An Introduction to Renewable Energy

The term ‘renewable energy’ or  Green Energy has become familiar to many of us in recent years. Described as an inexhaustible source for energy production that harnesses the power of nature in an environmentally friendly way, it is heavily associated with methods for producing electricity that do not require the burning of fossil fuels (Fossil fuels are formed from organic and non-renewable materials over many years.  Coal, mineral oil and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels. Source: DFeS Standards site:Science:Energy Resources:What are fossil fuels?)�

As of 2008, some 5% of the UK’s electricity supply comes from renewable energy - or “Eco-Friendly - sources. The government is targeting this to rise to 10% by 2010, and then 60% by 2050, thus contributing substantially to the long-term aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the UK.  It is not our intention with this article to explain the problem of releasing carbon dioxide into our eco-system, suffice to know that Carbon dioxide (chemical formula: CO2) is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth’s atmosphere in this state (Source: wikipedia - “Carbon Dioxide”).  In higher concentrations: 1% (10,000 ppm) CO2 causes a change in the atmosphere, wich is detrimental to living conditions the world over, see below.

The importance of renewable energy

Traditionally, the UK’s energy needs have been met by fossil fuel sources.  Coal-fired power stations provide the nation with electricity; pipelines pump in natural gas extracted from the North Sea and elsewhere, while oil extracted from rock beds around the world keep our vehicles on the road.  All of these energy sources however spew enormous amounts of carbon compounds and other pollutants out into the atmosphere - both in their production (turning raw materials into usable energy) and end use (consumption of the product by burning).  It is natural that they would for the ‘fuel’ is derived from organic matter - collections of carbon compounds!

But just how bad is the problem? Well the UK emits some 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the sky above Britain every single day. As carbon dioxide is a so-called ‘greenhouse gas’ - i.e. it prevents surface heat from escaping back into space by bouncing it back down towards the ground - our fossil-fuel energy consumption is contributing significantly to global climate change.

Renewable energy on the other hand is carbon-neutral. That is to say that the generation of energy from renewable sources does not add to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each day, and neither does its consumption.

Clearly then, the more energy that we can generate from renewable ‘green’ energy sources, the less polluted the air will be and the more efficient we will be at fighting climate change!

Types of renewable energy

There are several economically viable sources of renewable energy in the UK. A brief description of each follows:

Solar Energy: Heat from the sun may be converted into electrical power via photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Heat energy from the sun’s rays can also be transferred directly to warm a hot water system for example, as is the case in Eretz Yisroel (Israel) where most roofs are equipped with what they call a “Dood Shememsh” (Sun Vat)

Wind Energy: 40% of Europe’s wind resource blows across the UK. With such a massive natural force it makes sense to convert that energy into electricity, which is achieved courtesy of wind turbines.

Wave Energy: The UK is surrounded by water. We therefore have easy access to areas where we can explore methods of energy creation and transfer of that energy from tidal motion and the movement of ocean waves.

Geothermal Energy: The ground beneath our feet is a source of heat energy. It may be extracted by direct heat transfer, or by piping water through an underground loop, the stored heat in the rock bed below warming the water as it passes by.

Bio Fuels: Energy crops such as Miscanthus (Elephant Grass) and willow - both of which can be grown in the UK - can be burned in electrical power stations as an alternative to fossil fuels. Certain types of crop-based bio fuels may also be used as an alternative to petrol and diesel to power our vehicles.

Recycling: Whilst the recycling of used products - like plastic and synthetic rubber - might not fall under the strict term of “renewable energy”, the reason being that fossil fuels are used, nevertheless it certainly goes half-way in reducing the amount of new fossil fuel that is being used.

Renewable energy is the energy of the future. But to get to that ‘future’…a future in which our air is cleaner…we have to act NOW. Embrace renewable energy sources and the world will be a more hospitable place for us, our children and grandchildren.

How to safely install a solar powered hot water system

Living under the cloudy skies of Britain you could be forgiven for assuming that heating the water in your home by solar power is little more than wishful thinking. But, as more and more householders who have solar panels installed on their roofs are finding out, even when the sun’s not shining heating your water by solar power still works…and saves money!

Solar power technology for domestic properties

To heat your hot water using solar energy, three components are needed:

• Solar panels — These are set on the roof of the property to collect solar heat. For optimum performance it is preferable that the roof slopes to a southerly aspect where sunlight exposure is maximised. Before installation you may need to apply for planning consent. However, you should check with the planning office as changes to permitted development rights for microgeneration technology in April 2008 have helped lift many of the planning restrictions applied to roof-mounted solar panels.

Two types of solar panel are available: flat panels, which collect solar heat through a large absorber plate; and evacuated tube arrays, which collect heat via individual absorber plates within the tubes.

• Heat exchanger — A method of transferring heat energy from the solar panels to the domestic hot water system is required. This is often achieved via a manifold system through which the domestic water supply is run. The energy from the panels heats the fluid as it passes through the manifold.

• Hot water tank — For storage of the solar heated water. This may be a cylinder that is additional to your existing hot water tank.

Purchase and Installation

Flat panel solar technology costs around £3,000 to £5,000 to purchase and install. Evacuated tube systems are more advanced, more efficient and (naturally) more expensive!

It is highly recommended that a certified professional installer experienced in solar powered hot water systems is employed for the installation. They can also help you assess your requirements and recommend suitable products for your situation and budget.

Solar powered hot water systems normally come with a 5-10 year warranty. They require very little in the way of maintenance - just an annual check to make sure that the panels are free from debris, and that the water is being heated sufficiently. A more thorough examination of the system by a qualified installer is recommended every 3-5 years.

Benefits of solar power

In the UK a solar powered system will typically supply between a third and a half of all your hot water requirements. The fuel ‘displaced’ can be considerable. In a gas-heated property, savings of up to £70-£80 a year can be expected. For properties whose hot water supply is electrically heated you can factor in a saving of £100-£120 a year! Given that energy prices are rising fast, is it time you considered the solar option?

Owner-occupiers have an option whether or not to maintain their premises. Lease Tenants do not. The landlord’s core business may be his property and he will want to ensure that the premises are kept in a well-maintained condition. Therefore, the landlords’ surveyor may well be instructed to visit the building and view its condition either during or at the end of the lease and produce a Schedule of Dilapidations.

The object of such an inspection is to see if the premises are being kept in a condition required by the lease. The wording of the lease is therefore critical. Many tenants may not be aware that, irrespective of the condition of the property at the start of the lease, they may be required to put their building into good order and maintain it in that way.

This repairing obligation may, however, be limited by the specific wording of the lease or by a Schedule of Condition attached to it. The purpose of a Schedule of Condition is to record the condition of the property at the start of the lease in order to limit the repairs that the landlord can request.

The Schedule needs to form an integral part of the lease and be referred to in it. A qualified Building Surveyor who understands the implications of commercial leases should prepare the Schedule of Condition and both the landlord and the tenant should sign it. It is simply not sufficient for a new tenant to photograph the premises at the start of the lease, hoping that this will limit his repairing obligation.

Philip Campbell, director at Lambert Smith Hampton’s Oxford office explains: “Dilapidations is a minefield for most leased building occupiers. I am still concerned by how many tenants are surprised by the extent, and more importantly, the cost of dilapidations. Too often leases are drawn up and signed without a qualified building surveyor inspecting the premises for the tenant. I am sure that tenants are advised at the start of the lease, by their solicitors, to take professional advice with regard to their repairing liability. I am equally sure that most tenants see this as an unnecessary cost and therefore do not have the survey done. With hindsight I believe most would agree that they should have”.

“Many tenants seem to be completely unaware of the extent of their liabilities and can simply not accept that defects present before the commencement of their lease have become their responsibility. By having an Assessment of Potential Dilapidations Liability produced prior to signing a lease a tenant is able to identify areas where expenditure may have to be made to maintain or repair the fabric of the building as required by the covenants of the lease.”

“Having to deal with dilapidations at the lease end, usually within a given time scale, impacts on the business, and it is not the best way to run a successful organisation. In addition the costs incurred by defending a dilapidations claim can be high and therefore impact greatly on the profitability of a business.

With professional advice at the start of a lease, many such problems could have been avoided.” Philip goes onto say: “Depending upon the length of lease remaining, schedules of dilapidations can either result in the tenant having to undertake works to their premises or agree a financial settlement with the landlord. The financial settlements can also include legal and surveyors fees, loss of rent claims and the need to pay additional service charge and insurance payments after the end of the lease term.” “Dilapidations law is no respecter of the size or financial standing of an organisation and large national and multinational companies are at as great a risk as smaller independent organisations. I have recently been involved with claims ranging from many hundreds of thousands of pounds down to four figure claims and all would have had a substantial impact on the profitability of the organisations involved.”