| Number 3 January 2006 |
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This New Year we find that the Californian government has, with the blessing of the power utilities, passed legislation to dramatically increase the amount of solar-generated power in that state. It has been generally agreed that by the State supporting this initiative, California will now grow the largest solar industry sector in the U.S., and will possibly lead the world both in research and the production and use of this technology. Congratulations to those reps, and the lobby groups that fought very hard to get this passed (3 votes to 1). For more information: http://www.solarbuzz.com/news/NewsNAGO287.htm By comparison, our pathetic Liberal muppets in Canberra arranged a well-publicised talk-fest about possibly reducing future Greenhouse gas problems in asia, with the end result being to sell uranium to China. One could even think that the conference may have been run for, and by, the mining industry, but financed by us, of course. - hmmm.  With the opening of our new shop at 321 Warrigal Road, Burwood, Solazone Vic is now more prominent for the ecologically aware public. We hope this will put solar solutions more in everybodys minds, as thousands of commuters are reminded of the solar option as they pass our dispays every day. We welcome our new salesperson - Ray - at the shop, who has considerable experience in the recycling industry, and has always been interested in working in the solar industry. He has completed the Renewable Energy Certificate at Swinburne, and looks forward to assisting all clients with their renewable energy projects. Shop hours at Burwood have been extended to include Saturdays from 10 to 2, so that workaholics can visit us at the weekend to discover the solar options to reduce our energy footprint.  Australian Made Rubber has just released a new range of coloured solar pool heating collectors, available from mid January 2006. The new colector type is made in Victoria, and carries a 10 year warranty. It is the same physical size as the very successful hydromatt solar collector strip, yet the price has reduced by about 10%. Colours available so far are terracotta, green, dark blue, grey and black. This means you can now have your solar pool heating match the colour of your roof, when installed in a prominent position. As always, black has superior heat collection properties, but the other colours can work just as well, simply by installing more collector area. The material used to make the new collector strip has been proven to be excellent for indoor pools and spas, as well as for normal domestic outdoor pools. We are currently looking for a number of commercial pools in different areas, that we can use as demonstation and monitoring centres. Special pricing conditions would apply for anyone wishing to be involved in this project. For further information, please contact Ernest Gavey on 0418 711204 Every now and then there is a big jump in technology, and LED lighting has been one of these. With the introduction of LED lighting over two years ago, we marvelled at the amount of light that is emitted by these tiny devices that use next to no power. Now we have the next generation. We have LEDS that change colour, 6 metre strips of LEDS, and solar powered LED pavers that contain mini solar cells and a giant capacitor that stores enough energy to illuminte it all night.  These tiny LED lights come in a variety of colours, and this set of three is sold as a marker buoy set - red, green and white. Available in flashing or continuous on, they never need servicing, and will run in all types of weather, every night. Price: $70 each  The driveway pavers can be concreted into the ground, and light up every night. They come in two sizes, and a variety of coloured LEDs. Prices are $240 and $320 each. Initially we have a display in our Burwood shop window, that runs all night, with a similar display to be set up at Marcoola soon. |
 Sunplus CPC Solar have introduced the latest evacuated tubes solar technology to Australia. This is the first evacuated tube solar hot water system to comply with the Australian Standard, as well as the federal and state incentive programs. According to the distributors, the special CPC reflector design make the evacuated tube collector up to 70% more efficient than flat plate panels, with much better performance in winter.  Solazone are pleased to report the introduction of a new range of frost-free low voltage refrigerators. Over the past 12 months there has been much development in low voltage fridges, as manufacturers withdrew their cyclic defrost refrigerators from the market. Having been left with no refrigerators to convert to low voltage, our fridge engineers went to work, and developed an entirely new concept. The new models not only contain the latest and most efficient Danfoss low voltage compressors, but also have an extra cooling coil (fan assisted), a small low voltage internal circulation fan and a defrost heating element. All of this is fitted to completely stripped down Electrolux or Fisher & Paykel refrigerators, which are available in white, or stainless steel finish. The result of this work is highly efficient refrigerators, that will work virtually anywhere that there is a battery. The benefit is they work so well in all climates, (much better than gas fridges), and the need for fewer solar panels and less batteries to run the fridge. We have installed these fridges in houses, camper vans, buses and houseboats - all with excellent results. Lately we had a new Vestfrost fridge converted in a similar manner, with the bast power usage results ever! For details of models available, see our fridges page, or call us for more information. Aires Almeida, our agent in Dili, has announced that he will now be keeping a stock of 12 volt and 24 volt compact fluorescent lamps in Dili, suited to the local electrical fittings. As with many things that we take for granted in Australia, it is very hard to obtain parts and fittings to repair solar systems in East Timor. If you have a need for any such parts, you can contact Aires on 724 2748, or timor@solazone.com.au If he does not have the parts in stock he will happily order them in for you, and he is also pleased to assist if you have a solar system that needs attention, anywhere in East Timor.  Solazone staff Ernest Gavey, Andrew Rance and Joshua Hope were fortunate enough to be asked to install a grid-powered BP solar system on the roof of the new Earth Garden Magazine offices in Trentham recently. The offices are made from straw bale construction, and are heated by a solar powered SunLizard, and generate most of their own power from the 1500 watt BP Energiser grid-connect solar power system. The story of the construction of the building, and the magazine staff's input, features in the final two episodes of the award-winning channel 7 show 'Hot Property' on Sunday 12th and 19th February 2006 at 6:30 pm.  New Solazone installer Kolya Retif is taking a photo to prove that all 20 BP Solar 160 watt modules installed on our galvanised ground-mount frame, are perfectly in line. Even though the string lines lied when we were doing the installation, in the end all of the panels lined up perfectly. The meaty solar power system is to be used to provide all the power for a house for 4 people, in S.E. Queensland, and is one of the last projects to be installed under the Renewable Energy Diesel Replacement Scheme, that has now finished early because it ran out of funding. The Government is to be condemmed for the fact that this rebate scheme was introduced originally in order to satisfy the Democrats demands for balance, to allow the GST legislation to be passed. Previously there was no sales tax on any solar equipment. Now there is GST on all solar equipment. The rebates are winding down due to no money for re-funding, and the tax on diesel that provided the money for the rebates, has now been removed. One could wonder whether the Government wants solar, or would prefer to sell more diesel ! |
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Demonstrating the Government's committment to renewables, the AGO has just announced imminent reductions in solar panel rebates. As John Howard has been so busy licking George Bush's boots recently, he has obviously overlooked giving the AGO enough money to keep the dribble of solar rebates going. So, to last the distance, the AGO has decided to reduce the rebates by 10 cents per watt every month or so, till the money runs out sometime next year. This all starts at the end of February, so if you're contemplating a solar rebate, urgently put in your application form now, before you miss out, or the money gets re-allocated towards invading Iran or something. | |
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