Solar Thermal

Solar thermal heating systems work by capturing the energy given by the Sun to heat up the water in your hot water storage tank or cylinder in order to counterweight the amount of work necessary from the current oil or gas boiler.

Solar thermal systems from Goddards and Sons are roof attached plate collectors in which a heat-transfer liquid is heated by the sun. The liquid is used to increase the heat of the water that is kept in either a single hot water cylinder or a twin coil hot water cylinder inside the house. The combination of water and glycol in the fluid gives it valuable properties such as a considerable lower freezing temperature and higher boiling temperature than normal water. This means that the system can be carried on all year round and will always help to do the hot water necessities of the building.

During winter the systems perform less well due to the limited solar resource available. Nevertheless, the winter contribution for solar thermal can still be substantial, ensuring savings on your winter fuel bills. It takes the same amount of energy to increase the temperature of water all year round, so solar thermal can make use of the abundant solar energy in the summer and fully heat the tank, or provide assistance to your existing boiler in the winter.

Our systems are proven to work successfully in all parts of the UK; wherever there is daylight. Our solar thermal systems require any sort of lighting conditions to function. They will perform better on bright sunny days without a cloud in the sky, but will also perform to near optimum standards in diffuse or overcast conditions.

Solar Thermal Collectors

We offer two types of collectors used for solar water heating applications. Flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors:

Flat plate collectors are cheaper, more rigid and are the predominant type used in domestic systems worldwide. Their efficiency in converting energy in the sun to useful heat in the water is less than that of evacuated tube.

Evacuated-tube collectors are more efficient than flat plate collectors because their tubular design minimises the area exposed to the elements, meaning that less heat is lost off their surface. The tube incorporates a vacuum between the liquid-filled core and the glass covering. This further prevents loss of heat to the air. They are consequently slightly more expensive than the flat plate design

.

Please check back over the next few weeks as we show case a new Solar Thermal build on a residentail property in Haywards Heath

Energy Efficiency

Boilers account for around 60% of what you spend in a year on energy bills, so getting an efficient boiler can make a big difference. This section will talk through the finances of a new boiler, how to decide when you need a new boiler, what is involved in making the decision to replace an old one, and what makes them better than old ones. Plus, where you can go to get a new boiler. Whether you are having a boiler installed for the first time or are replacing an existing one, this advice and information is suitable for you, and is applicable if you use gas, oil or LPG as your main heating fuel

Saving Money

Boilers account for around 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. By replacing an old G-rated boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler and improving your heating controls, you will significantly cut your home's carbon dioxide emissions - saving as much as £225 a year.

The current lifespan of a boiler is around 12 years. Fitting an A-rated high efficiency condensing boiler with the correct heating and hot water controls can make a huge difference to your heating bills over time.

There may be grants and offers available to help you install an energy efficient heating system. Alternatively, contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.

Below are typical savings which can be achieved by replacing boilers with new A-rated condensing models and installing a full set of heating controls:

Suitability

The current lifespan of a boiler is around 12 years. From 2005 any new gas boiler installed had to be high efficiency condensing boiler. And since October 2010 any new boiler installed must be A-rated, or 88% efficient. In exceptional circumstances a non-condensing boiler can be installed if necessary.

• Condensing boilers get their name because they enter what is called "condensing mode" at regular intervals.
• They start to extract heat from the exhaust gases that would otherwise escape through the flue, in the process turning water vapour from the gas back into liquid water or condensate.
• A condensing boiler captures much more usable heat from its fuel than a non-condensing boiler.
• A condensing boiler can be up to 12% more efficient than non-condensing boiler as it utilises the “latent heat” that is released from the burned fuel as it changes from vapour into water
• The heat exchanger makes sure that as much heat as possible is transferred from the boiler's burner - and as little as possible lost in gases through the flue.

There are two types of condensing boiler: ‘Combination’ (or combi) and ‘System’ or ‘Open Vent’.

Combination or Combi condensing boilers provide heated water for radiators or under floor heating. And give you instant hot water without the need for a hot water cylinder.

System or Open Vent condensing boilers also provide heated water for radiators or under floor heating, and require a hot water tank where hot water is heated and stored.

The type of boiler you chose to have will depend on the suitability of each, and your lifestyle or needs. Not all new boilers have to come without a hot water tank, although they do have to be condensing, in the majority of situations.

A qualified installer will be able to advise on what the best option is for you. However, here is a quick guide to what the different types mean:

Combination/Combi condensing boiler: -
Heats water for the taps when you turn the tap on, so you don’t need to set a timer to warm water before it can be used.
No need to have a separate hot water tank, so can be space saving.
No heat loss from a hot water tank as it only heats water on demand.
This is ideal if you don’t use much hot water each day.

A combi condensing boiler may not be suitable when:-
The house has low mains pressure.
The house has multiple bathrooms or shower (that aren’t electric).

System or Open Vent condensing boiler:-
Can store hot water in a separate tank, so large amounts of hot water is available if multiple points/taps are in use at one time.
Ideal if you like to use an airing cupboard.
Boiler replacement could be simpler if replacing a like for like system.
Not all home heating systems will be compatible with a combination boiler.
A qualified installer will tell you which type of condensing boiler - regular or combination - is most suitable for your home.

If your boiler is 15 years old or more then it is likely to be a G-rated boiler. Replacing an old G-rated boiler with a new A- rated condensing boiler, and a full set of heating controls, can save up to a quarter on your heating bills straight away and up to 1,200kg of CO2year. If your boiler is less than 15 years old then it is likely to be more efficient, so will save you less if you replace it.

What sort of boiler do you have?

To tell a condensing boiler from a non-condensing boiler, look at the flue that sticks out from the outdoor wall adjacent to your boiler. And the type of waste heat it lets out into the atmosphere.

A flue is a pipe that takes the exhaust gases generated by your boiler and passes them out through the wall or roof - letting them escape into the air. The end of the flue is covered by a metal or plastic protective cover, which makes sure that a good flow of air is maintained.

If the flue is made of plastic and lets out visible steam when the boiler is firing, then congratulations - you are likely to have a condensing boiler already.

If the flue is made of metal and no steam is visible, you are likely to have a non-condensing boiler. These older boilers let out much hotter gases that are invisible to the naked eye - and would melt a plastic flue.

To find out if you have a condensing boiler visit the SEDBUK website.

New Boilers

Boilers are rated according to their efficiency in converting fuel to heat as a percentage. This rating is called SEDBUK - Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK.

There are two SEDBUK rating systems, SEDBUK 2005 and the newly updated SEDBUK 2009. SEDBUK 2005 uses an A to G rating, A-rated boilers being more than 90% efficient. SEDBUK 2009 no longer uses the A-G rating but only displays the percentage efficiency.Under the new system a SEDBUK 2005 90% efficient A-rated boiler will be regarded as 88% efficient, according to SEDBUK 2009. This goes for gas, oil and LGP boilers. The 2% difference between SEDBUK 2005 and 2009 is mainly down to differences in efficiencies between using a boiler for space heating in the winter months and only using it for water heating in the summer months.

The A-G rating will still apply if the boiler was tested under SEDBUK 2005, and should be made clear under what test standards the boiler was tested.New minimum efficiencies for gas, oil & LPG replacement boilers in Great Britain.

Only A-rated boilers - rated at 90% or better - carry the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo.

How to guide

Before looking to buy a new condensing boiler and heating controls you should make sure that your home is well insulated. To make sure you're complying with Gas Safety Regulations, you should always use a Gas Safe registered engineer

In Great Britain, all work on gas appliances must be carried out by an engineer on the Gas Safe register which replaced the CORGI* gas register in Great Britain and the Isle of Man on 1st April 2009 and in Northern Ireland and Guernsey on 1st April 2010, (*CORGI will continue to operate as the voluntary registration body in Jersey).

Boiler Installation

England and Wales

We strongly recommend that any boiler or heating systems are fitted by an installer who is registered with a Competent Person Scheme. Competent Person Schemes were introduced by the UK Government to allow individuals and businesses to self-certify their work as compliant with UK Building Regulations. Most installation or upgrade work done on your heating system is subject to Building Regulations. These regulations vary depending on where you are in the UK, but generally all work must be notified to your local authority.

Competent Person Scheme installers can self-certify their work as compliant with Building Regulations. They can also notify the local authority on your behalf and issue you with a certificate on completion which can be used as proof of compliance. It will also show up on a solicitor's Local Authority search when you sell your home.

If you don't use an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme then you will have to submit a building notice or full plans application and pay a fee to have Building Control come and inspect the work you have carried out.To find an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme, visit the competent person website and enter your postcode or the name of the installer in the relevant search box.