News

An informative and interesting article about how solar power has benefited a family in South East London.

As well as outlining cost benefits it also describes benefits that are not so familiar in the mainstream.

The break down of what the installation costs versus financial gains is very informative and will definitely aid those that are, at least, considering Solar as an alternative energy source.

The following points were also of particular interest:

"People seem fixated with asking how many years the system will take to pay back. I could answer the question at the current yield of 6%, but that is up to 7% next year, so the payback time will shorten. And if oil prices continue to rise, pushing up electricity prices, my yield will rise and the payback will shorten. So it is impossible to predict.

But all that misses the point. The system represents an improvement to the house that saves money. So it should generate a higher sale value if I move. People don't ask what the payback time is of a new kitchen or bathroom - also home improvements - so why do they ask about a carbon-saving technology?"

» http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/apr/19/householdbills.consumeraffairs2

Alvesta is pleased to announce it has just completed its largest ever commercial contract with Claremont Homes – a large nursing home development in Chichester where we have installed underfloor heating and solar panels to reduce running costs in the years to come.

Alvesta has been awarded a contract by Pearce Construction, one of the largest house builders in the South West, to create five homes (the first for Pearce Construction) which comply with the new code for Level 3 Sustainable Housing.

This requires that houses are 25% more energy efficient than the most recent 2006 building regulations.

Alvesta will achieve these savings using air source heat pumps, solar water heating  and underfloor heating.

Renewable energy hits the big time!

Writers of the top Radio 4 show, The Archers, are introducing a new storyline including the potential of acquiring a bio digester.

As the storyline progresses it will be interesting to see how certain characters react to the proposal, who will be for, who will be against and associated reasoning.

It wail also be interesting to hear how and if attitudes change once the system is in place and operational.

View Alvesta Bio-Digester

For more info click here.

The enquiries for bio-gas generators in both Kenya and Madagascar were for use in rural communities where the supply of fossil fuels is difficult, sporadic and expensive. Farmers will feed animal waste products and vegetation waste into the generator to create methane that will fuel cooking equipment.

As well as their obvious environmental benefits, this highlights the fact that renewable energy products, such as bio-gas generators, have wider reaching, positive socio/economic benefits for rural communities, such as those in Kenya and Madagascar.