MYTH: Solar is easy to incorporate and provides energy at no cost, and it is cost effective to install if you have the capital.

Answer: Solar energy is great to have to reduce your carbon foot print and operating costs, however, the purchase and installation cost are considerable and usually take some years to recoup.

The method of controlling the solar energy is important to ensure that the solar energy is available efficiently. High efficiency with the energy switched through to maximise economies is usually not part of a standard solar energy proposal except for large complex control systems which can be very expensive. The heating energy load can be considerably higher than the solar provision.  It is common for a basic small solar system to be installed with the perception that it will meet most demands efficiently.  It is important to research carefully what the system will provide and match this to the need.  Meeting the need also needs the awareness that solar energy often may not be available when it is really needed, such as when there is a week or two of cloudy or wet weather in the middle of winter.  Storage facilities, such as batteries, rarely can cover for such occurrences. Heating systems commonly demand energy in the evenings when solar energy is not available.

MYTH: Solar hydronic systems on the market are highly efficient and cost effective, just expensive to install.

Answer: It can be a challenge to find a solar hydronic system on the market that is highly efficient and cost effective.  It is true that installation can be quite costly as the control system used does not provide efficient harvesting and distribution of the solar energy collected, or simply because the harvesting itself is not efficient.

We have installed a number of solar hydronic systems in recent years, however, felt that we could deliver even better outcomes and efficiencies for our customers.  This encouraged us to develop a system that is designed for Australian conditions to manage sustainable energy by effectively utilising renewable energy sources.  The outcome was an overall management of captured hydronic energy  that is efficiently distributed through our Solamander® Hydronic Energy Hub  developed here at Devex Systems . The design has received raved reveiws with the Solamander® system awarded the 2015 Excellence in Innovation Award.

MYTH: Heat pumps are the way to go for Hydronic Floor Heating

Answer: A heat pump may look like a  alternative when considering the energy usage and operating cost but the additional capital outlay could mean an additional $15,000 for an average hydronic heated home.  This can mean a significant investment considering energy costs and expected heat pump life.  For smaller hydronic installations, a heat pumps can be an economical alternative with the new technology availableon the market.  Currently, gas boilers are the most popular with an attractive capital cost and a reasonable running cost.

To learn more please call us on 1800 636 091 or email us on [email protected].