How Solar Heating Works
Benefits of Solar Heating
Solar Heating Suitability
Solar Heating Prices
Renewable Heat Incentive
© 2003-2012 SolarEssence® | Solar PV & Solar Heating Specialists
Adding solar panels to their 16th century cottage was a welcome home improvement
for Peter and Sheila Pears who had been paying a small fortune to heat their water.
And as the panels are tucked away on their south-facing roof to the rear of the building
they are hardly noticeable.
With electric heating and hot water for the past 18 years, former accountant Peter watched in frustration as the quarterly bills increased over the years. Choosing the solar hot water system has enabled the couple to dramatically reduce their electricity consumption… and their payments.
“I would say we’re saving about £300 a year by not electrically heating the water,” begins Peter, adding: “it’s difficult to say exactly what the savings are but energy costs have gone up so much that it can only be helping.”
A miscalculation by the electricity provider only made things worse for the couple who decided to keep track of their readings and uncovered the error.
“They wanted to put our payment up from about £70 a month to £200,” says Peter. “In the past we’d had a standing order and during the two ‘lighter’ quarters we’d end up with a credit… that disappeared a long time ago. As everybody knows, the average small family spends well over £1000 and electric is particularly expensive.”
Eager to change this situation and encouraged by a friend in the same Suffolk village, Peter and Sheila opted for the solar heating system to alleviate the problem of using the costly immersion heater.
“We decided that instead of leaving our money in a premium, we thought it would be best to invest in something like this – if you could save £200-300 a year then that was your interest,” adds Peter, who called upon his accounting brain to compare the different options.
The couple also chose to replace their old cylinder and Peter says this has had a huge impact on the efficiency of water heating in the home.
“That was a real boon,” he nods. “I would definitely recommend changing the cylinder if it’s been in for any length of time like ours was and especially if you live in a hard water area. They showed us just how much build up was inside our old one and I was quite shocked. Now we’re getting straight to the water and not having to waste energy getting through that first.”
Meet Mr & Mrs Pears in Norfolk
Type of installation: Solar Heating
