Some of our Projects
These are just a some examples to indicate the variety of solar project we have completed. Contact us for more information about what we can do for you, or for one of our other projects small and large.
AROHA 13 APARTMENTS SANDRINGHAM
A beautiful 10 Homestar-rated building with 13 luxery apartments build and operated in the most sustainable way. It has four large solar hot water collectors, feeding two large 2500L (e.a.) hot water storage tanks, supplying the hot water ring-main to the apartments. During most of the summer, no electricity is used to heat the water only the sun. A perfect example of sustainability, comfort, technology and reduced operating costs.
Cheviot School Pool
The school was looking for an effective way to heat their swimming pool to improve comfort and extend the swimming season. Different options were evaluated and ultimately 6 large, advanced flat plate collectors, of 8.4 sqm each, were installed. This was the first implementation in New Zealand of a system of this kind and size. Monitoring showed the pool temperature has risen (in March) from around 18° C to over 23° C. A much more comfortable way to learn and enjoy swimming.
Combination of Pool, Space and Water Heating
The Brandon family from Taupo has four large solar collectors, 5.5 sqm each, connected to a smart space heating, swimming pool heating and hot water production system. This increases the utilization of the available energy over the year and reduces the overall equipment needed. The collectors are covered with hardened 'solar' glass and built to last a long time, this maintains their high performance and resistance to external influences.
Floor and Pool Heating on Waiheke
In his beautiful house on Waiheke Island, Mike Robertson and his family are using two heat pumps to heat a 200 m2 concrete floor and a 50 m2 swimming pool. Although heat pumps can save a lot of electricity during most months of the year, Mike decided to take a better look at solar energy to save more on his electricity bill. We installed a 16 sqm solar collector and a specially designed solar cylinder that is feeding both the floor and the swimming pool system. This cost-effective solar system runs all year long and is protected against freezing and overheating with the unique integrated drain back system.
Floor and Pool Heating on Waiheke
For a new resort on the island of Rarotonga, Rick McMillen wanted 4 high performing state-of-the-art systems well suited for the climate conditions on Rarotonga and resistant to the weather. After attending one of our free workshops he decided the price and performance were ideal for his plans. We commissioned the first of 4 systems ourselves and trained Tom, a local plumber, to install the other systems. The back-up electric heating element using expensive island electricity hardly gets used anymore. The system is monitored and savings are checked regularly.
Tuhoe Event Centre
The new Tuhoe Event Centre is one of the largest 'living buildings' of New Zealand. Because burning of fossil fuels was not allowed, PV panels (solar power, covering most of the roof) and 16 sqm SHW collectors (for solar water heating) were installed. The water 1,000 liter hot water cylinder is also equipped with an integrated electric booster providing a back-up for some winter months. The system covers the hot water needs for the kitchen, shower and dishwasher.
Pegasus School Christchurch
When the school decided to build 3 new buildings in a sustainable way, the Board also decided to install a large solar power system and 5 solar hot water systems. The 5 hot water systems produce hot water for the laboratory, bathrooms and kitchen. Despite the variation in orientation of the roofs and mounted collectors the solar collectors provide most of the energy needed.
Bryan Pooley Architect, Auckland
Architect Bryan Pooley knows how to build energy efficient buildings. The main building is not only designed to capture Passive Solar energy for space heating, but the roof is also mostly covered with a solar power system (PV), delivering excess electricity to the grid, and two smaller Solar Hot Water collectors. The heating system is designed for a 4-person household and is aesthetically placed next to the PV panels.
Ports of Auckland Rail Office
In 2017 Ports of Auckland decided to install a solar PV system on the Rail Office Building to compensate for some of the yearly electricity needs of the building. This system produces more than 4,000 kWh of electricity either for self-use or put into the electricity grid.
Dairy Farm, Rorotua
The dairy farm from Deverel and Joy in Rotorua has a typical NZ milking shed where 350 cows are milked twice a day. To reduce the energy bill for producing hot water for cleaning, a solar system with 16 sqm was installed. This provides 56% of the energy needed for the hot water production.
Positive Energy House, Kaiwaka
We not only install renewable energy systems but we live them in them too. EWA Solar built this house in 2008. We decided to design a very energy efficient house that produces 3 times more energy than we need. The remainder is fed into the electricity grid which generates some income. The 4-person Solar Hot Water system produces much more energy than the occupants need for more than 8 months of the year for the kitchen, bathroom as well as the washing machine, so there is even hot water left for the spa. In this case the PV panels are laminated directly onto part of the metal roof.