Solar panels, if not adopted mainstream, are now widely known about. But have you heard about glass solar slates? No, we hadn’t either. Fortunately, property developers The Beresford Project came across the innovation at last year’s Grand Designs exhibition, and decided to use the Green Frog solar slates, working in conjunction with Nu-lok Roofing Systems and Continental Underfloor heating, on the roof of a property they were renovating in Richmond, Surrey.
The Beresford Project, comprising managing director Bachi Mehta, project manager Clifford Hillier and designer Maggie Beresford, spotted the renovation potential of the slightly run down house on Derby Road in Richmond. The team promptly bought the property and set about realising their vision of creating the most eco-friendly house possible, while at the same time embarking on their first ever new build project
These two aspects went hand-in-hand. In order to maximise the potential to implement a sustainable energy flow through the house, the existing structure had to be demolished so that they could start from scratch. They had drawn up comprehensive plans and specifications, including a concrete foundation slab as a heat store, to ensure their eco-vision became a reality.
Why go to such lengths? Mehta said: “It’s not enough simply to play at being green. Our clients demand systems that not only work effectively, but are aesthetically pleasing too. People don’t want to buy ugly houses! Green Frog’s solar slates integrate perfectly with the roof slates and using the foundation slab as a heat store means no unsightly water tanks inside the house. It also has the added benefit of maximising interior space.”
Combining their business acumen and idealism, The Beresford Project has installed 70m2 of Green Frog (Nu-lok Roofing Systems’ new sustainable energy division) glass solar roof slates, integrated with 180m2 of Nu-lok’s patented roofing system and 110m2 of Nu-lok slate. Nu-lok’s approved roofing contractor fitted the glass solar slates while the team’s plumber connected the pipework.
A 2 kWp Nu-lok Solar System will require approximately 20 square metres of unshaded roof area, and for the best results, it should face within 90 degrees of south (from south-east through to south-west). It should produce nearly half of the electrical requirements of an average three-bedroom house – as well as reducing the amount of harmful carbon dioxide created by around 650kgs The Energy Saving Trust estimates the average UK household s responsible for around six tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Unlike typical solar hot water installations, The Beresford project decided not to use storage tanks to store the hot water as the water tanks would have to have been fairly large, thus reducing the internal area of the house. Instead Clifford and Bachi developed their own innovative solution and used the extensive pipework installed in the property to run the water down to the concrete foundation slab.
There are literally hundreds of metres of continuous pipework (and cabling) throughout the property, to ensure an even distribution of hot water and space heating. A solar pump station near the top of the house distributes the hot water around each floor level, and space heating requirements are assisted by underfloor heating. A back-up boiler was fitted as a precaution.
Hillier said: “Green Frog’s glass solar slates and Nu-lok’s roofing system are the perfect match. They have provided a seamless solution to meet our eco requirements. Benefits include the fact that the look of their solar hot water system pleases planners – as there is nothing protruding from the roof we do not require planning permission.
“The eco-development plan and specification is all completely new to us, so it’s difficult to estimate future cost savings. However, we believe the extensive number of solar slates fitted may well equate to 100 per cent water heating savings. As it’s so new, we’ll monitor this house as an example of how best to reduce the carbon footprint.”
Note: Grants are available to assist with the cost of installing a solar system.
