Energy project
This project is the design process for installing sustainable energy system at my home as a part of an ongoing redesign of my home to meet as many energy needs as possible in a sustainable way. I will be using a permaculture design tool called C L E P.
C L E P
Collect site information
Evaluate the information
Apply permaculture principles
Plan a schedule of implementation, maintenance, evaluation and tweaking
This design tool is similar to SADIMET which I have used in other projects but feel as C L E P focuses more on permaculture design principles and may be more suitable.
C L E P
Collect site information
Evaluate the information
Apply permaculture principles
Plan a schedule of implementation, maintenance, evaluation and tweaking
This design tool is similar to SADIMET which I have used in other projects but feel as C L E P focuses more on permaculture design principles and may be more suitable.
Overview
The most sustainable option and is my ultimate goal is to use the minimum energy to meet my needs. Over the several years I have been reducing the amount of energy required by installing wall,floor and loft insulation, double glazed windows, porch and car port. Installing a wood burning stove is carbon neutral and by using waste wood prevents land fill. Other savings have been the change to low wattage lighting and energy saving appliances such as an A rated refrigerator.There were many options for the next phase they included LED lighting, solar hot water, solar panel feeding the grid and or batteries and a small wind turbine.These systems have a wide range of costs including the embodied energy and the financial break even point to be considered before an informed choice could be made.
Site information
Site information collected over the last 9 years has been of great benefit, building a knowledge base over time though observation and experience when designing the systems for the house, garden and workshop.
- The aspect of the house is North South (see plan) which is suitable for hot water or PV (Photo Voltaic) solar panels. The house is on top of a small hill where winds turbines could be utilized.
- The roof of the house has a hipped construction which means that a third of the roof is facing east and not ideal for solar panels.
- The area of usable roof space would enable x 6 250 watt panels to be installed or 4 panel system and a hot water panel.
- Access to the roof would be via scaffolding.
- Grid or battery station could be sited within the carport and there is good of access to the fuse board of the house.
- There is space to mount solar PV panels on the south wall of the house above the ground floor windows x2.
- There are many trees in next doors neighbours garden which would restrict the placement of a wind turbine and increase costs for cable routing.
- There may be usable space for both hot water and solar PV's on the workshop and garage roofs which also have easy access