Renewable energy is the future. More and more people want to change to sustainable energy systems, and this gives installers an opportunity to grow their business, says Clyde Brown, Potterton's Sales Director.
With their ever-spiralling fuel bills and the constant debate in newspapers and on TV about climate change, diminishing gas supplies and the need to 'save the planet', homeowners are constantly looking at cost effective ways to save money and become more environmentally-friendly. Solar heating satisfies both demands, and installers that can give qualified advice on it and are trained to fit it can definitely capitalise on this valuable and profitable business opportunity.
Solar is the best known and best established of the renewable energy products. In simple terms, solar energy is absorbed by a flat plate collector that is positioned on the roof. This heats an anti-freeze solution, which in turn heats the water in the storage cylinder using a specially designed indirect solar coil.
The collector plates can be either retrofitted onto existing roofs (the on-roof option) or built into the roof structure during building or major roof refurbishment (the in-roof option). Ideally, roofs should be south facing; however Potterton provides an East-West array kit so that more homes can benefit from a solar hot water heating system.
Potterton's new solar package makes it easy for installers and their customers to make the move into using solar energy to provide domestic hot water. The easy-to-install system has been designed to provide a reliable solution that will deliver long term carbon dioxide and fuel cost savings.
Potterton Solar contains all the components needed for either in-roof or on-roof solar installations, including flat plate collectors, solar controller, expansion vessel, anti-freeze solution, thermostatic blending valve for the domestic hot water and hydraulic pump station. In-roof sets include a flashing set for slate or tile roofs. On-roof sets include roof mounting brackets for slates and tiles. Potterton Solar is backed by our 10-year guarantee and carries Solar Key Mark approval. Solar Key Mark is a voluntary certification scheme supported by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation and demonstrates that product meets European quality and performance requirements.
We recommend that the Santon Premier Plus Solar cylinder is used with Potterton Solar. They are available in 190, 210, 250 and 300 litre capacities, so they are suitable for many different sized households. The solar heating coil at the base of these cylinders has been specially designed to ensure maximum heat transfer, making the most efficient use of the solar energy. In line with the ClearSkies recommendation, solar heating accounts for at least 30 per cent of the cylinder's capacity.
The unvented cylinder offers the benefit of powerful mains water pressure for quick filling baths and high performance showers. It's made of high quality stainless steel and includes safety and hot water controls and remote expansion vessel and has a 25-year on-site parts and labour cylinder guarantee.
Potterton Solar can generate up to 100 per cent of a household's hot water during the summer months. Even on dull days, enough solar energy can be collected for the system to operate at a reduced level, and the hot water requirement can be topped up using either the boiler or immersion heater. This means that around 55 per cent of hot water can be produced annually, resulting in up to a 55 per cent reduction in domestic hot water costs.
Importantly, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by around 400 kg per square metre of collector panel. So a Potterton Solar system can really help to reduce a home's carbon footprint.
To help installers make the most of this cutting edge technology, Potterton runs LOGIC accredited training courses. We also offer complete technical support and back-up through heateam.
If you want to take advantage of the growing interest in solar, find out more about Potterton Solar by calling 0844 871 1560 or visit www.potterton.co.uk.
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For media information please contact:
Jocelynne Rowan, PR Officer, Potterton
T: 01926 478291 M: 07825 602043 F: 01772 646449
E: jocelynne.rowan@baxigroup.com
