Week 10 - HOT WATER! PLEASE!

The weather is getting cold recently, isn't it?

Have you also found that while the temperature is getting lower, the electricity is getting unbelievably high too?

In Sydney, winter is slightly "stronger" than summer, which is why energy consumption in winter is higher. Many new constructed houses have sufficient thermal masses, maximise solar heat gain and minimise heat loss strategies in design. However, as most Sydney homes are built a few decades ago, technologies were not as mature as it is now. Without sufficient thermal mass, residents can only use heaters and hot waters to keep them warm during winter. In Australia, water heating the the largest source of GHG emission and the secon largest segment of energy consumption. 

Actually, there is solution - solar hot water heating (SWH) system! It is a system including convert solar energy into renewable energy to provide water heating resource from solar thermal collector. This system can provide from 50%-90% hot water without extra energy/gas consumption as well as GHG emissions.

Pathways for converting solar energy.

I would like to promote this system more, as in my opinion, it is very sustainable and at the same time it can reduce our bills significantly.

A quick video explains about how the solar hot water works:

The reason I would like to promote this system includes that in researches, it shows that only 5% of Australian homes have installed and using such system. The low uptake rate surprises me as even I have been in Australia for a few years, I feel that sunlight here is an invaluable resource. As a country like Australia, taking sustainability as the first in its agenda, instead of setting up a whole development plan to change the city into a "sustainable city", why not just promote this small small technology in individual housings?

The question leads me to find out the barriers to change, including:

• Cost efficiency issues, relatively high upfront cost makes residents hesitate about the technology
• Administrative issues, lack of related regulations and incentives on installing such systems
• Design and technology issues, although SWH system is pretty mature, it is not specifically adjusted to Australian climate.

It is important to overcome these barriers. I think relevant policies would help. But whatever the methods are, I think a higher uptake rate of this system can help Australia step forward in terms of being a sustainable city.

Resources:http://www.yourhome.gov.au/sites/prod.yourhome.gov.au/files/pdf/YOURHOME-4-Energy-2-HotWaterService-(4Dec13).pdfhttp://www.australiandesignreview.com/opinion/679-the-failure-of-solar-water-heating