Green Facts

1. You’ll never find an Aga on a landfill site Unlike other types of stoves, every Aga is almost completely recyclable. Since the very first model was made more than 80 years ago, 70% of each Aga has been made from previously used material. Car gearboxes, guttering, old machinery, cookers, door fittings, drain covers, lamp-posts and much more can all be found in the world’s most famous stove.

Solar Sphere

With all the press given to solar power these days, many people are wondering if its right for their home. Photovoltaic power, or PV power is a great way to go green, lower your electric bills, and help the planet. And with so many government and local incentives, there have never been more reasons to start generating energy from the sun. Let's talk about some of your options.

Grid-Tied Solar Systems

This is the easiest, and most popular, way to get starting in PV power. These systems simply tie into your existing home power system and the utility grid. If your array generates more energy than you use, the energy is sold back to the power grid and creates a credit for you. The advantages of these systems are the relative simplicity and lower initial cost. A system like this typically requires a few panels, some wiring boxes and disconnects, and an inverter. The inverter converts the electricity from your panels to power that your home and the grid can use.

One of the disadvantages of this system is that there is no storage. If you experience frequent blackouts and need backup power, this system won't work because it does not store the solar power. This system is also not feasible for remote cabins and cottages that don't have a nearby power grid.

This system also requires a interconnection agreement with the local utility. This outlines just how the connection to the grid should be made and what the inspection schedule is. It is generally advisable to get your power company involved early on for a grid-tied system. Since there are often incentives and rebates in place from the state and the utility, its well worth the call.

Hybrid Solar-Generator Systems

For off-grid and back-up power applications, most folks turn to a hybrid system. The hybrid system usually consists of a PV array, a charge controller, a battery bank, an inverter, and sometimes a tertiary power source such as a wind turbine or a gas generator. These systems are fairly complex and require a high level of expertise to design and install. With the popularity of off-grid living, however, there are more and more packaged systems for people to choose from. These systems will provide power if the grid shuts down and can still sell power back to a grid if desired.

The biggest disadvantage of these systems is the cost and complexity. The battery bank requires regular maintenance and must be replaced long before the panels are done generating. They are also fairly expensive. These costs, however, are often a better alternative to the cost and hassle of bringing in grid power to remote locations.

Off-Grid Solar Dependent Systems

For cheap power in remote locations, often these systems are the only choice. They generally consist of a small battery bank, a charge controller, and a solar array. People with these systems choose to use all DC appliances so as to avoid the cost and inefficiency of inverters. These systems have the advantage of lower initial cost. The batteries are still an issue for maintenance cost. And there is no backup power if weather doesn't allow the panels to charge the batteries.