Renewable Technologies > Solar Thermal Hot Water
- How do solar power systems work?
- How much does domestic water heating cost?
- What about the environment?
- How do I get a solar heating system?
- How long and how much?
- Are grants available for using renewable energy sources?
- What about the quality?
Renewable Technologies > Biomass Central Heating Appliances
Domestic Services
- What do I do if I smell gas?
- How often should I have my boiler serviced?
- Who is legally allowed to service my gas appliances?
Social Housing
- If I rent out just one room of my own house to a lodger, do I need to obtain a Landlord's Gas Safety Record?
- What can a landlord do if he/she cannot get their gas appliances checked under Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, due to unhelpful tenants?
- If you install a new boiler in a landlord's property which recently had a landlord inspection carried out, would I have to complete a new Landlord Record form?
Manpower Services
- What are the benefits received from Fusion for the provision of labour?
- What consultancy processes can you offer?
How do solar power systems work?
Solar and thermal technology actually creates energy. Solar power systems convert sunlight into heat, and having captured the heat, the solar technology deploys the thermal energy in water heating.
Solar power systems produce hot water using power from the sun without creating carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gas and create no pollution. They produce energy from renewable sources without using scarce fossil fuels and are cost effective. They work all the year round, even in Ireland, so that in all forms of daylight there will be some contribution from a well-designed thermal solar system. Direct sunlight is not needed although solar systems work more quickly in very strong light. However, the solar panels will work fine in the Irish climate.
Our standard solar heating systems comprises:
- Two solar panels fitted on to a south facing roof, facing towards the sun
- A replacement hot water cylinder, which will be larger and more heavily insulated than your existing cylinder
- All necessary pipe work, properly insulated to solar standards
- A pumping station
- A digital controller
A sealed heat transfer connects the solar panels to the lower heat coil in the cylinder in a sealed circuit; the upper coil connects to your boiler as back up, in the usual way. We install sensors in the sun panels and sensors in the new cylinder. The sensors communicate with the digital controller in the solar heating system and this turns on the pump, when heat is needed and when solar energy is available, to direct heat from the sun panel to the cylinder. When the water is hot enough the pump is turned off.
If there is not enough solar energy to power the Solar Power System, which may happen from time to time considering the climate in Ireland, the fossil fuel system acts as a back up.
How much does domestic water heating cost?
Every Irish home spends at on average 27% of its combined energy bills on water heating. If you live in a newer home or one that has good quality roof insulation, cavity wall insulation or double-glazing, the percentage of your bills paying for water heating will be higher.
At Fusion we aim to provide around 70% of your water heating requirements each year. In an Irish summer a solar system should provide virtually all your hot water and in deep winter, because of the short daylight hours available it should make a useful contribution of above 25% of your water heating energy.
Solar power systems also are widely used to heat swimming pools where the savings are much larger.
What about the environment?
Households create 29% of all carbon dioxide emitted in this country and use 29% of the energy required in the United Kingdom . A solar system will save at least ¾ of a tonne of carbon dioxide. If you reduced that gas to solid carbon, it would fill a sack roughly the size of an old coal sack. That is a huge environmental saving. Our heating systems are probably the most benign way of generating energy available. They do not cause pollution and do not contribute to climate change.
Solar systems are currently helping the environment in over forty countries in the world, bringing massive carbon savings through the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.
How do I get a solar heating system?
We will refer your enquiry to a one of our installation engineers who will contact you to offer you a no-obligation quotation after surveying your home.
The engineer is not a sales person and will not seek to pressure you into buying. We do hope, however, that you will only ask the engineer to call if you are seriously interested in our solar power systems.
How long and how much?
Solar power systems have a life expectancy of over 35 years and require very little maintenance. In most homes the engineer will be able to fit a Genersys system in less than three days. We will need access to your roof and to your existing cylinder, which will be replaced by a larger one. Installation of the heating system will not be unduly disruptive.
Prices for solar panel installations vary according to the part of the country that you live in. Prices vary between £3,500 and £4,500, depending on where you live and what type of installation you prefer.
Are grants available for using renewable energy sources?
Grants currently available are:
In Northern Ireland: a grant of £1125 is available for a solar water heating system installation. Grants are available from Action Renewables. Download an application form from Action Renewables.
Your Fusion engineer will have the necessary forms ready for you when he or she calls.
What about the quality?
Quality is the foundation of our philosophy. We only install solar panels and solar power systems to last and that is how it should be with all environmental products. The solar heating systems are independently tested and certified as fully complying with BS EN 12975 parts 1 & 2.
Our systems come with installer's guarantees and we support properly installed systems with our own.
- 20 year Anti-corrosion guarantee
- 10 year solar panel performance guarantee
- 2 year guarantee on all other parts
Is my house suitable?
You should consider the following issues if you're thinking about a biomass boiler or stove. An accredited installer will be able to provide more detailed advice.
- Fuel: It's important to have storage space for the fuel, appropriate access to the boiler for loading and a local fuel supplier.
- Flue: The vent material must be specifically designed for wood fuel appliances and there must be sufficient air movement for proper operation of the stove. Chimneys can be fitted with a lined flue.
- Regulations: The installation must comply with all safety and building regulations (see Part J of the Building Regulations).
- Smokeless zone: Wood can only be burnt on exempted appliances, under the Clean Air Act. This mainly applies to domestic appliances.
- Planning: If the building is listed or in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), then you will need to check with your Local Authority Planning Department before a flue is fitted.
How is it installed?
The installation is similar to that of any central heating boiler or stove, and requires a flue and a fresh air supply to be installed for safe and efficient combustion. Stoves contain an integrated fuel hopper that must be filled manually. Once full, the hopper automatically supplies fuel to the stove. Boilers may operate with a fully automated fuel feed system, which requires a dedicated storage facility close to the boiler.
The store must also be kept completely dry as pellets disintegrate on contact with water.
Due to the bulk of the wood pellet as a fuel, consideration must be given to the location of the storage unit so as not to take up space within the property.
Our engineer will discuss these requirements onsite as part of the initial consultation process.
What about fuel storage?
The pellets are delivered by pellet tanker and blown into a textile FlexiTank. The pellet tanker has up to 30metres of delivery hoses. Therefore the FlexiTank must be within 30m of the tanker access. Where possible, the tank room should have an outside wall, so that the fillers are accessible from outdoors. The pellet storage room must have an opening for ventilation. In the case of an internal storage room, you must install delivery and aspiration ducts to an outside wall (in respect of fire regulations).
The boiler room should also have an outside wall as this enables direct aeration and air aspiration. If this is not possible, you must install an aeration duct of section at least 200cm² to an outside wall.
What will a OkoFEN heating system Cost?
A full system will cost in the Region of £10,000.00 dependant on survey and the installation will take approximately 4 days to complete.
Are there grants available?
Grants currently available are:
- In Northern Ireland: a grant of £3250 is available for a Wood Pellet heating system installation. Grants are available from Action Renewables. Download an application form from Action Renewables.
- Your Fusion engineer will have the necessary forms ready for you when he or she calls.
- DO - Open doors and windows to get rid of the gas
- DO - Turn off the gas supply at the meter
- DO - Check gas appliances to see if the gas has been left on unlit or that a pilot light is out
- DO - Phone the emergency number 0800 002 001
- DO NOT - Turn any electrical switches, including doorbells, on or off
- DO NOT - use matches or light naked flames
- DO NOT - smoke
- DO NOT - leave it to someone else to call the emergency service.
If You Smell Gas Phone the Gas Emergency Service 0800 002 001.
If you have any queries about the Education Initiative please don't hesitate to contact us.
How often should I have my Boiler serviced?
We strongly recommended that your boiler be serviced annually. Your guarantee will become void if you don't have your boiler (or cylinder) serviced annually, should the fault be such that it would have been recognised in the normal annual service.
Who is legally allowed to service my Gas Appliances?
Legally, any person who undertakes to service either gas pipe work or associated appliances must be registered with CORGI. All Fusion engineers are fully trained and registered with CORGI and can present their identification badge on arrival at your premises.
If I rent out just one room of my own house to a lodger, do I need to obtain a Landlord's Gas Safety Record?
Even if you rent out just one room in your property you need to obtain a Landlord's Gas Safety Record, in accordance with Regulation 36 of The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. This states that the landlord is responsible for any gas appliance or any installation pipe work which, directly or indirectly, serves the relevant premises and which either is installed in any part of the premises in which the landlord has an estate or interest, or is owned by the landlord or is under his control.
What can a landlord do if he/she cannot get their gas appliances checked under Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, due to unhelpful tenants?
This has become more of a common problem, which can lead to a landlord possibly contravening the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. In this situation, a landlord would have to demonstrate that he/she has made all efforts to discharge their responsibilities under Regulation 36 of the GSIUR 1998. This can be achieved by keeping a detailed record of attempts to gain access - such as using recorded delivery of letters and personal visits to the property. These efforts to gain access do not include forced entry to property.
If you install a new boiler in a landlord's property which recently had a landlord inspection carried out, would I have to complete a new Landlord Record form?
A new appliance is exempt from a Landlord's Record Form for the first 12 months of its life, so there would be no requirement to issue a new Form.
What are the benefits received from Fusion for the provision of labour?
- Highly trained staff
- Quality control inspections undertaken by Fusion management team whilst subcontracted
- No recruitment costs
- Vehicles and equipment provided
- Engineers ready to go to work.
What consultancy processes can you offer?
- Fusion can successfully deliver both internal and external quality control audits
- Development of QC procedures within your organisation
- Define and spec installation programmes
- Assist in meeting the requirements for CORGI Certification producing manuals and internal procedures to comply with registration criteria.
