The Zero-Carbon home, Clapham
Five years ago, Will Anderson set himself the ambitious task of building a zero-carbon, self-sufficient house.
Wind power was not an option. The built-up nature of his site meant that the wind would be turbulent and ineffective. Wood burning boilers were ruled out for similar reasons: a lack of constant wood supply in an urban area.
“By far the best energy source for us, here in a built-up environment, was the sun. It’s there, why not just grab it?” Said Will. But the lack of a southerly aspect to his plans presented a further challenge. The solution came in the form of a Solarcentury Sunstation®.
Will said: “Solar power is a very attractive technology. Because it’s so low maintenance and reliable, you can install it and it carries on with the job. It’s not mechanical like solar thermal, so once it’s working it just carries on – you can install it and then simply forget about it.”
Solarcentury provided a comprehensive service to assist the design and installation process. From planning the design with the architect, to installing the modules and inverters, to commissioning the project, Solar PV is the simplest and most reliable renewable technology available.
Will Anderson concludes, “it’s just nice to know that you’re generating your own energy, you’re not reliant on fossil fuels and, in my case, there are no energy bills at all.”