12
Oct, 2022
solar

Ecological House: The Essential Equipment

If you want to participate in the protection of the environment, opt for an ecological house. To do this, you can renovate your old house or build a new one with the appropriate materials and equipment. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things that can help you choose them.

Natural materials

The roof

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Start by choosing a natural wood roof. With this material, the frame can be erected in the shortest possible time while keeping the site clean. You can add brick, stone or wood panels for more aestheticism.

For the roof, use shingles, as they offer the advantage of being both light and resistant. You can also opt for terracotta tiles without dyes, which can last for over 150 years. You can choose between a cone-shaped, flat, or mechanical tile, depending on your taste. It is also possible to install concrete tiles by choosing flat shapes with a roof pitch of 45°.

The walls

Three options are available for having an ecological wall:

  • Brick walls: bricks are noble and are very resistant to fire ;
  • Terracotta walls: they blend in perfectly with the wooden equipment to harmonize your interior decoration;
  • Wooden walls: in addition to their durability, these walls have a good natural hygrometric regulator. Favour labelled models to limit the importation of exotic woods. Don’t hesitate to call a renovation specialist if you want to change the type of wall.

An ecological heating system

By choosing an ecological heating system, you can save more energy and optimize your comfort. It also contributes favourably to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. To benefit from renewable energy by using a boiler, opt for the following:

    • A low-temperature boiler 
    • A condensing gas boiler
    • A micro-generation gas boiler
    • A wood pellet boiler.

As for the heat pump, choose:

    • An air-to-water heat pump
    • An air-to-air heat pump
    • A geothermal heat pump.

You can also use stoves by choosing :

    • Wood pellet stoves 
    • Log stoves
    • Mass heating stoves.

Insulation

A natural insulator is the most effective in enjoying thermal and acoustic comfort.

Cork

Cork comes from the cork oak tree and is available in the form of loose sheets or granules. Its quality lies in its resistance to humidity and its rot-proof character. It is often used to fit out uninhabitable attics. You can also install it on floors or walls.

Wood fibre

insulation

Wood fibre insulation is suitable for floors, walls, partitions and roofs. It is available in rigid, semi-rigid and bulk panels.

Hemp wool

Hemp is renowned for its rot-proof, anti-fungal and thermo-regulating properties. This insulation is suitable for walls, attics, roofs and partitions.

Flax fibres

The fibres to be used must be short for them to become insulating. They are resistant to insects, rodents and moulds thanks to the presence of boron salt. Attics, roofs and walls can accommodate them well.

Sheep’s wool

Sheep’s wool is the ideal insulator to avoid hearing airborne noise. Available in panels, rolls and felt, it is intended for roofs and attics that are not habitable. To have better resistance, it is better to treat it with boron salt.

Duck feathers

Duck feathers are reserved for lost attics, walls, ceilings and floating floors. They exist in rolls and panels.

Cellulose wadding

insulation

 

Cellulose wadding insulation is intended for lost attics, partitions, floors and false ceilings. It prevents the creation of thermal bridges thanks to its lightness.

However, some of these insulations are not suitable for houses under construction. Call an eco-builder to get the right one if this is the case.

Sound off in the comments section below, and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about building a green and sustainable home.

7
Oct, 2022
home

How To Connect A Solar Panel?

For the sake of energy saving and ecology, you have decided to turn to renewable energy by opting for green energy. There are a plethora of hot water systems on the market, and you have a wide array of choices to choose from. However, this can be a bit dicey because you don’t know what hot water system is perfect for you.

The type of water heater you choose should depend on your budget, but we advise you to invest in a solar water heater if you have the money. This is a great idea! You already have everything you need, and all that’s left to do is to make the connection. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things everyone needs to know about solar panels.

Installing the solar panels

solar

Before you can connect the solar panels, you must first successfully install them. This task must be done step by step:

1. Properly orientate the solar panels

This first step should not be neglected. For optimal efficiency, you should choose a sunny location, placing the solar panels according to the orientation of the house’s slopes: on the southwest, south, or southeast side.

2. Finding the right tilt

To produce the maximum amount of energy, find the right inclination: 30°, no more, and no less. This way, the panels can easily and optimally capture the sunlight.

3. Question of shading

The principle is simple: the less shade there is, the more sun there is. In other words, avoid areas where there are large trees, as they only reduce the production of solar energy.

Choosing the type of solar panel connection

There are two main types of connection: parallel wiring and series wiring. To know which one to choose, we will explain the difference between these two systems:

1. Parallel wiring

solar

A connection of solar panels by parallel wiring generally allows for an increase in the intensity. It consists in connecting all the positive terminals together and all the negative terminals together.

2. The series connection

The purpose of this one is to add the voltages. To make a connection of solar panels in series, it is enough to connect a positive terminal of a panel to a negative terminal of another and vice versa. The choice between these two types of connection depends mainly on your regulator.

In any case, you can find out which connection to make in the user’s manual or in the assembly instructions of your device. If you don’t know where to start, the best solution is to call an experienced installer. It is made up of a team specialized in the installation of photovoltaic panels.

Connecting a 12 and 24 V solar panel

As you have seen, there are two types of solar panels: those that work in 12 V and those in 24 V.

1. A 12 V assembly

This is the perfect assembly for devices that do not support a higher voltage. However, it requires a parallel connection.

2. A 24 V assembly

To obtain a power of 24 V, you need two batteries of 12 V and to connect them in series. The connection of solar panels must also be in series. This is the best way to produce more solar energy. If you plan to use your lights and appliances at the same time, choose a 24V connection.

Is it necessary to connect a photovoltaic inverter?

solar

The answer is yes! Indeed, a photovoltaic installation must contain:

    • Solar panels
    • A regulator: to secure the connection
    • A photovoltaic inverter.

The latter is the element in charge of transforming the direct electric current into alternating electric current. This means that it is essential to supply all your circuits in the correct way.

Sound off in the comments section below, and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about solar panels.

31
May, 2022
electricity

Thermal Insulation Of A New Construction: Which Material To Choose?

It is very important to insulate your house or building. A poorly insulated or uninsulated house could suffer many consequences. What is thermal insulation? How to insulate a home? What material should I choose for the thermal insulation of a new construction?

What is the thermal insulation of a house?

thermal

Thermal insulation of a house or a building consists of creating an envelope around the house with insulating materials to reduce heat loss. This ensures a comfortable and pleasant temperature for the occupants of the house. Thus, an insulated house keeps the heat inside in winter and the coolness in summer.

A well-insulated house consumes less energy and saves a lot of money on energy bills. This technique reduces the house’s energy needs and greenhouse gas emissions. Today, there are very strict regulations for new construction. All the important points of the house, i.e., walls, roofs, windows, doors, etc., must be taken care of to ensure a high level of thermal insulation, as the roofing specialists know so well.

Good thermal insulation means 80% savings!

Thermal insulation concerns the roof, the walls, and the floor. It consists of reducing the famous “thermal bridges”, those junction points where the insulation is not continuous and causes heat loss. Manufacturers offer many types of insulation: mineral (glass or rock wool, cellular glass, expanded clay), natural (cork, wood fibers, sheep wool, coconut fibers…), synthetic (expanded polystyrene, extruded or polyurethane foam), or brick, pumice, vacuum insulation panels (VIP). The number one objective is to reduce your energy bill while enjoying a pleasant room temperature.

What material to choose for the thermal insulation of a new construction?

For the thermal insulation of a house, many insulating materials can be used. These materials are classified into different categories, namely

    • Mineral insulation: glass wool or rock wool; cellular glass; perlite, vermiculite
    • Natural insulators: hemp, wood fiber, sheep’s wool, duck feathers, flax, etc.
    • Synthetic insulation: polystyrene, polyurethane
    • Recycled insulation: cellulose wadding or recycled textile
    • New generation insulation: cellular concrete, insulating panels such as Ecap Nano or monomer

All these different materials can be used for the insulation of new construction. Indeed, the materials are chosen according to the part to be insulated. For example, not all insulating materials are suitable for the thermal insulation of a thatched roof.

Thus, for the thermal insulation of walls, it is preferable to use the following insulating materials: cellular glass, rock wool, glass wool, polystyrene, thin insulating materials, wood fibers, hemp, flax fibers, cellulose wadding, PIV, “monomur” brick, sheep wool.

For the ceiling, the following materials are more suitable: perlite, glass wool, duck feathers, sheep’s wool, polyurethane, and polystyrene. For the roof and attic, perlite, rock wool, glass wool, vermiculite, polystyrene, thin insulation, wood fiber, hemp, flax fiber, duck feathers, cellulose wadding, and sheep’s wool can be used. It is recommended to make a roof window in the roof to benefit from daylight.

The different thermal insulation techniques

thermal

There are generally three techniques of thermal insulation to know:

  • Thermal insulation from the outside: this technique consists of insulating the house or building from the outside by covering the roof and the facades. Also, it is necessary to think of protecting the roof of your house with a good quality roof covering
  • Thermal insulation from the inside: this technique consists of placing the insulating material against the interior walls of the building and in the attic. This technique is much more used for renovations
  • The distributed thermal insulation consists of using the insulating material to build the walls. It is the technique that is more suitable for new construction. The materials best suited to this technique are insulating bricks or blocks of insulating breeze blocks.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about thermal insulation.

19
Apr, 2022
home

Building A Low-energy House: The Steps

The state of the planet is worrying because of human behavior, and the high energy consumption is at the center of the debate. State provisions have been created to encourage the implementation of systems to reduce the energy consumption of each household. It is in this context that since 2012, the Low Energy Building (low-energy house) standard has come into force for the construction of new buildings. Here are the different steps to take to comply with this standard.

What is a low-energy house?

solar

A low-energy house is a new construction or a renovation respecting the Bâtiment Basse Consommation (low-energy house) standard. It is a house built to respect an annual energy consumption of 50 kWh/year. To reach such a level, it is recommended to insulate the walls and attics, airtightness, adoption of solar energy, and improvement of the ventilation system.

But the main objective remains the reduction of carbon emissions and the reduction of energy consumption. Since 2012, the low-energy house standard has become mandatory for new constructions. All real estate construction projects must take steps to acquire the low-energy house label.

The steps to take to comply with the low-energy house standard

Since the first bases for the construction of your house, some provisions must be taken into account.

Choosing the right building site

To have a low-energy house, it is important to choose the location of your land, especially its position in relation to the sun’s rays. The contribution of the sun’s energy is very important to meet the requirements of the low-energy house standard.

Vegetation is very important to having an ecological environment. The choice of land close to the basic essential infrastructures, namely schools and health centers, is favorably desired. You must also choose a plot of land on the ground and a basement in the least risky areas possible.

In addition, electricity, gas, telephone, sewage, and stormwater supply centers should not be far from you. This will save you a lot of money. However, it is strongly recommended to stay away from factories and power plants. As you can see, the quality of the immediate environment of your low-energy house is very important.

Ensure the feasibility of your project

home

This step is essential for the construction of your low-energy house. Go to the local town hall and make sure that the land is in a zone where construction is possible. The town hall will have to issue you with a positive urbanism certificate.

You should also consult the land use plan to make sure that your land is in a buildable zone. This is a large document that also defines the construction rules applicable in the zone.

Obtaining a building permit

The building permit is a very important document to start the construction of your low-energy house. Indeed, it is issued to you after a general inspection of your land on the basis of your construction plan. The administration then ensures that your construction respects the rules in force in the area.

The choice of the builder

home

This is the essential step in the construction of a low-energy house. You must then sign a construction and monitoring contract with this company to ensure the smooth running of activities on the site as well as a positive end to the work. This also gives you a ten-year warranty and insurance for damage to the work.

In conclusion, in the project of building a low-energy house, certain steps must be taken to ensure compliance with the procedure. Therefore, it is very important to know the steps to take during the development of your project. This article has given you all the information in this sense.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about low-energy consumption homes.

21
Mar, 2022
solar

Top 4 Things Everyone Should Know About Solar Panels

We only have one planet, and we need to start acting as such by adopting a more eco-friendly way of life. This is buying solar panels and installing them on your own is environmentally friendly and is good for the environment. This is a win-win situation if you ask us. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn more about solar panels.

1. How do solar panels work? 

solar

This is one of the first questions you might ask yourself if you want to invest in a photovoltaic system. A photovoltaic system consists of the following elements:

  • Solar panels, which are themselves made up of photovoltaic cells
  • A fixing system
  • A charge controller
  • An inverter that allows the transformation of direct current into alternating current
  • Wiring
  • A production meter
  • A consumption meter
  • A supervision system
  • A circuit breaker.

The photovoltaic cell is the centerpiece of a photovoltaic system. The modules are made of these cells and then assembled into panels. Silicon is the material that allows the photovoltaic effect to occur. It is a semi-conductor compound that creates an electric current when in contact with sunlight. To be more precise, a cell is composed of two layers of silicon, one positively charged and the other negatively, like an electric battery.

The sun’s rays, and more specifically the photons, pass through the photovoltaic cell. They create a hole in the upper (negative) layer and generate an electrical voltage with the lower (positive) layer. The generated current is transformed into alternating current thanks to the inverter in order to supply the equipment of a house or a building.

2. Price

Since electricity tariffs are constantly increasing and feed-in tariffs are decreasing, connections to the grid for total sale installations are likely to decrease to the benefit of self-consumption photovoltaic connections.

Until 2017, individuals who would integrate solar panels into their roofs benefited from a better feed-in tariff for their electricity. The price per kWh was set at 0.46$ for installations with 9 kWh or less power. Thus, the feed-in tariff of electricity has decreased by 65%. 

 Many households make a choice to make the total sale of their electricity. Depending on your consumption habits, the characteristics of your roof, or your budget, this solution can be more profitable for you if you are in a lucrative and eco-responsible approach. 

3. Return on investment

solar

The price of a solar panel installation is often one of the main reasons for the reluctance to take the plunge into photovoltaics. However, the profitability of an installation is no longer in question. The fall in prices in photovoltaics and the increase in electricity tariffs make photovoltaics and, in particular, self-consumption more and more interesting financially.

An installation costs between 2,200 and 2,800 dollars per kWp and generates significant reductions in electricity bills each year. Either directly through self-consumption or indirectly through the sale of the production to an electricity supplier.

State aid for the installation of photovoltaic panels, such as the self-consumption bonus or the EDF OA feed-in tariffs fixed over 20 years, further improve the profitability of solar panels. Depending on the geographical area and the solar installation cost, the return on investment is reached between 10 and 15 years.

4. A civic gesture 

Today, it is difficult for government representatives to adopt (at least publicly) a position that would not be favorable to the energy transition in the United States. Nuclear power is the object of all the wrath; renewable energies have the wind in their sails. In 2020, they will account for 19.1% of the US’s gross final energy consumption, of which 3.4% will be produced by photovoltaic solar energy.

The 2015 law on energy transition for green growth aims to raise the percentage of renewable energy in the US energy mix to 32% by 2030, which is 5% higher than the European aspirations for the same date. Thus, by installing solar panels on your house, beyond your personal convictions, you are taking a resolutely civic approach through your contribution to greening the US public electricity network.

Final thought

solar

Are you in Campbellfield? Are you looking into buying a solar panel? Then look no further than Battery Shop. With over 2 decades of experience, they pride themselves in being the premier one-stop-shop for all your battery needs in Campbellfield. They provide a wide range of services from batteries to solar panels and accessories across Victoria.

So, what are you waiting for? Give them a call to learn more about their services. Using solar energy saves you money on your electricity bills and is also environmentally friendly. So let’s take steps in the right direction and make a difference for our planet.