Michael Hancock and Sophie Graves (pictured with Sid, above) asked Soltrac to install a solar water heating system at their home in Thorncombe, Somerset. They are both active in the Transition Town movement and working to establish Thorncombe Transition Village. So cutting their own carbon emissions and setting an example to the village was a priority.

We installed two Schüco Kompakt panels, on rails over the tiles, and put in a new solar water cylinder. The cylinders we use, made by UK company Gledhill, have a rockwool insulating jacket that Gledhill consider keeps in the heat much better than the foam normally used. Experiments on one at our research facility has shown it typically loses only 2-3º a night – but of course all the surrounding pipework has to be well insulated too.

The installation was entirely straightforward. The panels were positioned as far to the left hand side of the roof as possible, so allowing the maximum of space for a later solar PV array.

© Soltrac 2010