Little Ray of Sunshine
By EASTON, Paul
As electricity prices soar, people such as Mark Wilson are looking to the sun for their home water heating. Paul Easton reports.
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WELLINGTON’S frequently cloud- shrouded suburb of Karori does not seem an obvious place to install solar heating.
On an grey day last week, solar panels pointed rather hopefully at the sky from the roof of Mark Wilson’s home. But he swears by his system, which has been helping to heat his water for five years. “It’s endured the worst weather Wellington could throw at it.”
He reckons it trims his bills by about 20 per cent, saving between 2000 and 2500 kilowatts a year, or about $350.
Though solar water heating keeps a check on his power bills, it does not rein them in completely, with lighting and heating still paid for from the mains.
The Building Research Association has found that 42 per cent of household power bills goes toward heating water.
Mr Wilson is keen to make clear that the bills have not disappeared. But with a house full of teenagers, long hot showers no longer produce sharp raps on the bathroom door from dad.
An electrical engineer, he became curious about the performance of his solar unit, so he set up a DIY monitoring system. “I’m the sort of person who likes to know how things work.”
His data shows that, at the peak of summer, just under 80 per cent of the Wilsons’ water is heated by the sun. In winter, this drops to about 25 per cent.
With electricity prices rising, the installation cost of is now paid back faster. Solar water heating can cost between $4000 and $8000. Solar systems are more pricey than conventional heating because they need more pipes, as well as framing in the roof to bear the weight of the cylinder.
“When we installed it, the economics weren’t that favourable, but they are improving all the time.” It is still the long-term planner, however, to whom solar heating will appeal most.
At $350 a year, a $4500 installation will take 13 years to pay off.
Solar Industry Association executive officer Brian Cox says solar energy still has a low profile, but the number of installations is mushrooming.
Solar power has suffered from being labelled an “alternative” energy, he says, whereas “in fact, it’s very much mainstream”.
Architects and builders are reluctant to go solar, because they are unfamiliar with the technology. But a sea change is taking place, Mr Cox says.
In the 2005-06 financial year, 3500 solar units were installed, and that number is growing by 40 per cent a year.
Solar heating units are also becoming more common in new buildings.
Paul Spackman recently chose solar water heating for 32 new apartments on the Kapiti Coast, which added just $2500 to the cost of each apartment.
The Government offers grants toward the interest on loans for solar systems and last month announced an investment of $15.5 million in a new solar water-heating programme. The fund will promote solar energy, spread information and meet some of the installation costs.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority says that, for a home to be solar- suitable, it needs a section of roof that faces north, gets good sun, and is large enough to accommodate collector panels — usually between two and six metres square.
Every solar system is estimated to save about 1.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. Solar water heating units don’t need bright sunshine to spark up.
They should work even in shadows, Mr Wilson says.
“I’m certainly pleased with it. It’s an asset for the home and it’s good to be doing something for the environment.
“If it works well in Karori, it should work well in any part of New Zealand.”
* Thinking of going solar? Check www. solarsmarter.org.nz
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(c) 2007 Dominion Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.