Blogging on the Roof

Over the Easter weekend Chris and I have been helping install my parents new solar water heating panels. We already have a nice shiney set of photovoltaics (the true electricity-producing 'solar panels') which produce about 5 kWh in the summer, but in a further attempt to reduce our carbon footprint (and enchance my step fathers PhD research) we've invested in these new panels to generate all the hotwater needed in summer to remove the need for burning the boiler (which itself generates electricity).

On Good Friday we raised the panel onto the roof and then today have been preparing the piping to connect it into the water tank. Before it's conected the panel is kept under cover (hence the brown cardboard) to prevent it over heating while it's dry. When it's connected up with water flowing it will be generating hot water whenever the sun is out as there is a tiny solar powered pump to drive the system - how neat.

Our panels are pretty damn cool and are made by Solar Twin. Check out their website and why not pick yourself out a panel for your house.

Peter and our eco-roof (photovoltaics behind and solar water heater infront).


The water heating panel up close.


Me blogging on the roof. I've also slept on this roof.




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1 comment:

  1. PeterMonday, 9 April 2007 at 19:41:00 GMT

    Why does it matter if it overheats when dry? Very interested what system you're using, as I was talking to Mum and Dad about doing this on our large south-facing roof. PV cells would cost too much, but solar water heating needs to be done :)

    And what's the PhD research your step father's doing?

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