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Case Study - Modern detached house, two adults
“Now that the new boiler has been installed and all the work completed I thought I should write and tell you how delighted we are with the Solar Thermal installation and, indeed, with the whole system. We very much enjoyed having you and Paul about the house and were most impressed with the quiet, efficient way you went about your work and the trouble you took to ensure that all was done to the highest possible standards. The cylinder is much more satisfactory than the old combi system and we are already getting a significant amount of heat from the collectors. It is a delight to get hot water immediately in the bathroom and I am sure we are saving lots of water as well as energy. We feel our whole energy set up is not only greener but much more efficient than before and very much easier to manage. Many thanks and all good wishes from both of us. ”
Mr & Mrs Harrison , Alnwick.
A couple owning a modern 1990's detached house with a combi gas boiler were looking to lower both their energy bills and carbon footprint. Once they had ensured that their loft insulation was up to the required depth of 270mm; that their cavity walls were insulated; that all their windows were double glazed, and that all possible lights were exchanged for energy efficient fittings, they then considered renewable energy.
The house has a main roof facing south east and a garage roof facing south west, both substantially unshaded for a large part of the day. After analysis of their hot water useage and of the internal layout of the house, it was decided to use the garage roof for mounting the collectors, and the understairs cupboard to house a new mains pressure hot water cylinder. This would give a good water pressure for the mixer shower without the need for a noisy pump, and the location was in close proximity to the solar collectors, the hot water tank, and the bathroom and kitchen, which are the main areas where hot water is used in the house. This is important to reduce the loss of heat from long pipe runs and to avoid wasting lots of water whilst waiting for the hot water to reach the taps.
Solar water heating always requires the use of a hot water cylinder to store the heat energy gained from the sun during the day. This hot water is then ready for use in the evening and even next morning because all the cylinders which we use are superinsulated against heat loss.
Although some models of "combi" boiler are compatible with solar panels, the gas "combi" condensing boiler would not work directly with the solar water heating in this case, so was replaced with a gas condensing system boiler with separate controls for hot water and heating. This new boiler will save on gas due to its increased efficiency and tops up the hot water when the solar yield is low, ensuring that there is always hot water on tap when needed.
By re-routing the pipework, the time taken to run hot water from each tap was greatly reduced, saving on both energy and water. This is especially important for modern properties on a water meter.