Solar Thermal 10
Renewable energy installation is a multi-faceted operation and the role of installer has ramped up. Not only is there training to undertake, legislation to adhere to and technology to keep abreast of, but there is the added responsibility of acting as advisor to the customer.
Amid the day-to-day running of a renewables business, it can be easy to overlook the needs of the consumer and assume they come to you fully armed with a battery of energy expertise. However, they may not know which technology best suits their needs, FiTs may be getting them in a flap and they may feel confused cutting through the cowboys to find a company they can trust. This is where the you come in – it’s important to know the answers to your customer’s questions, allaying any queries they may have about investing in renewable technology.
In order to meet the demands of the Climate Change Act, installers need to gain the knowledge, skills and certification to work with renewable technologies. Simon Allan, director of renewables, explains what this means for the industry and how materials suppliers such as Plumb Center are perfectly placed to be a key reference, information and training source.
The carbon targets set by the Climate Change Act will make some extraordinary demands on the construction industry, not only to deliver very low impact new buildings but to substantially refurbish the vast majority our 26 million dwellings and the 2.5 million non-domestic buildings.
As part of a major £61m investment, including a new 18,000 sq m educational building for its students, East Surrey College has installed 1050 Kingspan Renewables Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tubes to service its annual hot water needs, which significantly cut carbon emissions and lower energy costs.
A model of sustainability, the new landmark building in Redhill has been awarded a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good,’ with the large-scale solar thermal installation complemented by rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing, a wood chip fuelled biomass boiler and translucent cladding panels for thermal insulation and high levels of natural daylight.
PTS has launched a comprehensive Renewables Brochure to help installers make the right choices when it comes to specifying energy efficient products.
Dimplex is extending choices in solar thermal water heating, with the launch of the SOLC201 flat plate collector, which it says provides a cost-effective way to start enjoying low cost, low carbon hot water.
The SOLC201 is solar keymark approved, meaning that it will be eligible for the financial incentives available under the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Daikin UK is continuing to work with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme by achieving accreditation for its Low Temperature Integrated Split System.
The newly accredited Daikin Altherma Low Temperature Split System – which has been designed to provide an all-in-one, renewable solution – is already proven to reduce carbon emissions from heating and hot water provision when compared with other traditional systems. In this solution, the floor standing indoor hydrobox and stainless steel unvented cylinder are integrated into one neat package.
