Solar lighting now a days is a common feature in our gardens. For many years our gardens haven’t just been about the flowers and shrubs, we have been adding design features to them just as we do with the inside of our homes. For many years though garden lighting was restricted to post lights to line the path to the shed or to place in the borders to highlight a particular plant. But in recent years modern technology has provided more efficient solar panels and battery storage that has allowed product designers to be more creative and offer alternative solar products that aren’t just about lighting.
The Solar industry now offers a wide choice of products for our homes and gardens that use the sun’s energy. From the original post lights that now include PIR sensors so the light comes on as we walk to our door, to solar powered water features and pond pumps that offer that tranquil sound of running water and encourage wildlife. Home security hasn’t been overlooked either with the development of Solar PIR Security Lights.
The post lights that originally brought our attention to using solar in our gardens are no longer just a plastic post with a light on top that only lasts a few hours; they are now also available in stainless steel or wood effect and come with colour changing light options. We can even line the entrance to our home with artificial miniature bay trees with solar illuminations or have our own solar powered lamp post in our drive.
As well as the solar lights designed to light up our home and garden at night, many products are now designed as features in themselves. Hanging Solar Garden Lanterns or Solar Table Lights are available to add subtle lighting around the decking or patio area, even garden statues now have solar lights built in so you can still enjoy them at night. And the shrubs can still take pride of place in the borders even at night when highlighted with solar string lights draped over them.
Nature and the water garden has also benefited from solar technology. Solar pond pumps and oxygenators with integral solar panels don’t require mains electricity fed with long cables from the home. Or even if we don’t have a pond we can still bring water into the garden with a solar bird bath, water pot cascade or natural slate fountain with an underwater solar panel.
There have been many improvements in solar efficiency over recent years, mainly through investment in solar energy generation to offset our carbon emissions, and these improvements can also be seen in the products we buy for our enjoyment in the garden. We can now buy products using Solar on Demand technology that allows us to store the sun’s energy during the day and turn it on when we want to enjoy our product at night.
Using solar in the garden also has practical uses. Solar Security Lights or Utility Lights are easy to install in the shed or those areas where you need light but don’t have mains electricity. Even if there is electricity, why pay for an electrician to install or pay to run the light when the sun’s energy is free?
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Modern Synthetic Rattan Furniture, what’s new?
Many of us now a days have conservatories built on the back of our homes, we use them as an in between space to relax or entertain between the artificial lighting of the main part of the home and the elements of the Great British climate. But, what ever we use our conservatories for, whether relaxing with a coffee and a good book or having friends round for a meal, we all insist that the furniture we fill them with is comfortable and stylish. So, what have the manufacturers made for us for this year?
Traditionally we fill our conservatories with cane wicker furniture but with today’s busy lifestyles convenience has to be a consideration; is our furniture easy to clean? Is it hard wearing? Is it multi purpose? So how does modern synthetic rattan conservatory furniture
compare to traditional cane furniture?
There are many manufacturers today using synthetic rattan woven over welded aluminium frames to make their furniture. The synthetic rattan gives the look and feel of natural wicker weave and the welded aluminium frames allow designers to create the sharp clean lines of contemporary furniture while keeping it very light weight. The synthetic resin, made from organic materials and minerals, used to make the rattan weave, is also weatherproof and UV resistant you can use the rattan furniture indoors or out.
The choice available has also increased with modern furniture materials and manufacturing techniques. The aluminium frames can be moulded or welded into many more shapes than natural cane and it retains greater strength. The result of this ability is that we have a choice of designs from traditional all the way through to the modern sharp lines of modular furniture, and all made from light weight weatherproof materials.
Colour and texture options have also increased. During the moulding process of the synthetic resin, colour and texture is added so we are no longer limited to furniture in the round beige weave of traditional cane. The synthetic rattan weave is now available from flat to round weave and in colours from black to white. The seat pads and cushions haven’t been overlooked either; these are also made from spot clean, shower proof, UV colourfast and washable fabric.
There are also more options for the use of the furniture. Even if you don’t have a conservatory to house a deep seating lounge set, or are just looking for patio furniture or a small set to fit on a balcony there is a wide choice to choose from. Dining sets are also made from the same material and come in various options from round rattan tables to seat 4 up to rectangle teak top tables capable of seating 8.
So, back to my lead question ‘what have the manufacturers made for us for this year?’ Well, synthetic rattan furniture isn’t a new break through technology, it has been around for a while, and it does have the benefits of being easy to clean, the furniture can be pressure washed and the cushions are spot clean and washable. It is hard wearing, some manufactures offer 5 year guarantees. And it is multi purpose, it’s weatherproof and can use it outside. So the real answer is ‘new designs and more choice’ that fit in with our busy contemporary lifestyles.
Traditionally we fill our conservatories with cane wicker furniture but with today’s busy lifestyles convenience has to be a consideration; is our furniture easy to clean? Is it hard wearing? Is it multi purpose? So how does modern synthetic rattan conservatory furniture
compare to traditional cane furniture?
There are many manufacturers today using synthetic rattan woven over welded aluminium frames to make their furniture. The synthetic rattan gives the look and feel of natural wicker weave and the welded aluminium frames allow designers to create the sharp clean lines of contemporary furniture while keeping it very light weight. The synthetic resin, made from organic materials and minerals, used to make the rattan weave, is also weatherproof and UV resistant you can use the rattan furniture indoors or out.
The choice available has also increased with modern furniture materials and manufacturing techniques. The aluminium frames can be moulded or welded into many more shapes than natural cane and it retains greater strength. The result of this ability is that we have a choice of designs from traditional all the way through to the modern sharp lines of modular furniture, and all made from light weight weatherproof materials.
Colour and texture options have also increased. During the moulding process of the synthetic resin, colour and texture is added so we are no longer limited to furniture in the round beige weave of traditional cane. The synthetic rattan weave is now available from flat to round weave and in colours from black to white. The seat pads and cushions haven’t been overlooked either; these are also made from spot clean, shower proof, UV colourfast and washable fabric.
There are also more options for the use of the furniture. Even if you don’t have a conservatory to house a deep seating lounge set, or are just looking for patio furniture or a small set to fit on a balcony there is a wide choice to choose from. Dining sets are also made from the same material and come in various options from round rattan tables to seat 4 up to rectangle teak top tables capable of seating 8.
So, back to my lead question ‘what have the manufacturers made for us for this year?’ Well, synthetic rattan furniture isn’t a new break through technology, it has been around for a while, and it does have the benefits of being easy to clean, the furniture can be pressure washed and the cushions are spot clean and washable. It is hard wearing, some manufactures offer 5 year guarantees. And it is multi purpose, it’s weatherproof and can use it outside. So the real answer is ‘new designs and more choice’ that fit in with our busy contemporary lifestyles.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
PV Solar Energy Generation
Renewable Energy
In today's world we are completely reliant on energy for the manufacture of goods and the delivery of services to maintain the level of comfort we have become accustomed to. Energy gives us the choice of where and how we live and provides the means to control our chosen lifestyle and to travel. The level of dependence on energy sources varies according to the climate, level of comfort, and general needs of a community.
Energy is a resource we all need and an expense we have to bear, and using it for electricity and fuel has an impact on the planet. The greatest sources of energy used come from fossil fuels, of which: coal, petroleum and natural gas are the most common, and their combustion release pollution into the atmosphere and they are non renewable so availability will decline.
Lower energy consumption can be achieved through the use of energy efficient approaches. Well planned energy use balances human comfort with reasonable energy consumption levels by developing and implementing effective ways to create and utilise energy.
Solar Power
Solar power is the technology of producing usable energy from sun light. It is already used both privately and commercially for heating, electricity generation, and desalination of seawater. Solar electric power, converting sunlight into electricity, is called photovoltaic (PV) power generation.
Smart Solar specialises in solar PV power for generating electricity. Smart Solar PV systems cause very little disruption because they are substantively installed outside the house or on your roof. The PV systems supplied by Smart Solar are grid-connected so do not require any battery.
There are many advantages of using solar energy to generate electricity. These include:
Clean
Quiet
Renewable
Self sufficient
Non-polluting
Lightweight
No running costs
Scalable
Portable
PV Solar Energy Generation
Photovoltaic panels, more commonly called solar cells, consist of thin layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon.
The layers are given opposite charges and when sunlight strikes the solar cell, electrons move toward the treated front surface of the solar cell. This creates an imbalance between the front and back of the cell and creates a direct current (DC) which is converted to AC current and then fed into the house’s electrical network.
The amount of energy generated by the solar panels will vary dependant on the level of sunlight and time of year. In the summer months the system will typically generate five times the power generated during winter.
Historically the use of solar cells has been limited due to expensive manufacturing costs and relatively low solar cell efficiency. More recently, advances in research and scale of production have both reduced costs and increased efficiencies.
Micro Generation
By installing a Smart Solar PV system, you will become your own power generator.
Smart Solar PV systems cause very little disruption because they are mainly installed outside the house or on your roof and due to recent changes in planning regulations, they are even easier to install than ever before. Solar systems either be installed on your roof or stand-alone on a ground mounted structure.
PV systems are grid-connected so do not require any battery. The solar panels generate energy by day which is fed back into the house’s electrical network. Presuming that there are some appliances in the house in operation, the electricity generated is used effectively to power these directly. Surplus is exported back into the grid through for which you receive payment or credit according to the tariff you have chosen.
For optimum performance the solar panels should be sited south facing and at an appropriate angle to maximise their energy output on an average annualised basis.
Once installed, PV systems need minimal maintenance. They are silent, have no moving parts, no gas emissions or dangerous by-products.
Generating power at home has hence never been easier, and with introduction of feed-in tariffs at generous rates this will help to reduce payback times. PV systems are now more cost effective than ever.
An additional benefit from installing a PV system is that householders will typically modify further their behaviour by being much more aware of their energy consumption, especially with the aid of easy data monitoring, so end up using even less electricity.
Feed In Tariffs - Get Paid for Generating Electricity
On 1st February 2010 the Government announced the actual feed-in tariff rates which became live from April of that year. The rate for systems 4kW or below is now 41.3p, if installed within the 2 years from that year, thereafter reducing to 37.8p. The tariff will last for 25 years, so even after you have recouped the cost of your system, you will continue to reap financial benefit as well as continuing to save significant carbon every year. This is a much higher rate then the previously expected (36p) so will make investing in solar micro generation even more attractive.
In today's world we are completely reliant on energy for the manufacture of goods and the delivery of services to maintain the level of comfort we have become accustomed to. Energy gives us the choice of where and how we live and provides the means to control our chosen lifestyle and to travel. The level of dependence on energy sources varies according to the climate, level of comfort, and general needs of a community.
Energy is a resource we all need and an expense we have to bear, and using it for electricity and fuel has an impact on the planet. The greatest sources of energy used come from fossil fuels, of which: coal, petroleum and natural gas are the most common, and their combustion release pollution into the atmosphere and they are non renewable so availability will decline.
Lower energy consumption can be achieved through the use of energy efficient approaches. Well planned energy use balances human comfort with reasonable energy consumption levels by developing and implementing effective ways to create and utilise energy.
Solar Power
Solar power is the technology of producing usable energy from sun light. It is already used both privately and commercially for heating, electricity generation, and desalination of seawater. Solar electric power, converting sunlight into electricity, is called photovoltaic (PV) power generation.
Smart Solar specialises in solar PV power for generating electricity. Smart Solar PV systems cause very little disruption because they are substantively installed outside the house or on your roof. The PV systems supplied by Smart Solar are grid-connected so do not require any battery.
There are many advantages of using solar energy to generate electricity. These include:
Clean
Quiet
Renewable
Self sufficient
Non-polluting
Lightweight
No running costs
Scalable
Portable
PV Solar Energy Generation
Photovoltaic panels, more commonly called solar cells, consist of thin layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon.
The layers are given opposite charges and when sunlight strikes the solar cell, electrons move toward the treated front surface of the solar cell. This creates an imbalance between the front and back of the cell and creates a direct current (DC) which is converted to AC current and then fed into the house’s electrical network.
The amount of energy generated by the solar panels will vary dependant on the level of sunlight and time of year. In the summer months the system will typically generate five times the power generated during winter.
Historically the use of solar cells has been limited due to expensive manufacturing costs and relatively low solar cell efficiency. More recently, advances in research and scale of production have both reduced costs and increased efficiencies.
Micro Generation
By installing a Smart Solar PV system, you will become your own power generator.
Smart Solar PV systems cause very little disruption because they are mainly installed outside the house or on your roof and due to recent changes in planning regulations, they are even easier to install than ever before. Solar systems either be installed on your roof or stand-alone on a ground mounted structure.
PV systems are grid-connected so do not require any battery. The solar panels generate energy by day which is fed back into the house’s electrical network. Presuming that there are some appliances in the house in operation, the electricity generated is used effectively to power these directly. Surplus is exported back into the grid through for which you receive payment or credit according to the tariff you have chosen.
For optimum performance the solar panels should be sited south facing and at an appropriate angle to maximise their energy output on an average annualised basis.
Once installed, PV systems need minimal maintenance. They are silent, have no moving parts, no gas emissions or dangerous by-products.
Generating power at home has hence never been easier, and with introduction of feed-in tariffs at generous rates this will help to reduce payback times. PV systems are now more cost effective than ever.
An additional benefit from installing a PV system is that householders will typically modify further their behaviour by being much more aware of their energy consumption, especially with the aid of easy data monitoring, so end up using even less electricity.
Feed In Tariffs - Get Paid for Generating Electricity
On 1st February 2010 the Government announced the actual feed-in tariff rates which became live from April of that year. The rate for systems 4kW or below is now 41.3p, if installed within the 2 years from that year, thereafter reducing to 37.8p. The tariff will last for 25 years, so even after you have recouped the cost of your system, you will continue to reap financial benefit as well as continuing to save significant carbon every year. This is a much higher rate then the previously expected (36p) so will make investing in solar micro generation even more attractive.
2011 Rattan Furniture Range
Online Firm, Garden Occasions Ltd Lists New Rattan Furniture Range.
The Norwich based online Garden Leisure company, Garden Occasions Ltd, has recently listed the 2011 range of Rattan Garden and Conservatory Furniture from Cozy Bay. The new range has more uses around the home and garden than the previous range with suites now including Modular Furniture and Teak Table Top Dining sets. The 2011 range also includes new rattan finishes and colours to offer even more choice.
The new range now covers all areas of the home, from the patio to pool side and from the conservatory to the dining room. There is also a new range of rattan finishes that include nine colour and style combinations including a new style called Four Seasons, a pastel shaded beige, brown and black combination.
The dining set collection now also gives wider choice in both colour and use with some sets being available in round four seat or six seat sets, in oval six seat set or with rectangle teak table top. The modular furniture, typically seen around the pool side, is also new. With sharp lines and available in dark colours with white seat pads and cushions, these contemporary pieces can be purchased in sets or as individual pieces to build up the set to fit personal needs. There is also a range of rattan sun lounge's with side tables.
The patio furniture also offers choice from the traditional five piece bistro style sets to a more contemporary three piece set with arm or swivel chairs, ideal for the smaller patio area or balcony.
The Cozy Bay range of rattan furniture is woven using a high quality through-dyed synthetic wicker that is UV and weather resistance, can withstand wide differences in temperature and is extremely hard wearing. The frames are made of welded aluminium powder coated in similar colours to the rattan weave. Cushions and seat pads are also shower proof, spot clean and made from UV colourfast fabric.
The range also offers peace of mind coming with a two to five year manufactures warranty.
The Norwich based online Garden Leisure company, Garden Occasions Ltd, has recently listed the 2011 range of Rattan Garden and Conservatory Furniture from Cozy Bay. The new range has more uses around the home and garden than the previous range with suites now including Modular Furniture and Teak Table Top Dining sets. The 2011 range also includes new rattan finishes and colours to offer even more choice.
The new range now covers all areas of the home, from the patio to pool side and from the conservatory to the dining room. There is also a new range of rattan finishes that include nine colour and style combinations including a new style called Four Seasons, a pastel shaded beige, brown and black combination.
The dining set collection now also gives wider choice in both colour and use with some sets being available in round four seat or six seat sets, in oval six seat set or with rectangle teak table top. The modular furniture, typically seen around the pool side, is also new. With sharp lines and available in dark colours with white seat pads and cushions, these contemporary pieces can be purchased in sets or as individual pieces to build up the set to fit personal needs. There is also a range of rattan sun lounge's with side tables.
The patio furniture also offers choice from the traditional five piece bistro style sets to a more contemporary three piece set with arm or swivel chairs, ideal for the smaller patio area or balcony.
The Cozy Bay range of rattan furniture is woven using a high quality through-dyed synthetic wicker that is UV and weather resistance, can withstand wide differences in temperature and is extremely hard wearing. The frames are made of welded aluminium powder coated in similar colours to the rattan weave. Cushions and seat pads are also shower proof, spot clean and made from UV colourfast fabric.
The range also offers peace of mind coming with a two to five year manufactures warranty.
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