Solar Energy for the Consumer

Picture: one of Navitron's evacuated tube systems being installed

The solar energy scene is developing so fast that it is difficult for the potential consumer to decide on what system is best for them. As well as practical issues of cost and effectiveness there are other questions such as embodied energy, energy used in shipping and dealing locally. Manufacturers and suppliers also have problems because the of the pace of development. What is today's latest invention quickly becomes a dinosaur as newer developments come on line.

Do-it-Yourself  used to be a viable option for solar water heater panels and there are still kits and drawings available from the CAT. Now however the new evacuated tube panels are so effective that putting a clear box around an old central heating radiator is a bit of a waste of time. This is especially true when Navitron provide panels that can provide all the hot water for two people for around £400. And they will provide excellent advice on DIY installation as well. Similarly DIY is still viable in other fields such as power generation and passive solar heating.

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The Solarhome 21 Forum is now restored, Who is going to be the first to post? 

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Local Resources.

One aim is to promote affordable renewable energy initially based in the South East Hampshire area of the UK. As the list of contacts grows other areas will be added. Post your experiences of suppliers on the Suppliers and Installers section of the forum and the details will be added to a database of suppliers both in the UK and, eventually, around the world. One of the first projects will be to list as many suppliers and installers as possible anywhere in the world and organise them into States and regions.

Linking to Solarhome21:

Please link to this site and the link will be recriprocated with any site that is working anywhere in the renewable field energy or on other ways of living and surviving climate change. If you are offering goods and services please send me your details and I will arrange a six month free link exchange   The list of links to literature on Solar Clubs and Renewable energy is already growing from my own web browsing but it is a vast task to build an authoritative database.

I aim to compose a 'which?' type guide to systems and suppliers allowing comparisons of efficiency, reliability and cost. Much of this will need to come from people with experience of installing and living with systems provided by different suppliers. Will anybody who has experience of having a system installed and using it please email me. with their views.

As other ideas come in and discussions take place the site will evolve.

Save Energy, Save Cash, and Save the Planet (or at least sleep well in the knowledge that you are not actively making things worse).

Richard Jannaway