Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Installation, Advice & Sales

1st Light Energy's Solar water heating systems use free and renewable energy from the sun to heat domestic hot water. A conventional household boiler, air source heat pump or immersion heater is then used as back-up to supplement the solar hot water system and provides hot water when solar energy is not available.

How do solar thermal water heating systems work?

Solar water heating systems use evaucated tube type or flat plate solar panels (collectors) which are fitted to the roof of a property. These panels collect energy from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder or thermal store.

A boiler, air source heat pump or immersion heater can be used to supplement the solar hot water system. It will help heat the water to reach the temperature set by the cylinder thermostsat when the solar system does not reach the required temperature.

The benefits of a solar thermal water heating Installation

• Free Hot water throughout the year: the system works all year round and even on dull cloudy days, some gain will be available.
• Cut your bills: sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your hot water costs will be greatly reduced.
• Cut your carbon footprint: solar heated hot water is a green, renewable and sustainable resource which doesn't release any harmful CO2 or other pollutants
• Renewable Heat Initiative: owners of solar thermal systems will qualify for payments under this Government scheme which commences in April 2011. 

If you are a commercial user, the system qualifies for Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) which means that 100% of the cost can be offset against that years business tax liability and there is also a very tax efficient lease scheme by which to fund the purchase of this technology subject to status

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/products-services/pages/eca.aspx

Is a solar thermal heating system suitable for my home?

To tell if a 1st Light Energy solar hot water system is suitable for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

• Do you have a sunny place to put your panels? You will need a roof elevation which faces east to west through south and receives direct sun light for the main part of the day. It is possible to install on a non south facing roof using a split system that incorporates panels on both East and West elevations. The panels dont necessarily need to be mounted on the roof as they can be fixed to a gable wall or mounted on 'A' frames in the case of a flat roof.
• Do you have space for a larger, or an extra, hot water cylinder? If a dedicated solar cylinder is not already installed then it is possible you will need to replace the existing cylinder, or add a dedicated cylinder with a solar heating coil.
• Is your current boiler compatible with solar water heating? Most conventional boiler and hot water cylinder systems are compatible with solar water heating but 'Combi's' can present more of a challenge.
• Do you need planning permission? In England most solar water heating systems don't require planning permission. If you live in a Listed building or a building in a conservation area it is best to consult your local planning office. If you live in Wales, Scotland ord Northern Ireland you will need to contact your local authority.

If you would like to look into the likely performance and benefits your property could derive from the installation of a 1st Light Energy renewable system, please contact us for a totally free, no obligation survey and quote.    
Tel: 0845 557 0639

Savings

Depending on what fuel you will be replacing 1st Light Energy's evaucated tube type solar hot water system will save up to 580kg of Co2 emissions every year and up to 70% of all households domestic hot water requirements will be met by a correctly designed and installed solar system and more if we also install a Savatherm intelligent boiler control module for optimised central heating.

Maintainence of a solar thermal water heating system

The maintainence requirements and costs of a 1st Light Energy solar system are very low and can be carried out by our expert engineers.