Household Utilities: Power Requirements: Hot Water System.
Twenty eight percent of residential greenhouse emissions come from
provision of hot water.
Brisbane has, on average, 2738 annual sunshine hours per year, with
a mean of 8.0 hours per day. In the cooler parts of Australia 65% of
hot water needs can be met by using solar hot water. In northern areas
this can be as much as 100%.
Sustainable options available for heating water include:
1. Solar hot water. In these systems water is circulated through
solar collector panels where the water is heated from the sun before
being stored in a tank. These systems are able to produce most of
the hot water requirements for a household and can be boosted by gas
or electric heating. Like solar panels these systems are less efficient
when there is shadowing on the panels.
2. Heat pump. This system is similat
to using your refrigerator in the reverse. It extracts heat/energy
from the atmosphere and transfers it to the water. It absorbs heat
whether it is overcast, raining, day or night. Depending on the weather
up to 800 watts may be required to run the compressor in the heat
pump. This, combined with the efficient storage of hot water within
a tank, is an energy efficient method of heating water.
3. Water Blankets wrapped around the flue of slow combustion
stoves or heaters are an excellent source of hot water, and can be
used to boost a solar hot water system in cool, overcast weather.
The Newton House will utilise a solar hot water system.
Renewable Energy Certificates
As of 1 April 2001, owners of new of recently augmented renewable energy
systems have been entitle to a financial gain through Renewable
Energy Certificates (RECs). Through every megawatt
hour of electricity generated, or displaced in the case of Solar Hot
Water systems, the owner can benefit through creating a RECs. Further
information and access to this is through the Office of Renewable Energy
Regulator.
Links
http://renewable.greenhouse.gov.au/home/solar_hot_water.html
http://www.orer.gov.au
