Brisbane Solahart Hot Water, Brisbane Solar Power Systems

  • e: admin@solahartbis.com.au
  • p: 07 3153 7017
Facebook Youtube
Brisbane Solahart, Brisbane Solahart Inner South, Brisbane Solahart Hot Water, Brisbane Solahart PV, Brisbane Solahart rooftop solar
Menu

Category Archives for Hot Water Systems

How You Can Make a Difference to the Environment with Solar

Going solar has many benefits. You can:

  • Reduce your energy consumption, helping you to keep more money in your pocket.
  • Take advantage of government incentives, known as Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs) to help you make the switch; and
  • Potentially increase the value of your home.

Another significant advantage of going solar is its benefit to the environment. According to The Australia Institute Climate of the Nation Report 2019, 83% of 18-34 year-olds are concerned about climate change. In addition, 81% of Australians are worried that climate change will result in more droughts and flooding, up from 78% in 2018. As solar uses the sun as a renewable energy source to either power your home or heat water, going solar helps you reduce your carbon emissions, leading to a more sustainable lifestyle.

In this article, we will explore how solar works to help you reduce your carbon emissions, as well as the extent to which you can make a positive contribution to the environment.

The Solar Opportunity

Producing energy with the use of fossil fuels generates carbon dioxide, which leads to increased pollution and climate change.

Australia has the world’s highest solar radiation at 58m petajoules per year, approximately 10,000 times larger than its total energy consumption. So, there is an incredible opportunity to use the abundant sunshine to power our homes, heat water, and help reduce the risk of climate change.

Currently, approximately 15,000 panels are installed daily in Australia, evidence that the upward trend in solar is continuing. Solar comes in the form of solar power and solar hot water. Both allow you to generate energy free from the sun, thus reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and the grid to power your home and heat water.

How Does Solar Help the Environment?

Solar panels are made up of many photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity so it can be used in the home or stored in a battery for later use. Specifically, the panels convert sunlight into Direct Current (DC), which is then fed through an inverter and turned into usable electricity to power your home. Solar power produces energy free from the sun – a resource that doesn’t run out. Using the sun to generate power means less toxic emissions are released into the air, reducing your carbon footprint in the process.

Traditional electricity production can use thousands of litres of water each year, due to activities such as cooling generators, processing fuel and transporting fuel through pipes. Approximately 10% of energy is lost when electricity is transported between power stations to homes. In contrast, photovoltaic cells only use the abundant natural resource that is the sun. As Australia is one of the world’s driest continents, conserving water is of great benefit to the environment.

Solar hot water also uses the sun to produce energy. In contrast to solar power, solar hot water stores energy from the sun in the form of hot water, which is ready for use at a later time. As the sun heats the water in the solar collectors, the increase in temperature causes the water to rise and move through an insulated pipe into a storage tank.

With solar hot water, you can enjoy your showers, complete the washing and other household activities, knowing you are doing your bit to reduce greenhouse emissions. In fact, a Solahart solar water heater can help you save up to 1.6 to 2.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. Also, if you replace your current gas or electric water heater with a solar water heater, you could save up to 65% of your hot water energy use, based on a 300-litre Solahart roof-mounted system in zone 3.

Solahart was one of the first companies in the world to recognise the value of the sun’s free energy. We pioneered solar water heating in Australia in 1953. Since then, we have installed over 1 million systems in over 70 countries and over 600,000 solar power panels.

  • Solahart starts with a free, safer home solar assessment to provide a solution tailored to your needs. We’ll recommend the right system and correct configuration that fits your budget and your energy consumption.
  • Our installers are trained to the highest standards with Clean Energy Council (CEC) accreditation, and every Solahart dealer is part of the CEC retailer code of conduct scheme, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your system.
  • All this is backed by our comprehensive warranties and the peace of mind you’ll get from dealing with Australia’s solar pioneer.

So, there is your guide to how going solar is an environmentally-friendly move. By going solar, you can make a positive difference to the environment, in addition to significantly reducing your energy consumption. If you are thinking about solar for your home, speak to Solahart Mansfield today to find out more.

Will My Solar Still Work on Cloudy or Rainy Days?

Did you know that Australia has the highest solar radiation per square metre of any continent on the planet? At 58 million petajoules per year, it’s approximately 10,000 times larger than our total energy consumption. Which is why for most Australians, using the abundant sunshine to power your home and heat your water makes so much sense.

But despite the growing popularity of solar (2.66 million smart Australian households already have solar panels or collectors on their rooftops!), there’s one question we’re often asked; “Will my solar system still work if the sun isn’t shining?”The short answer is yes. In this article, we will explore how solar still works to reduce your energy consumption and carbon emissions even on cloudy or rainy days. Let’s start with solar hot water before we move to solar power.

Does Solar Hot Water Work on Cloudy or Rainy Days?

A solar water heater will still deliver hot water on cloudy and wet days.

Anyone who has ever been sunburnt on an overcast day knows that it takes more than a few clouds to block out the sun. While clouds may filter out some of the brightness, the majority of sunlight still gets through. So if you have solar hot water collectors on your rooftop, rest assured, they’re still working to produce hot water even on those wet and cloudy days.

However, continuous days of cloudy weather can sometimes reduce the efficiency of your solar water heater. Fortunately, Solahart Solar Hot Water systems have a backup available to ensure you can still enjoy instant hot water when the sun isn’t shining.

All Solahart Solar Water Heaters come with an inbuilt electric booster. This means that as soon as the water temperature drops below a certain level, the booster element kicks in and heats the water to the correct temperature.

Solahart also has an optional gas-boosted model available where boosting only occurs when hot water is being used. When a hot water tap is opened, solar hot water flows from the solar water heater through a solar-compatible continuous flow gas water heater. Temperature sensors within this gas heater measure the incoming water temperature, and if the water temperature is less than a preset minimum, the gas heater ignites and immediately brings it up to the set level.
The choice of which booster is right for you will ultimately depend on key factors such as your solar hot water system, the climate where you live and your roof inclination.

Will My Solar Power Panels Work on Cloudy or Rainy Days?

Like solar hot water collectors, solar power panels still work on cloudy days. According to The Environment and Energy Study Institute in the USA, even in partly cloudy weather, solar cells could still operate at 80% of their maximum output. Because solar panels can use direct and indirect sunlight to generate power they will still work when the light is reflected or partially blocked by clouds.

Meanwhile, rainy weather can also help to keep your panels operating efficiently by washing away any dust or dirt. However, if it’s consistently cloudy for several days, the efficiency of the solar panels may be reduced as there are less particles of light available to create a high flow of electricity.

Many Australians are also choosing to add a home battery to their solar power and store the energy they’ve generated throughout the day, for use later on. It’s a smart way to offset your electricity costs and maximise your solar energy usage.

Top