Oil pipelines burst, gas terminal fire, Gazprom to reduce Ukraine's gas

It's been a bad day for fossil fuels - 

Gazprom to reduce Ukraine's gas

Gas terminal blaze investigated

Landslide hits Ecuador pipeline

I can't see that affecting the FREE energy from the sun, somehow! Go Solar, be free.

Solar Powered Podcast - have a listen!

We have a solar powered podcast! Have a listen to our experimental first broadcast, and then let us know what you'd like us to cover in part two..

Oil prices hit new high -

Oil prices have risen yet further in Friday trading, touching another all-time high as a result of strong demand and continuing dollar weakness.

Click the title to link to the story - this will push ALL energy prices up. Except renewable energy, eg: solar, of course!

See you at ecobuild

We hope to see many people at Ecobuild this week, where the Solar Trade Association will also exhibiting.

http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/

Electricity and Gas Price rises continue

In case you hadn't seen:

Price rises continue for Europe

EDF Energy set to increase prices

E.On to lift UK gas prices by 15%

Q&A: What's behind power price rise?

DF's energy prices have risen by 7.9% while its gas prices went up by 12.9%. Npower put prices up for its electricity customers by 12.7%, and 17.2% for people who receive their gas from the company.

So, what can you do? Well, this really makes Solar Hot Water even better value for money, with payback times down to just a few years - after that, your energy from the Sun is FREE! All you pay is for the electricity for the pump - which uses less than a Sky box!

Here's another report from the BBC, this time on the benefits of solar energy

Johannes Gleede installed a solar thermal panel in the roof of his semi-detached house in south west London ten years ago and paid around £1,500 for it.

From a flat plate solar collector slotted into his roof, water is conducted into a cylinder where it heats. You don't need direct sunlight, just light. And when we visited Johannes' on a December afternoon, the water was certainly hot enough for a shower.

It was an ideal time for Johannes to invest, because he needed to replace the boiler so the total cost was around £5,000 in total.

"I wanted to see if it worked," says Johannes."You have to dare to be crazy." It did work and has cut his electricity bills by 50%."

Jonathan Harris is an energy efficiency adviser to customers of Solar Powered Services, based in the south of the UK

Some Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Energy

We thought we'd go right back to basics for this post and answer a few frequently answered questions...

What is SOLAR Power ?

SOLAR Power is the useful energy that can be harnessed from the sun’s radiation. Even when the sky is overcast, using the latest technology, daylight can be converted into hot water or electricity which we all use and possibly take for granted in our homes every day. If you would like some fact sheets about SOLAR Power please contact us

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Why do we need SOLAR Power ?

The sun has heated the earth ever since time began and it is the very essence of life as we know it. Over millions of years plants have evolved and produced oxygen which has supported the development of all forms of life on earth. However the last two hundred years has seen some major industrial and technological development. The industrial revolution, which evolved here in Great Britain, developed mechanisation of the way work was done and has changed the human social history of the world. The use of fossil fuels was at the heart of this industrial development which is still going on today in places like China. Unfortunately the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to produce power and electricity and for transport has also produced significant levels of pollution. Harmful gasses like Carbon Dioxide ( CO2 ) have been released into the earths atmosphere forming a shield trapping the heat from the sun and causing global warming. This has changed the climate on Earth causing extreme weather patterns with some countries reverting to a state of desert while others have been subjected to severe storms and flooding. It is also thought that this warming is melting the ice at the north and south poles which could cause sea levels to rise and increase flooding. This could also reduce the salt content of the sea which could affect the way in which the gulf stream works warming our northern European climate. It is thought that if the gulf stream shuts off we could experience another ice age within a few decades. These thoughts are controversial but have a lot of scientific evidence supporting them. If you have any comment about this please contact us. Here in the UK on average we receive about 60 % of the SOLAR radiation received at the Equator. Our Thames Valley region receives an average of about 1100 kilowatt hours of SOLAR energy for every square metre of sloping roof ( at 30 degrees ) every year. Nationally this SOLAR radiation is equivalent to the output of 1000 power stations. The average property requires 3000 kilowatt hours every year for domestic water heating alone. Taking into account the efficiencies of the different types of SOLAR collector a SOLAR Powered system could save up to half of the domestic hot water heating costs every year. ( Source: the Solar Trade Association ). Using clean renewable SOLAR energy like this would reduce the need to use coal, oil, gas and electricity fuels together with the associated pollution. It would also reduce our energy bills and the dependency on unpredictable future fossil fuel supplies. For more detailed information about this subject please use our
links page to access the many excellent official web sites

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Isn’t a SOLAR Powered system expensive ?

Technology has improved with prices reducing significantly in recent years. With fuel prices rising and future supplies becoming unpredictable, modern SOLAR Powered Systems are very good value for money. Why not get the facts, have our no obligation FREE home energy survey and report and quotation, then decide for yourself if it is worth harnessing the FREE energy from the sun and saving up to a half of your hot water heating costs every year. ( source: Solar Trade Association ).

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Isn’t the payback period too long ?

The latest equipment is extremely reliable and efficient at making the most of our European climate. Even assuming moderate increases in traditional fuel prices a good SOLAR Powered system will easily pay for itself during its lifetime (possibly many times over depending upon your circumstances and hot water usage). How many household purchases can you say that about ? Also the capital cost of the system would certainly increase the value of the property. If you would like a realistic estimated pay back period for your circumstances why not have our FREE home energy survey and report .

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SOLAR Power doesn’t really work in this country does it ?

We have heard this old chestnut for over 25 years and have concluded that it is an excuse used by some people who have decided that global warming is a myth and that they are determined not to do anything about reducing CO2 emissions.Do greenhouses get hot ??? Do south facing conservatories get hot ??? When you park your car facing the sun does the bonnet sometimes get too hot to touch ??? If you really want to know if it works just talk to someone who has got it ! To find out if SOLAR Power can work for you, get our fact sheets and have our FREE home energy survey and report

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Can SOLAR Power run my central heating ?

Most traditional heating systems will need a boiler to provide the power required in winter months and SOLAR Power will not be able to achieve this high level of power at this time of year. However a ‘thermal hot water store’ is designed to receive inputs from various power sources including a boiler, SOLAR collectors, heat stoves ( Aga or Rayburn cookers etc. ), electric immersion heater. The ‘thermal store’ will use its stored heat to supply your domestic hot water (at mains pressure if required) and can supply underfloor heating systems which could be incorporated into new buildings or extensions etc. In this instance the SOLAR system will help the boiler to do its job and save energy. If you require more information about this please contact us.

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Will SOLAR Power work with my combi boiler ?

Most combination boilers made before 2007 are intended to heat water directly from the cold mains supply and are not designed to receive pre-heated water from SOLAR or any other source. However most boiler manufacturers now realize the benefits of using SOLAR Power to pre-heat the water therefore helping the boiler to save energy and have started to make a new generation of SOLAR compatible boilers. When the time comes to change your boiler you might consider the benefits that a SOLAR compatible combination boiler would offer you. Alternatively investigate a thermal store as described previously.

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Do I need planning permission ?

For most houses outside conservation areas a SOLAR Powered installation would be considered as normal permitted development subject to certain conditions. We always submit a planning enquiry to the local authority and receive permission before proceeding with an installation. It may be possible to install a SOLAR system within a conservation area but this would usually require a full planning application to be submitted to the local planning authority for their consideration of the individual circumstances. If you would like us to make a planning enquiry for you, without cost or obligation to you, please contact us

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Will it require maintenance ?

Every five years the collector panel should be cleaned and the system drained, flushed and checked. Any faulty components should be replaced prior to new fluid being installed and the system re commissioned. This is a chargeable service but should ensure your system to be fully functioning for another five years of good service and energy savings.

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Flate plate or evacuated tube?

First of all it has to be said that they both work but in different ways to each other.Flat plate collectors were first developed about a hundred years ago and very simply are an insulated box with a glazed front panel which allows the radiation through onto an absorber plate. This plate is connected to a tube which passes on the heat to the solar fluid passing through it on its way down to the coil in your hot water cylinder where it heats your domestic hot water. There are some very interesting design variations of flat panels available on the market today.Evacuated tubes were developed in the 1980’s and there are basically two types:Both types use a strong ( borosilicate ) glass tube ( similar to pyrex ) which allows the radiation through onto an absorber plate or pipe running down inside the tube. Incidental radiation is reflected from underneath the tube back onto the absorber by a mirror. A vacuum is created and sealed between the glass tube and the absorber pipe which acts as a good insulator against heat loss from the absorber pipe. A series of these tubes are connected to a top manifold which contains the solar fluid.In the first type the solar fluid flows directly from the top manifold down through the absorber pipe and back up to the manifold again collecting heat on the way, then on to the next tube and then down to heat the water in your hot water cyclinder. The second type is very clever and is called a heat pipe. The absorber pipe is the heat pipe and is sealed containing a special fluid. This vapourizes when heated and is conducted up the heatpipe to the manifold end where it condenses. This releases the heat through the condenser end of the heat pipe to the solar fluid passing through the manifold. This award winning technology works really well and was developed commercially here in the UK over 25 years ago.Flat panels do not perform as well as evacuated tubes in cold or windy situations and are generally not as efficient but usually cost less. Because our climate and individual circumstance are not always ideally suitable conditions for maximizing the use of SOLAR Power we recommend that you consider the most efficient system that you can afford within your budget. If you would like some information about the different collectors and which might be best for you, please contact us

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So how does it all work then ?

If you are heating your domestic hot water in a cylinder ( in the airing cupboard ) with cold water tanks in the loft then
very simply the heated solar fluid is pumped from the collector down through a coil of pipework inside your domestic hot water cylinder where the heat is transferred. This is similar to the way your boiler heats your domestic hot water but if the SOLAR system has already heated it the boiler needn’t switch on, therefore saving fuel. The cooler solar fluid is then pumped back up to the collector for re heating. This cycle continues until your domestic hot water is at the right temperature ( 60 degrees C. ) when a temperature sensor switches the pump off. If you then use some hot water, say for a bath, the sensors on the system switch on the pump and draw more heated solar fluid down to reheat your hot cylinder again. All designed to save using your boiler or immersion heater which will reduce your fuel bills and future dependency on the traditional coal, oil and gas fossil fuels.
There are different systems for heating domestic hot water and SOLAR Power is not always compatible.
To find out if SOLAR Power could work for you, get our fact sheets and have our FREE home energy survey and report .

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OK, I am interested so how much does a SOLAR system cost ?

This is one question we would really like to get right for you. As you have probably gathered by now SOLAR Power does not work for everyones situation and there are so many questions that need answering regarding your individual circumstances :
Is my domestic system suitable for SOLAR ?
Which type and how many collectors would be required ?
Is my roof suitable and facing the right direction ?
Would I require a new hot water cylinder or boiler ?
How much would my fuel bills be reduced by ?
Do I need planning permission ?
Our FREE home energy survey and report will answer these questions and any others you may have and if we establish that SOLAR can work for you we offer you accurate quotations for the most suitable types of system for your circumstances.
Then its up to you !

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If you have any other questions or would like some more information then please do not hesitate to Contact us.

If you're a homeowner in the South East, fill in our
Energy Survey and see if you could start benefiting

Oil price breaks through the $90 barrel mark to reach record high

From The Guardian

Oil prices moved above $90 a barrel for the first time yesterday, setting a record high on the back of renewed political tensions between the US and Iran and fresh concern over supply shortages in the US ahead of the winter months.

Some customers of Solar Powered Services who have oil-fired boilers are now saving in excess of £400 per annum, and that figure is only going to increase.

Carbon output rising faster than forecast

According to a report:
Scientists warned last night that global warming will be "stronger than expected and sooner than expected", after a new analysis showed carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere much faster than predicted.

Experts said that the rise was down to soaring economic development in China, and a reduction in the amount of carbon pollution soaked up by the world's land and oceans. It also means human emissions will have to be cut more sharply than predicted to avoid the likely effects.

 One of the simplest ways to do this is to fit Solar Panels for hot water which each save around 1/3 of a tonne each and every year.

It's Energy Saving Week!

The Energy Saving Trust launched Energy Saving Week this week.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/commit/

Commiting to save energy is a great idea - but doing something about it is even better - why not take our online home energy survey today and see if Solar would be right for you?

Other environmental blogs

Blogger has a round up of other great environmental blogs, including the Environmental Action Blog

RICS report misinformation

You may have a seen a report in today's (Saturday 13/oct/2007) Times, Mail or Telegraph that Solar Thermal energy takes 208 years to pay back. In fact, ALL of the figures in the report are drastically wrong - the figures and costs quoted are 5-8 times greater than "real world" quotes, and the figure for solar energy is completely incorrect.

As member of the Solar Trade Association (STA) , Solar Powered Services abide by the strict ethical guidelines for both marketing and suitability of solar products.

We've contacted the STA and RICS for explanation, and look forward with interest to see where they go the figures from. Click the image below and you'll quickly see just how wrong the figures are.

Printing greener with FSC paper

Solar Powered Services, reputable installers of Solar Thermal hot water heating systems in Reading, Berkshire, have further solidified their green credentials by printing their new information leaflets on FSC approved paper which uses a high mix of recycled material, using vegetable-dye inks.

We chose alocalprinter.com because they have full Forestry Stewardship Council chain of custody, meaning that we can guarantee that our promotional material has as little impact on the environment as possible.

WE apply the same ethical standards to our suppliers and installers of Solar Panels.

The First Post!

This is the new blog of http://www.solarpoweredservices.co.uk/
We'll be posting items of interest here from time to time.