Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 10, 2008 8:56 am I'm after opinions on this because having the panel on the roof at the front of the house does't really bother me but I'm wondering what others think?
When I got my contracts to look over I noticed that an additional SP had been added because the original panel is on the west side of the roof. However since it will cost an additional $850 I think I'd rather just move the original panel to a more effective position but my house faces north hence it going onto the front facing roof. Do you think it would look really bad going there or would it be something that's not noticed after a little while? Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 2Dec 10, 2008 8:57 am It would bother me, and our estate does not allow them on the front of a house. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 3Dec 10, 2008 9:01 am Yeah it would bother me. I was driving along Sayers Rd in Tarneit the other day, the houses with the panels on the front (North Facing) actually looked quite *******.
If you are concerned about future resale, that's definitely something that would stop me buying. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 4Dec 10, 2008 9:06 am On a different note, what is your floor plan like? do you have a alfresco ( that stick out) or something similar that may contain a small part of north facing roof. ALso if you dont why dotn you consider a west face one, instead of a south facing one as a second option?? Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 5Dec 10, 2008 9:47 am I agree with Jo on the resale thing. There's one house in our street that has a solar panel on the front face (north-facing blocks). I didn't think the estate covenants would allow it, but there may be an exemption if your house faces north.
All the other homes in the street have gone for the extra panel on the western face, where it's out of sight along the side of the house. I don't suppose your design has a parapet wall or some other feature on the facade that will hide it? Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 6Dec 10, 2008 11:24 am kek I agree with Jo on the resale thing. There's one house in our street that has a solar panel on the front face (north-facing blocks). I didn't think the estate covenants would allow it, but there may be an exemption if your house faces north. All the other homes in the street have gone for the extra panel on the western face, where it's out of sight along the side of the house. I don't suppose your design has a parapet wall or some other feature on the facade that will hide it? The recommendation is for the panel to face within 45 degrees of solar north without losing significant efficiency. http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs ... sing-solar It is shame that your efforts at halving your hot water energy consumption is a legal and marketing liability. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 7Dec 10, 2008 3:58 pm Thanks guys. I'll leave it how it is and just get the extra one. I haven't seen any houses with them on the front so good to hear that it looks questionable, thanks Joles and kek. And nope, nothing on the facade that could hide the ugly panel.
borg, the alfresco is on the west side (the panels are on the roof above that but to the side a bit). It's too late to change the layout of anything so it seems like the easiest thing will be to leave it as is. Am off to sign contracts tomorrow so it's great to have that matter settled in my head. Thanks again! Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 8Dec 10, 2008 7:07 pm This solar water thing has bothered me for a long time now. From various sources on the net I managed to get some figures that show that in Dunedin, NZ, 1650 hours of bright sunshine per year and with a panel facing North at 35 degrees, 83.7% of water came free from the sun.
Does anyone know how performance falls if the panels are not ideally positioned (as above)? I would assume that if the panels are on the West, this would significantly lower the figures. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 9Dec 10, 2008 8:37 pm mek This solar water thing has bothered me for a long time now. From various sources on the net I managed to get some figures that show that in Dunedin, NZ, 1650 hours of bright sunshine per year and with a panel facing North at 35 degrees, 83.7% of water came free from the sun. Does anyone know how performance falls if the panels are not ideally positioned (as above)? I would assume that if the panels are on the West, this would significantly lower the figures. A panel facing West would certainly be less effective. The cosine of the angle away from north roughly gives the % effectiveness (based on the Lambert cosine law). If you are 25 degrees off you still can get 90% efficiency. This is an approximation because this assumes the sun stays at solar noon. Can you clarify how you arrived at the Dunedin figures? You can't even achieve that degree of efficiency in Queensland, Australia with perfect orientation and an evacuated tube heater. The rough rule is that half your water heating energy can be provided by solar. You couldn't achieve much more than 2/3. See below for actually derived figures for Mt Isa, QLD. http://forums.envirotalk.com.au/Evacuat ... tml&st=11# Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 11Dec 10, 2008 9:12 pm mek http://www.pcmsolectric.co.nz/water/index_files/performance.htm I hope I didn't have a blonde moment there. No blonde moment. Just a very cheeky ad. Did you notice that it was a 303 unit? That means 300L tank and 3 collectors. This is a unit is suitable for a family of four. However, it only shows the energy required to heat 175 litres which is just a bit more than a five minute shower for each person. You would need to heat another 125L of cold water if you needed the whole tank. Otherwise it doesn't leave much for the kitchen or washing any clothes. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 12Dec 12, 2008 1:45 am i'm o/bing a north facing house atm - it has 2 hw panels & 18 solar voltaic power system - none is directly visable from the front of the house. the power units r on the north face of our shed at the back of the house (shed ridge & house roof ridges r parallel) ie all screened by the house, & the HWS panels r on a north facing frame, over the bathroom behind the main ridge of the roof - only visable form the back yard. i've had a solar hws for 25 years, its hasn't been as effective as it should becos it was 45 degrees off north...imo opinion the angle off north is more critical if ur in cooler climate ( ie hws in Perth with same angle as mine work fine, we're further south, get more cloud - less effective!)
hope these ideas might help ur planning - chheers Tony Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 13Dec 12, 2008 8:43 am T&V its hasn't been as effective as it should becos it was 45 degrees off north...imo opinion the angle off north is more critical if ur in cooler climate ( ie hws in Perth with same angle as mine work fine, we're further south, get more cloud - less effective!) There is software that can calculate how much useful solar energy you can get based on azimuth and angle of the collector and the local climate conditions. A honest solar collector dealer could give you a real figure rather than a guesstimate. I was in the Gold Coast earlier this year and noticed how many (or how few) houses had a Solar HWS to catch all that 'perfect weather'. I certainly didn't see many on top of the million dollar apartments with the showy gigantic plasma screens that you could see from the street below. What was a little sad was to see one collector pointing direct North into a towering tree casting a shadow over the roof. I was annoyed to think that the installer would allow it be placed in that position. I wouldn't be at all suprised if the owner who forked over $$$ to 'do the right thing' claimed these things were useless. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 14Dec 15, 2008 10:10 pm Quote: What was a little sad was to see one collector pointing direct North into a towering tree casting a shadow over the roof Surfers Paradise - great waves - perfect beach - great sunsets Till they built highrises that now shadow the beach from 3pm onwards. Sufferers Paradise = As it is aptly named now Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 15Dec 15, 2008 10:43 pm I've recently seen some townhouse developments where the solar panels and hot water systems were so bleedin' obvious they seemed to be shouting out "LOOK AT ME I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SELLING POINT !!"
But I don't think seeing the panels is really a negative. They've got to go in the best spot and if that's somewhere visible from the street then so be it. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 16Dec 16, 2008 7:53 am Cabinfever I've recently seen some townhouse developments where the solar panels and hot water systems were so bleedin' obvious they seemed to be shouting out "LOOK AT ME I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SELLING POINT !!" But I don't think seeing the panels is really a negative. They've got to go in the best spot and if that's somewhere visible from the street then so be it. haha that's funny CF. I tend to agree, I don't find them too ugly and if that's the best spot for them, then fine Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 17Dec 16, 2008 1:04 pm Aren't there frames available to change the angle of solar panels so that even if they can't be mounted on a north-facing roof surface, you can tilt them to get maximum sun exposure?
Something like this: http://www.solaronline.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107143925&product_id=1107358689 Not very pretty, but if you're putting it on a side or rear roof surface, you're not going to see it anyway. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 18Apr 05, 2011 8:09 am Yes, I have a frame for my solar hot water system. My house is oriented North/South but the roof is East/West facing. The main living area has a cathedral ceiling and we have a large area facing due east with no trees - need to do more research to find out if it is worth putting panels there - oh and I am in Townsville so we tend to get a bit of sun except for the past 3 or 4 months that is Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 19Apr 05, 2011 8:32 am I know north is most efficient, however you need to consider how and when you use most power in your house. This is due to the premium feed in tarrifs. For example if you don't use much power in the morning best to have on the east. That way you can export all your power at a good rate.
If you have it on the west you will be generating peak power in the late afternoon for many people this is when they use most power as everyone starts coming home. Re: Solar Panel Positioning- would this bother you? 20Apr 05, 2011 8:41 am when we were getting quotes for our solar panels I assumed they'd be able to place them on the same side of the house as our solar HWS but there wasn't the room due to the HWS placement and some large shadowing trees. Our house faces almost due North. So the suggestion was to put the panels on the front of the house. I was pretty negative about this to start with. BUT a house just down from us has a solar HWS plus the tank on the front of it's house and I figured that would sure look worse. ( it doesn't look great IMO) Anyway int eh end I realised it was the only way we could have the panel and have them functioning at best capacity. They've been up for nearly 2 months now. It's not too bad. They are very close to our roof colour anyway and have black frames which mean they aren't as obvious as a silver trim would be. I actually don't notice them much already. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8852 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 40126 Hi It came to my attention after the handover that - The facade cladding on the face and the side are not straight. -The face tapers down by 50mm from left to right and… 0 2555 |