In article , David Hansen
wrote:
Living in an
isolated spot with bottled gas as our energy source the cost of
heating the water was astronomical and a year round expense.

If you're using bottled gas then solar heating may make sense. If you
run a typical mains gas heated 108m2 detached house built to 2001-
standards with a condensing boiler through the SAP-2001 model you get a
total energy cost for heating and DHW of £173 (2001 prices) which
reduces to £158 if you add a 4m2 solar panel.

The new Part L Approved Document which comes into force next April
might just increase interest in solar heating since it sets a total CO2
target for a new dwelling: if you add solar heating (etc) you have the
potential to reduce insulation levels elsewhere. Truth be told it would
be far more useful to ensure that *every* loft in the country had 100mm
of insulation.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
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