q
Is my property suitable for a solar water heating system?
a
The optimum location for solar panels is a shade free, south facing
roof pitched at 35 degrees. However, panels sited with aspects from
south-east to south-west and on roof pitches from flat to 75 degrees
can still provide at least 80% of the solar heated water from
siting solar panels in an optimum position.
q
Is solar water heating effective in the UK?
a
In the UK we receive vast amounts of solar energy. The average amount
of solar energy received in a year can be as much as 60% of
that
received at the equator.
q
What is the payback?
a
Payback is a purely
financial measurement that assigns monetary values to revenue streams,
and
therefore does not take into consideration the full benefits of
installing a
solar water heating system. Financial benefits are only part
of the value that
these systems generate. Non financial benefits such as reducing your
carbon
footprint, increasing the ‘sale-ability’ of your home (due to increased
energy
efficiency) and increasing your energy self sufficiency (due to less
reliance
on third party energy suppliers) should all be considered.
What
you should be concerning yourself with is the reduced operating costs
that you
will gain for your investment. You don’t ask for payback of your
dishwasher when
you upgrade, do you? It’s the operating capability that you are
interested in.
Solar panels deliver a more efficient method of satisfying
your requirements, therefore leading to a lower cost
per litre of hot water, coupled
with little or no ongoing maintenance costs. With solar panels
typically designed to last as
long as your home, you can enjoy a lifetime of cheaper hot water.
q
How long will it take to install a solar water heating system?
a
Typically an installation will take between three and four days on an
average domestic property.
q
Is planning permission required for the installation of a solar water
heating system?
a
From 12th March 2009 planning permission in Scotland is no longer
needed for the installation of
domestic solar water heating systems, unless your home is a Listed
Building or in a Conservation Area. Planning
Authorities in Scotland now accept that solar panels on a roof are a
"permitted
development", which does not require planning consent.
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