Water Products: Overview
Whether you want to filter it, use it to heat your home or heat for use in your kitchen, laundry or bathrooms, Planet Power has the right water product for you.
We understand that not every situation can be covered by the same solution. For example:
- in some situations it may be that a heat pump is a better solution than solar hot water
- not all solar hot water systems are the same and whether we recommend a heat pipe system or U-tube or flat panel will be determined by the factors relating to each situation rather than a desire to sell a particular product
At PLANET POWER we work with you to design and implement the solution in every category that best fits your needs in the long term.
Hot Water
Depending on the number of people in your home, the number of bathrooms you have, the ages and gender of your children, hot water from a traditional electric hot water system can account for as much as 35% of your total household energy consumption. Even if you are on a night or off-peak tariff, that can still amount to a great deal of money.
Most Australian States and Territories have a policy of phasing out the use of traditional electric hot water systems in homes other than multi-storey apartment blocks over the next few years. This will mean that, when the time comes to replace your existing hot water system, it will have to be with either gas, solar or a heat pump.
Currently there are substantial Commonwealth and State Government rebates available if you upgrade from electric to solar, gas or heat pump systems. Who knows how long those rebates will be available when you can no longer buy electric?
Your Planet Power energy expert will be able to advise you on how the rebates apply and assist you with the applications – all part of the service!
So, what are the different systems available and how do they work?
Solar Hot Water
Using the Sun’s energy to heat water will save you energy, lower your hot water bills and reduce greenhouse pollution.
Solar Hot Water systems work effectively throughout Australia. Planet Power offers a range of solar hot water products using the very latest technology and will work with you to identify the best solution for you.
Using the Sun’s energy can reduce your household hot water bills by up to 80% each year (based on standard water use with collectors in optimum position and pipe run as normal).
Solar hot water systems also help conserve our natural resources and the environment. Converting one existing electric water heater to solar reduces greenhouse pollution as taking one car off the road each year.
Solar hot water systems are equipped with gas or electric boosters to ensure you are never without hot water, even when it is raining and the Sun has taken a holiday. Technology advances in recent years mean systems are now 40% more efficient than their counterparts of 30 years ago and frost problems have now been eliminated.
How does it work?
For solar water heating in your home, there are basically two types of solar collectors – conventional flat-plate and evacuated tube.
Evacuated tube technology has a number of advantages over flat-plate. It works on overcast days, in colder weather and the tubes can be installed and replaced individually. The tubes act like a giant thermos, allowing 93% of the Sun’s radiation in, but only 3% – 5% out.
Thermal conduction and convection losses are almost nothing (under 2%) because of the vacuum gap. This design allows the system to work in very low temperatures (down to about -40OC). The heated water is then stored in an insulated storage tank. An auxiliary heater is also included in the system to boost water temperature on days when solar energy may be insufficient to meet all your hot water requirements.
Is it a good investment?
In terms of the environment and greenhouse gas pollution, solar hot water is an excellent investment.
A solar hot water system could pay for itself in as few as four years of use at today’s gas and electricity tariffs. This period would shorten as tariffs continue to rise.
Boosters may be run on off-peak electricity, gas (natural of LPG) or solid fuel.
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH SOLAR INPUT AUSTRALIA HAS IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER COUNTIRES AROUND THE WORLD.
What type of tank should I purchase?
Storage tanks for solar hot water systems are generally made from either stainless steel or mild steel that is coated with vitreous enamel (mains pressure). Vitreous enamel lined tanks have a “sacrificial anode”, which is designed to reduce corrosion of the tank. These anodes require periodic checking and replacement every 5-7 years on average.
Black Balloons
Every Victorian household produces over twelve tonnes of greenhouse gas (240,000 black balloons) per year.
Going solar saves around 60,000 black balloons per household.
Frost Protection
Evacuated tube solar hot water collectors need no glycol or chemicals in frost prone areas. Systems that use glycol lose 10% in performance and need regular changing of the glycol, which can be costly.
Yearly Running Costs Solar v other forms of power
Rebates
Solar Hot Water Systems attract renewable energy certificates (RECS). The number attracted will vary system by system. Please check with your Planet Power consultant for the most recent information. RECs can be done as a point-of-sale rebate or the customer can claim them for themselves. The REC price varies in accordance with geographical location and market price fluctuations.
In addition:
- VIC VEET – the number of VEECs will vary in depending on location of install or SV Regional rebate
- SA REES – value to energy retailer
- Qld Rebate – $600, or $1000 for pension card holders. For the customer to claim this rebate, you must be changing from an electric hot water system to a solar hot water system.
- Federal Solar Hot Water Rebate – $1,000 for Solar Hot Water and $600 for a Heat pump. For the customer to claim this rebate you must be changing from an electric hot water system to a solar hot water system or heat pump AND you must not have already claimed the Federal Home Insulation rebate.
Please contact us to find out more
Heat Pump
Using a Heat Pump water heater will save you up to 70% of the energy you currently use to heat water (based on standard water use with collectors in optimum position and pipe run as normal), lower your hot water bills and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
It’s like a solar water heater without collector panels. In fact it operates like a refrigerator, only in reverse, transferring the heat in the surrounding air to the stored water. The heat pump’s use of refrigerator technology makes it extremely efficient, using approximately one third of the energy of a conventional electric water heater.
How does it work?
The principle is very similar to the operation of a refrigerator, except in reverse. The heat pump system contains a fan that forces the surrounding air through an evaporator that contains very cold liquid refrigerant. The heat in the air that passes through this evaporator is absorbed by the refrigerant. The now warm gaseous refrigerant is then circulated through the system by way of a compressor. As it goes through the compressor its temperature increase and the temperature increases further.
From here it travels to the condenser, where the heat from what is now a super hot refrigerant is transferred to the water supply tank.
The now cool refrigerant then goes through an expansion valve, which reduces its pressure, cooling it further and the cycle starts again.
Unlike a Solar Hot Water system, the Heat Pump uses no panels on the roof. It has a substantially lower installation cost and be installed either inside or outside. It doesn’t matter whether it is night or day, rainy or sunny; the heat pump simply uses the air around it to create hot water.
Is it a good investment?
In terms of the environment and greenhouse gas pollution, heat pumps are an excellent investment.
The Payback
The beauty of this technology is that the amount of electrical energy required to operate the heat transfer process is far less than the energy used by a conventional electric element.
The energy use is approximately 25% of conventional hot water cylinders.
You save 75% of your current energy bill for hot water, or more, as higher air temperatures means more savings. With the predicted increase in energy costs and the need to reduce greenhouse emissions, the system makes sense for you and the environment.
Rebates
Heat pumps do attract renewable energy certificates (RECS). The number attracted will vary system by system. Please check with your Planet Power consultant for the most recent information. RECs can be done as a point-of-sale rebate or the customer can claim them for themselves. The REC price varies in accordance with geographical location and market price fluctuations.
In addition:
- VIC VEET – the number of VEECs will vary in depending on location of install or SV Regional rebate
- SA REES – value to energy retailer
- Qld Rebate – $600, or $1000 for pension card holders. For the customer to claim this rebate, you must be changing from an electric hot water system to a heat pump.
- Federal Solar Hot Water Rebate – $600. For the customer to claim this rebate you must be changing from an electric hot water system to a heat pump AND you must not have already claimed the Federal Home Insulation rebate.
At a glance – The Advantages
- Uses up to 80% of FREE environmental energy and converts that into useful heat.
- Energy savings comparable to solar units but without the roof panels and installation expense
- The largest amount of hot water for the least amount of energy
- Works efficiently at night or when cloudy
- Active defrost to keep efficiencies and savings high
- Suitable for installation with a PV Solar Power energy source for the ultimate in CO2 reduction
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor installation.
Follow this Link to find out about the Planet Power range of energy efficient Heat Pumps, or
Please contact us to find out more
Hydronic In-Floor Heating
Hydronic or “Radiant Floor” heating is a method of heating a home, shop or other building, using water with the heat concentrated in the floor.
Hydronic heating systems are known by many names- hydronics, hydronic heating, in-floor heating and in-slab heating, to name a few!
The principle of under-floor heating was well-known to both the ancient Romans, and to the Koreans. Today, modern hydronic heating systems are the most efficient form of space heating available, and particularly suitable for the Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne regions.
How does it work?
It works by embedding special tubing in a concrete foundation or in a thin concrete mixture on top of a wood-framed floor.
Heated water (or a food-grade anti-freeze mixture) flows through this tubing, warming the thermal mass of the concrete.
Conventional forced-air systems, wood stoves or other heating methods produce uneven heat, with the highest air temperatures near the ceilings.
Hydronic heating puts the heat in the floor under your feet, gently warming a room or a complete structure. This results in superior comfort without wasting energy.
With efficiency and comfort, solar hydronic heating is your first choice for home heating.
The warm water heats the room when circulated through tubing in a radiant floor or through panel radiators. Water is first heated by solar collectors. The heated water is circulated to a heat device like panel radiators, skirting board convectors or under-floor pipes, where it emits the heat and returns to the solar collector for re-heating.
Electric, gas (natural of LPG) or solid fuel boilers are used as a back-up at night or during overcast days.
Solar power is the most environmentally friendly fuel source as it does not contribute to greenhouse pollution.
Solar Hydronic Heating systems are a clean and environmentally safe source of heating, which is free of windy drafts and noise.
Solar Hydronic Integration
Hydronic sub-floor heating has been designed to run in conjunction with solar power. Solar Energy can be harnessed as a pre-heater to the hydronic heating system, cutting running costs and energy consumption.
As the required temperature for underfloor heating is quite low (approx 30º) this makes Hydronic slab heating ideal for integration with the gentle heat of a Solar Energy source. Rooftop solar panels collectors used in conjunction with gas boosted boiler makes the system incredibly energy efficient with almost the entire energy requirement being supplied by the solar component with very little boosting required. This is particularly viable in the Australian climate. The front-end costs are higher, but as the system operates more efficiently the payback period (3-5yrs) is significantly shorter than other solar power systems.
Little to no maintenance is required as the temperature is set at installation and then left. There are no moving parts within the slab structure once the system is sealed. Product lifespan is indefinite with warranty for 20 or 30 years.
Why Hydronic Heating?
- You get to use free energy from the Sun, which heats your home naturally
- Solar Hydronic Heating is the best quality heating system available, adding comfort and value to your home
- Asthma and allergy sufferers will benefit from a system with no movement of air and dust
- The heat in your home can be better controlled and delivered where and when you require it
Solar underfloor Hydronic Heating Systems ensure a comfortable warm floor, consistent temperature and it is suitable for concrete floors, tiled floors and even floors covered by carpet.
The floor slab transforms into a slow-release radiant heat bank providing uniform temperature throughout. Under-floor radiant heat systems are almost aligned with the “optimum heat curve” as defined by the heating industry.
Features
Even Heat – Hydronic heating systems provide a more even heat than other heating solutions.
Comfort – Hydronic heating is the most comfortable form of heating as it is provided by natural convection and radiation, and much more comfortable than blown hot air. No more suffering from dry air, drafts or unbalanced hot and cold spots from high temperature fires, burners or ducted systems.
Silent – There are no fans so there is no noise or draft, just quiet, comfortable warmth. The only moving parts are in the pump, contained within the heating system. A small volume of hot water will deliver the same amount of heat as a large volume of warm air. Heating air, rather than water, requires ductwork many times larger than water-filled pipe.
Reliable – Hydronic Heating is an extremely reliable heating system.
Healthy – Ideal for allergy or asthma sufferers as hydronic heating warms with minimal air movement, eliminating dust and allergens.
Individual Control – Each sector or radiator has a control that will adjust the heat level. Living areas can be warmer than bedrooms and seldom-used room can be turned off to provide the level of comfort you want and to save on energy.
What does it Cost?
Radiant Hydronic heat used for slab heating is an efficient and comfortable form of central heating. It has a lower required operating temperature than a panel radiator system hence is ideal for integration with a solar power source.
The cost of slab heating is usually around $60.00 per square metre all inclusive. There are additional costs for insulation around slab perimeters to minimise heat loss from edges of the building.
Follow this link to find out more
Water Filtration
Planet Power provides a compact water filtration system designed to remove many of the harmful bacteria and additives found in our water.
To remove contaminants from the water, several filter media have to be used. There is no single filter media that is able to remove all harmful contaminants.
Pool Products
The home swimming pool is an integral part of the Australian way of life. The problem is, most pools are installed with little regard for what they cost to run or the environmental impact of standard pool operation and maintenance equipment.
The standard pool pump is one of the most energy hungry and noisy appliances used in over a million Australian households today and can consume as much energy as all other household appliances combined.
When you add the cost of pool and spa heating as well as simple maintenance, cleaning and filtration, it is little wonder that the home pool often becomes more significant in our thinking for its cost than for the pleasure it gives us.
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