Solar, or work of art?

CIS Tower, United Kingdom

*Image from skyscrapernews.com

The CIS tower in Manchester, UK was built in 1962. It may look like any other skyscraper from afar, but if you look closely, the blue parts of the building are solar panels! Yes, 7,000 of them.

It was originally coated in 14,000,000 mosaic tiles, but after 40 years, they were replaced with something even better - solar panels!

The panels generate 180,000 units of electricity each year, enough energy to make 9,000,000 cups of tea.

The Gherkin

 *Image from skyscrapernews.com 

Situated in London city is the glass coated Gherkin, also known as 30 St Mary Axe and the Swiss Re Building. Other than its impressive look, the Gherkin impress by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions by half of a standard building of its size.

How is the Gherkin energy efficient?

• Insulation -A natural insulation is created from the use of natural ventilation from gaps between each floor. This creates a giant double glazing effect.
• Passive solar heating - The insulation effects enable shafts in the building to draw out warm air during summer and warm the building in the winter.
• Low lighting cost - Sunlight is passed through the building, keeping lighting costs low.
  

The interesting thing about the Gherkin is the only piece of curved glass on entire building is at the very top - a lens-shaped cap.

PS20 Solar Power Tower

 

*image from www.ens-newswire.com  

This is the world's largest solar power tower. Located at the Solucar Platform near Seville in Spain, the PS20 has a generating capacity of 20 megawatts. This is enough energy to power 10,000 homes!

The field around the PS20 comprise of 1,255 mirrored heliostats, which reflects solar radiation to the receiver on top of a 531 feet-high tower.

12,000 tons of greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, will be avoided from the operation of PS20. 

Sanyo Solar Ark

 

*Image from http://sanyo.com/solarark/en/  

What can one do with factory reject solar panels? Make it into an ark! 

The impressive Sanyo solar ark in Gifu prefecture, Japan is not an ark that floats on water, but an ark which generates over 500,000 kWh per year!

The Solar Ark is 315 meters long and weigh 3000 tonnes. On the structure, there are 412 LED lighting that are computer controlled to create various characters and images.

Brilliant? Definitely.  

The solar ark is open for group visits. Go to their official website for more information.

Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water System

We are proud to announce that we are now a partner of Apricus.

In the Australian market, Apricus is the only distributor of evacuated tube technology in the Australian market place that owns its own manufacturing facility.

This means that by choosing Apricus, you help Australia out.

We are Apricus’ authorized WA agent. Contact us at 1300 398 833 for more details.


Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water Advantage


1.    Excellent Cold Weather Performance
Tube collectors perform well even in freezing conditions due to thick glass wool insulation within the manifold and vacuum insulated tubes.

Systems installed in Canada can operate at -40 degrees Celsius!

2.    Passive Tracking of the Sun
The round surface design of tube collectors ensures passive tracking of the sun to increase solar performance.

3.    Lightweight and Durable Design
There is no water held in the collector tubes, thus an average system weighs 120kg. No extra strengthening work to your roof will need to be done.

4.    Save on your Energy Bills
Reduce your household bills by 80% and save up to $700 per year!

Pay-back your system in 3 – 4 years.

The efficiency of the system guarantees one of the fastest payback periods of any Solar Hot Water system on the market.

Did you know, water heating takes up 31% of a typical Western Australia home?

 * Image and statistics taken from http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au

5.    Maintenance Free
Lichen growth or moss is not an issue, thus cleaning and maintenance is rarely necessary.

6.    Longest Industry Warranty
All key system components of your system have a 15 years coverage. Apricus systems hold the longest warranty in the Solar Hot Water System market.

7.    Flexible Installation Options
Our installers are trained to ensure your system is installed in most effective way.

8.    Australian and International Standards
Apricus products are internationally certified and designed for reliability and high quality performance.

9.    How does the system work?

     
      1.    The tubes absorb the sun’s energy.
      2.    Heat pipes transfer the heat into a heat transfer manifold located on your roof.
      3.    Water pumped through manifold absorbs the heat.
      4.    Your water is then stored in a water storage tank below.

Apricus Solar Hot Water Installation Explained



Get your very own evacuated tube solar hot water system now from only $2,255 fully installed!
Conditions apply 

For more information on prices and current special offers, visit our website.
 Click here to go to our website


The system costs too much? No worries, you can now apply for a Green Loan and access up to $10,000 loan, interest-free for 4 years.

Click here for more information on Green Loans 

For more information on the system, contact us at 1300 398 83

Questions and Answer

Hi All,

This post is for you to post your questions which are not related to the topics in the FAQ section.

Please post your question in the comment section below and we will reply as soon as possible. You do not need to disclose any personal information to go with your question.

Thank you!

Installation

1. I have received my government approval. Where do I go from here?
Please contact us to let us know your:

• Name
• AGO number
• Address

Once we have cross checked your details, your details will be forwarded to our installer and they will contact you with your installation date.

2.    Why is my installation so late?
Please bear with us in regards to late installation as we have around 1000 systems to install.

In mid September, the government released 60,000 approvals at one go. From this, we now have around 1000 systems to install. Usually we would receive 20 – 25 approvals in a month, which would give us time to organize installations.

The installations schedule is sorted out by date of received approval.

We are trying our best to finish as many installations as we can by end of December. As there are fewer working days in December, your installation may be delayed. If your installation is delayed, we will be compensating you in $50 in cash every month from January.

We do not want to compromise quality for quick installations.

3. How long will the installation of my system take?
The installation of a standard system (6 panels with 1kW inverter) takes around 4 - 5 hours to complete. Your installation will take longer if:

• You are installing more than 6 panels
• Extra work needs to be done to your roof to fit in panels
• Your house is considered as a heritage house, which is determined by the age of your house.

4. Do I need to be home when installation takes place?
Yes, this is so that you can check the end outcome of the installation and also this enables us to answer any queries you have right away.

5. Can I reschedule my installation?
Yes, please contact us so we can come up with an arrangement to suit your needs.

6. My system is already installed. What do I do next?

Scenario 1
If you do not have Western Power approval, the system cannot be switched on. Do not worry, we would have sent in your Western Power application on your behalf. This is what will happen:

1)    Western Power will review your application
2)    Western Power approves your application after review.
3)    Western Power will inform us and Synergy of your approval.
4)    Synergy will send you a form on which power meter you will like to choose.
5)    You will need to fill in the Synergy form and send it back.
6)    Synergy employees will go to your house to change the meter box.
7)    Your system now can be switched on!

Please contact us or our installers to have your system switched on. You can choose to have our installer to come over to switch on your system or they can guide you over the phone on how to switch on your system.

Scenario 2
If you have Western Power approval, but your meter box has not been changed, do not worry. You do not need to do anything as Synergy will be sending you a form on which power meter you will like. Please refer to steps 5 – 7 above.

Scenario 3
If you already have your meter box changed your system can be switched on. Please contact us or our installers to have your system switched on. You can choose to have our installer to come over to switch on your system or they can guide you over the phone on how to switch on your system.

7. Are there any extra costs?
Yes, please refer to the details below:

• Double story house: $400 – this is the cost for us to hire scaffolds.
• Upgrade to 1.5kw inverter: $550
• Extra panels: $1,100 each. Add an extra 3 panels with a 1.5kW inverter to your standard system for only $2,499! Call us for more details.

8. I do not wish to go ahead for installation.
Please contact us so we can work out a solution for you, our valued customer.

9. I want to change to a different installer.
If you have not signed a contract with us, please contact us so we can work out a solution for your needs.

If you have signed a contract with us, your contract is binding and it supersedes all previous agreements. Only we can install your system as it is stated in your application to the government.

If you still wish to change installer, you will need to write us a formal letter and apply for an installer change approval from the government.

Penalties might occur to compensate for the losses to the company.

Your question not in the list? Please post your question in the comments section and we will update our FAQ.

Thank you!

Insulation FAQ

1. Why should I make sure that my home insulation is effective?

Heat gain and loss without insulation is substantial, as indicated in the diagram below. Insulation can greatly reduce these gains and losses by over 70%, not only making your home more comfortable but also reducing your energy bills and carbon footprint. By reducing the dependence on heating and cooling, insulation reduces energy consumption which in turn reduces the production of greenhouse gases.

 

*Image taken from our supplier, Autex

2. What part does the government play in this?
The government created the Homeowner's Insulation Program to encourage householders to increase the energy efficiency of homes and to create jobs.

The program commenced on 3 February 2009 under a rebate scheme and from 1 July 2009 to 31 August 2009 options for separate arrangements for owner- occupiers and rental properties were introduced.

3. How much is the government rebate now?
From the 1st of November 2009, the government rebate is $1,200 and it is subjected to changes at any time. The rebate covers material and labour costs. Householders will have to pay the difference, or full amount if ineligible.

4. When is the rebate ending?
31st December 2011 or until the date when Program funds have been fully allocated.

5. How do I know if I am eligible for the rebate?
To be eligible for the rebate, you will need to be:

• You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 years or over.
  
• You are the owner occupier or beneficial owner of the residence or
• You are a tenant of the dwelling who has evidence of the Landlord’s permission (letter from the Landlord or Landlord’s agent) to install Ceiling Insulation in that house.
• You have not received government assistance in insulation or solar hot water at any other home.
• You do not have existing insulation or
• Your current insulation is damaged or not effective (very thin).

* From 1 December 2009, you will need to obtain 2 genuine independent quotes from two businesses on the Installer Provider register.

Search on the Installer Provider Register here

6. I will like to have insulation installed in my rental home.
If you have not installed insulation in any of your other homes, you can have it installed in your rental home.

7. I don't know if I have insulation. Where do I look?
You can check it yourself by looking through the manhole access in your home's ceiling.

8. What insulation material will I be getting?
You will be getting GreenStuf, a thermally bonded insulation manufactured from 100% polyester fibre.

GreenStuf properties:

• Non-irritant, non-toxic and non-allergic
• Made from recycled PET bottles fully recyclable to reduce land fill
• Fire-safe and fully complies with the Building Code of Australia
• Moisture damage resistant
• Long term stability and performance, 50+ years rating
• We provide insulation with an R value of 3.5
• Excellent acoustic properties

9. What is the cost of the material?
We charge a maximum of $11.70 per square meter, as recommended by the government.

10. What is Regen Power's installation procedure? 
Please refer to the steps below:

1.   We will ask a few standard questions to roughly see if you are eligible for the rebate.
2.    If you might eligible, we will schedule a FREE home assessment for you.
3.    Our home assestors will contact you to schedule a date and time for your home assessment.
4.    After you home assessment, your eligibility for the rebate is determined.
5.    If you are eligible for the rebate, we will send you a quote usually via email. Let us know if you will like to have your quote sent in other ways.
6.    Once you receive your quote, sign it and make the payment for the difference, if there are any.
7.    Return your signed quote to us via email, fax or post.
8.    We will contact you with the date of your installation. Extra payments must be made before installation.
9.    Your insulation gets installed! 

* Your quote will be valid for 30 days.

* Insulation material will be delivered to your home on the day before installation. 

11. How long will my installation take?

Installation work is generally carried out in 2 - 3 hours. 


Your question not in the list? Please post your question in the comments section and we will update our FAQ. 

Thank you!