The best thing we did with our new house is install UPVC Windows form Eurowindows they are fab, the frame feels warm they open smooth as and look great. thanks Manfred

hi everyone
well we used the Poly Gold in the ceiling and i would not recommend anyone uses them, absolute terrible stuff. It just falls apart and its like snow coming down. I just hope they give us the insulation value they promise.

We are creating a new house and just looking into different Efficiency elements.

My name is Stephen Cochrane and I am a student at Northumbria University. For my final year project, I am examining the reasons why the government has not made it mandatory for private developers to achieve Code of Sustainable Homes status and why they would not use it even if it wasn’t made mandatory to use. I am inviting you to participate in this research study by completing the survey on this link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F3S8WR3

My name is Stephen Cochrane and I am a student at Northumbria University. For my final year project, I am examining the reasons why the government has not made it mandatory for private developers to achieve Code of Sustainable Homes status and why they would not use it even if it wasn’t made mandatory to use. I am inviting you to participate in this research study by completing the survey on this link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FP738FF

A bit off topic but did not know grid tied micro generation is subject to income tax. Anyone had any experience with that particular issue.

Solar Beginner. you might want to have a read of PDF link this from the Ecobob home page. Has the info on procedure and rules and regs etc.

http://www.ecobob.co.nz/pdf/electricity-microgeneration-guide-nov2010.pdf

As I mentioned you shouldn't contemplate hooking one of these units up without going through the power/lines companies. They would not be happy and with some justification

http://www.landisgyr.com/za/en/pub/products_and_solutions.cfm?eventProducts=products.ProductDetails&ID=52&catID=28

Transpires that digital meters can and often are fitted with 'Significant Reverse Energy (SRE) detection'.

This trips a 'tamper' switch if the meter finds itself feeding back into the grid. This tamper trip can only be reset by the meter company.

Good to know that one's intentions toward green power generation are praised with such flexibility from electrical companies.

Still, if you're fortunate enough to own your own home or rent somewhere with a classic electric meter system, these mini inverters could be a great idea.

Yet again, come on NZ, catch up!

Each area is covered by a lines company, looks like you are Wellington Electricity.

http://www.welectricity.co.nz/Pages/default.aspx

Either that or the power company that bills you might help.

I live in an apartment block in the CDB of WGTN and although my apartment has it's own fuse box and wiring, I'm not sure how the building wiring as a whole would/could react... I guess it shouldn't make a difference as it is independent.

I also have a prepay digital power meter, a Landis + Gyr Cashpower, no idea how that would cope with a small GTI.

Also, how do you find out who your lines company is, I've never heard of the term before?

Very interesting. Suggest you approach your lines company and see what they say.

I've gone from a sceptic to a believer!

The figures given work out at 12.3c/kW.
We tend to find a house needs 100kWhrs a day, (though this is with underfloor) - which would suggest a bag a day - or $11.80.

Consider radiators with a heat pump - probably more like 8c/kWhr. But note - the radiators will cost more as they need to be around twice the size.

JK

Hi Allen,
I think you will find this thread very interesting
http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=7998&page=1#Item_0
Others who have insulated their fridge!!

http://www.laddertech.com.au/swea

Interesting?

Thanks Mike,

The guy came over today and examined the house and took measurements. Now that he can do some calculations I will press for a consumption figure when he comes back to me next week.

Wood pellets have an approx energy heating value of 4.8KW per kg burnt see http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/portal/page?_pageid=75,20041&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Thus from your 1000 kg you know how much heat you can get. Unless you know the heat losses from your house then its a guess as to how much wood you will use.

The importers or distributors are doing you a disservice if they cannot supply you with approx figures as they should have various calculators that have preset values.

4 bedroom, 2 story tall 180m sq 1930's brick bungalow. Soon to have ceiling and floor insulated. Seriously considering a pellet boiler based central heating radiator system. The big unknown is how much fuel would we burn. It seems impossible to find out, even the distributors/sellers of such systems are tight lipped. From what I can gather 1 ton of pellets costs $590 delivered in 50 x 20kg bags or such. I just want to have an idea on fuel usage. We do not need to be "toasty" and wearing t-shirts, we just want the chill out of the house, maybe a little more, so that in the dead of winter we can cope with a couple layers of clothing. Might even consider just roughing it from 10am- 7pm using no boiler at all, then kicking it on for the night and early morning. It would be great to hear from someone who has used such a system or might know the costs involved in the way we intend to run it. Would 1 ton of pellets last us 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks? Thanks!

A couple of things that came to mind...you could likely install one of these without needing building consent, probably not on roof and little affect to neighbours.

I recall reading that you can't(legally) just connect to an old meter and run it backwards in NZ like the UK guy in the video did. Can't recall reasons but likely invalidates accuracy of meter etc so a new meter would be required.

As Solar Beginner alluded to, it's a great way for people to get started in solar at a low capital outlay. If these systems are approved overseas we are bound to see them here.

Does anyone know if small grid tie inverters, under 1KW that are AS4777 approved, exist on the NZ market?

You don't have to ask your power supply company (the company that bills you), but you should have a talk to your lines company - these are the companies the linesmen work for.

The link you posted gave no indication whatsoever that it is AS4777 certified. They also do not allow pickups - just because they hold stock in Aus doesn't actually mean the stock is legal for connection in either Aus or NZ.

Yes , the inverter only working when it detects mains should be a protection, as long as it can satisfy electrical codes I guess.

Overloading might occur if someone plugged in multiple units but, again, not likely at the wattage described.

NZ power companies support solar, the best is Meridian which is around 30c /kwh.

I do like this idea. Can't see why solar can't become very plug and play in the near future.

Thanks for the reply.

One of the devices I've seen on eBay is from an Australian stockest... so I'm wondering if it's already AS4777 approved. I'm going to drop them an email to ask out of interest though.

http://www.lensunhk.com/360w-grid-tie-inverter-p-47.html

I'm not sure what you mean when you say 'shocked off the cord pins'. The devices look like they turn off 100% if they do not detect a grid voltage. Hopefully the risk of shock is very low but I can't pretend it's not something I'm a little worried about as it does plug directly into the mains.

As for overload, I'm guessing a home trip works both ways but perhaps plugging it in via an RCD plug would make it extra precautionarily safe but the device does appear fused and reverse current protected.

Other than the power supply company, who I'm sure would not be keep to support someone looking to make their own electricity, I'm not sure who to ask for guidance over these devices.

I would like to avoid making a battery based system but I would like to do it without playing with the risks that accompany mains electricity.

There was a thread recently on a similar subject( a US enquiry) that may help.

I believe most NZ lines companies require the AS4777 standard so approval might be a bit long winded and expensive.

Assuming this plugs into a standard power socket there are a few safety concerns such as getting a shock off the cord pins and the potential to overload a circuit.

I could see some kind of standard specialized socket/circuit for home generation installations to become available though the concern might be that people could plug in equipment without advising the lines company.

http://ecobob.co.nz/Forum/ForumPosts/10513/Re-Simple-solar.aspx?ShowForumPostId=10804

I have a question for anyone out there, NZ based preferably, regarding small grid tie inverters.

I'm not referring to to the big KW inverters that cost 10k+ nor the individual panel based inverters but instead, these ones...

http://www.12vgridtiepowerinverters.com/ProductProfile/PSWGT300-14-28-230

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrleGtE2Mk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Hg1Ukl7yg

It's an inverter that plugs into an AC wall socket and feeds any power you generate back into your home and even, if you generate enough, back to the grid. No battery banks, no charge controllers, just this small grid tie inverter and whatever you can afford in solar panels.

Can anyone tell me if these are OK to use in NZ? All the reference material I can find is UK or USA based. They seem safe enough, they match the grid supply and cut off during power outages.

I see no reason why they shouldn't be used in NZ, I think they are a fantastic idea for the hobbyist or small scale solar enthusiast to do something green toward there own power bill without the usually prohibitive cost of renewables.

Am I missing some law that says they can't be used or does anyone know of any other reason why they can't be used here in NZ?

Any help, advice and information is appreciated...

Thanks for the link, that's exactly what I was after.
And thanks to everyone else for their thoughts too.