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With improvements to our standard of living our need for energy is rising. The energy required to meet our hot water needs is one of the single largest household energy consumptions. Solar water heating can be one of the simplest solutions to reducing the cost of your energy consumption.
Every square metre of surface area in the UK receives about 1000 kWh of solar energy per annum. Average household consumption of energy for hot water is approximately 3000 kWh per annum.
Solar thermal systems comprise of solar panels that convert sunlight to heat. The systems may be used to heat domestic hot water or a swimming pool, or to even make a contribution towards under floor heating. Solar heating panels are one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your utility bills and make a positive contribution towards the environment. In fact the amount of pollution reduced by installing a domestic solar heating system is equivalent to taking one car off the road (i.e. about 1500m3 CO2 per annum).
There are two types of solar heating collectors; the conventional flat plate collector and the more efficient vacuum tube collectors.
Evacuated solar heating panels are more efficient than conventional flat plate type collectors and will perform considerably better in cold, cloudy and windy conditions – unfortunately too common in the UK and Ireland. The higher efficiency of evacuated solar heating tubes mean less area is covered on the roof by the solar heating panels – a desirable feature appreciated by most customers.
Having less solar heating panel area on the roof reduces the fluid content of the solar heating system enabling quicker response to solar radiation.
Vacuum is the best possible insulation for a solar heating panel. It safeguards the collector from moisture, condensation and pollutants – resulting in improved durability and all-year-round performance.
Summary of advantages of vacuum over flat plate solar heating panels