July , Byron Shire EchoArticlesLou Beaumont looks at the decisions involved in choosing solar technologySunbeam me up, the future is hereo wait or not to wait to install solar panels That is the question. Syd Welling, of Sunbeam Solar Systems, will urge anyone who asks not to wait. The time is right to educate yourself about your energy requirements in your home andor ofce and the appropriate solar system to accommodate them. With an increase in the government contribution each household is now entitled to an 8, rebate and with efficient and reliable
grid interactive
solar technology available, there is greater incentive than ever to reduce your carbon emissions and eradicate electrical bills for good. With some households whispering about waiting for new solar cell technology, Welling has a compelling argument, too in-depth for this article, for would-be procrastinators. Syd explains, The current grid interactive system is reliable, efcient and now more affordable. Think of all theTcarbon emissions we could be saving as a country while we all sit and wait for another ve years for new systems such as sliver cell and other non-silicon based technologies which dont have advantages over the conventional and available system in any case. The grid interactive system is the most efcient use of solar technology. Did you know if Australian households switched to solar hot water and renewable energy sources we could reduce Australias dependency on coal red power stations by straight up Unfortunately the powers that be have vested interests in us remaining on the grid day and night. Syd gets fired up when people question the efciency of solar power, he says, There is 1kW kilowatt of energy per square metre in sunlight. A solar panel extracts about .5-.5 of that energy from the sun. A coal red power grid is not even 1 efcient. In a nutshell, the grid usesADVERTISEMENTCommonwealth Carelink Centres Freecall Would you like information about the wide range of community care programs and services available to help you stay at home Call Freecall or visit one of the Commonwealth Carelink Centres around Australia to get information about services in your local region. Calls from mobile phones are charged at applicable ratesDo you need help to stay at homeAuthorised by the Australian Government, Capital Hill, Canberra.old sun inefciently and a solar interactive panel on your roof uses new sun efciently. Syd continues, All of the energy that exists on Earth has come from the sun at one point or other. Coal fired power stations use energy from sun that fell on the earth eons ago, growing trees and carboniferous forests, which decayed over eons and eons forming coal. We now dig up that coal with a mining system that is about efcient. Out of all the product that comes out of the mine about ends up as recycled waste. So you end up with of the mined product being burned in a process thats only efcient. By the time you get through all the inefciencies in the process, including those in the power plant to household journey, we get down to the fact that its a fraction of 1 efcient. Add to that the obvious carbon emissions from the grid system and the fact that the power plant itself consumes an unimaginable amount of water for cooling and lubrication and you have a shocking and simple cycle of power plants inaming the greenhouse effect, in turn compounding widespread drought worsened further by the water guzzled by the grid, resulting in less water in the natural land cycle to potentially relieve drought via rain. By comparison, solar cells on the roof directly convert energy from the sun at the point of source into usable energy, comparatively as a dry compost toilet deals with waste at the point of source rather than piping it off elsewhere for someone else to worry about. Syd believes that it is important that consumersSyd Welling installs a solar power system. Photo Lou Beaumontbegin to focus on systems which offer solutions at the point of use. He believes it is up to us to localise responsibility. By decentralising consumer needs we become responsible for ourselves, taking the power back, so to speak. Syd adds, When we take the initiative ourselves people in actuality take the lead. Then it is true leadership. It comes back to individual responsibility we cant waitfor the government to make the changes necessary or anyone else. Besides, the government will only do what big business will do and big business will only do what there is demand to do. If you are someone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint but perhaps is unsure as to which method is most cost effective and efcient, read on. Buying a hybrid car, for example, would cost ,-,and will save about two tonnes of CO2 per year. By comparison a 1kW grid interactive solar system will cost you 6, after the rebate and will save about seven tonnes of CO2 per year. Additionally, while a car depreciates in value, a solar system will only add value to your home, so it is always worth thinking on the bigger, longer term picture. It is also worth noting that some solar panel manufacturers, although not all, use solar energy to produce their products, making the entire process clean. So by choosing wisely, the energy you will use in your home will have never polluted nor required water, will not produce noise, smoke or carbon emissions and will be free Talk about peace of mind. For any unanswered questions about renewables and the coal industry, Syd Welling is a boundless source of facts and fascinations. He will be running an ACE course, Solar Power System for Home and Business, on Saturday August , 9.am.pm for only for those who are interested in being a part of solutions for climate change. Contact ACE on or download an enrolment form from If you want to arrange a consultation and quote with Syd Welling you can contact him on , or email com.au.Brunswick showcases local productsBrunswick Heads now has its own Visitor Information Centre VIC within the Project Office which is located in Park Street, right in the heart of the town. It is funded by the Chamber of Commerce and incorporates a Work for the Dole Program in partnership with Ballina BETC. The VIC now operates ve days per week, from Tuesday to Saturday, and the team of staff and volunteers provides customer service, information and Simple Pleasures merchandise sales. Brunswick Valley home businesses and artisans can now apply to display and sell their locally produced products or craftwork on consignment at the centre. Wall, shelf and stand spaces of varying sizes are available and items will need to be authentically local and compatible with the Simple Pleasures theme. Contact Carol Kelly on Tuesdays or Thursdays on to find out more.hmaCarelink
