Solar heating systems consist of various applications including radiant heating (hot water powered baseboard or in-floor radiant heat) or forced air space heating (integrates into existing forced-air duct system).The high performance evacuated tube collector systems that SPP offers can support either of these systems, we provide systems for retrofitting solar space heating into an existing air duct system or into a radiant floor/baseboard system.

It is good to know that there is to be some attempt to evaluate the products in this Energywise Scheme. My own observations show quite clearly that unless great care is taken to establish the usage pattern of each household before the solar water heater is programmed to turn on the electricity when required, it is actually possible to inactivate the solar collector and you end up using more than you did without it. Also, in at least one model, you are disconnected from the Ripple System, which is a pity - especially if you have managed to inactivate the solar. How are you to know how much power you are using? There is no way of telling at the meter. But if your 2kwh immersion heater is programmed to be on for three hours, it is going to use 6kwh unless the thermostat reaches 55°C, which it never does in winter. Two three hour spells will have you using 12kwhs of power. Compare that with what you used to use. We found we were using at least 2kwh per day MORE than we did before. There is also the very strange discrepancy between what a solar "Kilowatthour" is capable of and what can be done with a kwh from a power company. Since a kwh is a defined unit, it is a discrepancy that needs to be examined. There is indeed, a great deal to evaluate. The council demands that you connect up a copper pipe to a gully trap as a safety measure, and an inspector comes to see that it is done - but neither the installer nor the inspector are there when the system goes into safety mode, to check if it actually works. Mine doesn't. It uses the header pipe instead and shoots near boiling water all over the place not to mention shaking the plumbing to bits. In high summer, you can end up with a tankful of water at 85°+ and there is no shading device to shut the thing off. It is supposed to do that itself but once you have experienced the safety devices not working you find yourself extremely unwilling to leave it unattended. What do you do on holiday? Easy - you go up on the roof and cover it with a tarpaulin. In a high wind, in Marlborough? Inviting all the savvy burglars into your house? Seriously, that's what I was advised to do. Elf and Safety insist on you buying an extremely expensive copper pipe that doesn't work and then you are invited to go up on the roof with a tarp???/ Bottom line: my solar water heater is marginal in winter and gives me more hot water than I can use in summer. And I have to take control over when the power is switched on otherwise my power bill in winter would be enormous./ I would suggest that Energywise should seriously look at the HRV System. Sound science. Absolutely marvellous. Best thing I ever did.