All our split systems use black chrome.

Frost Tolerance

When water freezes, it expands and thus might crack the panels under heavy frost. There are two ways to prevent that: Frost valves and closed-loop systems.

With a closed-loop system, it is glycol that gets heated up in the panels. It is transferred in a heat exchanger to heat the water. Glycol does not freeze, even in below zero temperatures. These systems are more expensive.

When you only experience the occasional frost, frost valves are a good alternative. As temperatures drop, they open up so that the water drains out of the panels. That way, they damage is averted. Please note that some frost valves include the manufacturer’s warranty against frost damage, whereas others don’t.

How do Solar Water Panels Work?

Here is John, our plumber explaining it.

Conclusion

It is good to know about these things, when you talk to salespeople. It means you can ask the right questions. When you go through the free instant online quoting process, you’ll find that the ideal system is chosen, so that you can be certain to get a high quality long-lasting solar water product that keeps producing you hot water.

It automatically mixes the hot water with cold water to reach 50 degrees Celsius. So in effect any hot water tap has 50 degree Water coming out of it. It is hot enough to want to mix it with cold water before having a shower. But it will not burn anyone.

The tempering valve works mechanically. The valve inside expands and contracts depending on how hot the water is that comes through. When it expands, it lets less hot water pass and instead adds cold water. The opposite happens as the hot water flows through loses heat: the valve contracts and therefore opens up more of the hot water stream. Out comes the 50 degree Water.

Electric Solar Hot Water Booster

This is the most common way to boost your water heating. It is the most economical as it does not have a large upfront cost. When you start using your solar hot water system, it is best to leave your booster off until you run out of hot water.

Once you know how many days of clouds that takes (for us it is 3, but that will be different for every family, depending on how you use your water), you can turn the booster on before the water goes cold. But it is worth testing it out first.

Is it not Automatic?

The electric booster has a thermostat that only lets it start when the water temperature falls under 60 degrees Celsius. So you could just leave it on and forget about it. However, that would result in wasted energy.

Let us assume that your whole family has a shower early in the morning. The temperature in the tank drops to 55 degrees. That would trigger the booster to heat the water. However an hour later, the sun hits the panels and would have heated the water far more efficiently and cheaper.

It is therefore best to leave the booster off and only turn it on when you really need it.

Which Tariff?

The official government suggestion is to connect the electric booster to Tariff 33. That is the off-peak tariff, which means it only runs for 18 hours a day. It is cheaper than normal electricity, but in many situations you use far less electricity than the minimum payments.

(Over 3 years, we had our solar hot water connected to night tariff. In that time, we used a total of 177 kWh for the booster. On Tariff 11, we would have paid about $30. Because of the minimum quarterly payment to have access to the night tariff, we paid $120 in that time.)

The story is different if you have something else connected to the off-peak or night tariff (e.g. a pool pump). Then it might be the best financial choice.

No Booster Switch?

We always put the booster switch in for all the reasons above and I am pretty sure that most high quality installers do that automatically. But some companies apparently do not have the switch as a standard procedure, so whoever you purchase from, make sure that you get a booster switch.

Gas Boosted Solar Hot Water System

The other booster uses gas. Even though the greenhouse gas savings are slightly higher with this type of system, you basically have to purchase two hot water systems (one solar and one instantaneous gas heater) which are coupled together.

As long as the water heated by the sun is hot enough, it just flows through the instantaneous gas system. When the temperature drops below the thermostat setting (usually between 45 and 49 degrees) the gas system starts heating.

In some instances it is possible to use an existing instantaneous gas system.