© 2011 AD Heating Ltd

The Sun - Power Free of Charge

 

...did you know...

 

...that the sun delivers so much power in only 3 hours that it could cover the annual energy demand of the entire population on earth!

 

The trick is finding the best way to harness it...

Yes, our climate is surprisingly well suited to using solar energy because solar heat and light are specially valuable in our cool, windy climate. Contrary to popular opinion, solar energy levels in Scotland are only slightly lower than southern England. Our clearer skies and longer summer days help to compensate for being further north... so whichever type of solar energy you choose you can be rest assured that the technology will work!

 

Solar panels don't need direct sunlight to work - you can still generate some heating or electricity on a cloudy day!

There are three types of solar energy that can be used for domestic or commercial properties:

 

Solar electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run appliances and lighting.

 

Passive solar heating uses architectural design and building methods to create a building that maximises heat and light from the sun so that there is little need for any additional heating source.

 

Solar water heating is the most common way of using solar energy - the idea is to use solar energy to pre-heat cold mains water so that less gas, oil or electricity is needed to supply your hot water needs.

 

This is usually achieved by putting a panels on your roof, facing roughly south (if you can’t get the direct angle you may need extra panels to compensate). An anti-freeze mixture is pumped through the panels and the heat collected is passed via a heat exchange coil in a hot water cylinder or thermal store.