Solar system

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Despite signing the 1997 Kyoto agreement Ireland's fuel consumption has risen. We could soon face a carbon tax, imposed by the EU, upping the cost of fuel. We've been told so often that solar panels can heat water and even supply central heating - but how available are these panels? If you decided that you wanted a solar panel right now, would it be possible? Yes - Ireland has a number of suppliers and for around £3,000 (3,809) you can have one installed that will provide most of your hot water, although you will need back-up on sun-free days and nights. "I've been supplying these systems for about five years and things have changed dramatically," says Fritz Raake of Solaris. "We are way behind our European cousins - Austria, which has harsher weather than us, has lots of solar panels."

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If you are building a new house, the solar panel should be thought about early on in the design process. "My heart sinks when people phone me and say they are just about to put the roof on and were now thinking of installing a solar panel," says Fritz. "The panel can go on at this stage but these systems work best with a large water tank and most Irish houses are built with hot presses that accommodate a much smaller cylinder. Larger, well-insulated water tanks are recommended with solar panels because, on a sunny day, you have to heat as much water as you can and then keep it warm."

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An important consideration, says architect Mike Haslam of Solearth Ecological Architecture, is to integrate solar panels into the design of the roof - otherwise they can often look as if they've been tacked on. Integration is more easy in newly built houses where the panel - which resembles a large roof-light - can be flush with the roof. A solar panel installed in an existing house will often need to be roof-mounted, although it can be integrated at extra cost. Solar panels can be highlighted as sculptural objects above, say, a flat roof. You can also buy a different style of solar water heater that comprises tubing, like those used on the Green Building in Temple Bar.

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While it is easier to put a solar panel into a new building, it's not difficult to install one in an existing home. It involves taking tiles or slates off the roof, installing brackets and fitting the solar panel with flashing around it to ensure the roof is watertight. Solar panel companies will carry out the installation themselves - or recommend a plumber. There is a move to train more people in how to install the panels - a job requiring plumbing and electrical skills and feeling comfortable on a roof. An organisation called the Solar Association of Ireland has just been formed, based at the Cork City Energy Agency, with the aim of establishing a training programme for solar energy installers. This will have European funding.

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In Ireland, a solar panel is best suited to heating water - if you'd like to run radiators as well, you will probably need considerable back-up from your regular heating system as the panels will supply only about 40 per cent of heating needs. Solar energy will provide around 70 per cent of your hot water needs during the year, increasing to 90 per cent between April and October.

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Solar panels come in different sizes ranging from 2 metres long by 1 metre wide. The size depends on how much hot water is needed. A family of five would need a 6 sq m solar panel on their roof and a 300-litre water tank. The size of the tank is in proportion the area of solar panelling - otherwise your water will either be too tepid or boiling hot. These solar panels can heat water to boiling point on sunny days; this is the reason pipes should be copper, not plastic.

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The more energy efficient a house is, the easier it is to get all its needs from solar panels. Insulation helps, as does under-floor heating which runs at a lower temperature than radiators. An underfloor heating company, Unipipe, has moved into solar power because the two work well together and many people moving to Ireland from the Continent insist on having this combination.

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Solar panels need to face south and be positioned at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees to achieve optimum solar gain. Flat roofs can have free-standing panels put on them, east-west facing houses can have a panel on the gable wall or, if they are in the middle of a terrace, solar panels can even be put in the garden. A 5sqm solar panel and 300-litre tank costs around £2,500 (3,174) and installation will cost between £600 and £900 (762-1,143). The payback time is around 10 years and the system will last for about 25 years.

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At the moment, other European countries give grants and incentives to install these systems - Ireland has nothing. In Germany, residents get between 35 per cent and 60 per cent of the cost, depending on where they live. Knocking off the VAT would be a start, says Fritz. Certain bodies are lobbying Government departments on this and there are even rumours that there may be something in the next budget. The Government will have to do some explaining in Europe if it doesn't take some on conventional energy reduction. There are no reliable figures but it's estimated that around 200 houses have solar panels.

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"We tend to spend our money on luxuries and need to have a shift in thinking," says Fritz. "Instead of buying a new car every year or two, you could invest in a solar panel. The Irish have always been great about giving to charity, and now we have the chance to invest in renewable energy and our children's future. In the last 30 to 40 years we have done things that have made it difficult for the planet to survive - yet the technology to install renewable energy systems is there and it's very reliable. Renewable energy is the fastest growing industry."