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The problem

Climate change is the greatest threat facing the planet, with rising temperatures contributing to more droughts, floods and storms, causing sea levels to rise.

In the last 20 years, use of the Thames Barrier (designed to protect London from flooding) has risen from once every two years to six times a year.

According to the latest figures from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 11 of the 12 years to 2006 rank in the 12 warmest years since 1850 and 2005 was the second hottest year on record. The impacts of weather related disasters are also increasing two to three times more rapidly than impacts due to earthquakes.

Most scientists agree that climate change is largely due to human activity, mainly the increased use of fossil fuels. The main human influence on the global climate is likely to be emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane.

The solution

Carbon emissions per capita in the UK are one of the highest in the world, but the UK has a commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over 1990 levels by 2050 and a binding commitment under the EU Renewable Energy Directive to provide 15% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020.

Around half of the UK’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are currently produced by the energy we use to heat, light and power our buildings, with half of that coming from our homes, so the need to reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint has never been more pressing. As a result, the government is using legislation like the Building Regulations and initiatives such as the Code for Sustainable Homes to encourage the use of renewable energy for our heating and hot water.

In the context of ever rising energy costs, climate change, and changing legislation, the need for a heating and hot water technology that is future-proof, cost-effective and able to use an unlimited, sustainable source of energy is essential.

It’s Time To Harness The Sun’s Energy.

Every year the sun provides over 8000 times as much energy as we consume worldwide and in the UK alone we receive between 900 and 1200kWh of energy per m2 of land per year.

On average, every home spends 20-25% of its combined annual energy bills on water heating. In the UK a well designed solar water heating system can provide almost all the hot water for a home during the summer months and on average around 50-60% year round.

This is why solar water heating systems are one of the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly renewable energy solutions available, reducing fuel bills and building carbon dioxide emissions.

Low Carbon Hot Water Solution

Whenever fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas are burnt, carbon dioxide is released. CO2 is the principal contributor to the green-house effect which is leading to long term climate change.

However as solar water heating can provide as much as 60% of a building's annual hot water demand from renewable energy, building carbon emissions can be significantly reduced, particularly in new homes where water heating is fast becoming the largest source of energy use.

This has an obvious benefit when considering Building Regulations Part L compliance, planning obligations requiring minimum contributions from renewable energy or Code for Sustainable Homes ratings.

Future Proof Energy Costs

Using renewable solar energy means that running costs compared with traditional fossil fuelled water heating systems can be reduced. More importantly, using free energy from the environment future-proofs the system against fossil fuels as they become ever more scarce and their price inevitably continues to rise.