30 African energy
<< Continued from page 29 to be tested under SANS 1307 and have a SANS 6211 deemed performance output? Clearly, with the number of imported solar collectors being slapped onto any SANS 151 tank, the inspectors don’ t necessarily think so— or are other incentives being paid?
I don’ t have the answer to any of it, but I do have opinions.
Fundamentally, I believe that the consumer should be given the choice of what they want in their new home. As a rule, bigger is better and that implies both water storage and a more powerful solar collector. As the payback on most solar is now two to five years( depending on the system), the homeowner is going to benefit financially over the longer term, and the solar system cost is going to be a small part of the overall home cost.
The builder should install a system that has been tested and has a deemed performance output in‘ Q’ factor terms( or kilowatt-hours) that at least matches or exceeds the anticipated minimum 50 %.
The building inspector needs to be realistic and recognise that installing energy saving technology— whether it is solar or a heat pump— is a legal requirement. It is amazing how many new builds seem to have nothing at all.
Putting the onus onto the supplier or the manufacturer, they should state whether the solar system is SANS 10400-XA 2 compliant for a specific tank size. In other words, does it replace more than 50 % of heating one tank of water from cold to hot? At least then, from a consumer protection perspective, there is a recourse chain. It would provide a simple guideline for plumbers, builders, and inspectors. PA
James Green is the CEO of Ubersolar and Pay As You Go Solar, and a member of the SESSA Council.
So how can the building inspector act as the judge and the jury?