The new BSW office stores building is progressing very well and incorporates some of the latest ‘green’ technology. Our existing office buildings already use underfloor heating and rainwater harvesting so we had a good foundation to build on.

Being accredited and experienced in renewable technology we assessed the site and decided that the roof, being south facing and virtually unobstructed, was perfect for solar PV panels. The roof accommodates 32 panels, resulting in a 7.6kWh array, which, on a bright, sunny day, should be enough to power the new building when complete. An air source heat pump will provide heating to the building with underfloor heating on the ground floor and appropriately sized radiators on the first floor.

The solar PV panels we opted for are produced in Germany and the all-black appearance with the in-roof design ensures they blend in very nicely with the surrounding black anthracite tiles. The system itself is now fully installed and will become operational shortly once the building is fully weather tight. The array is expected to return in excess of £3,000 per annum in tax free, index linked feed in tariff payments, which should lead to profitability from 2020. With the feed-in tariff payments guaranteed by the government for the next 25 years, the overall income from the installation should be well worth the investment. The solar panels themselves are also guaranteed for 25 years and require minimal maintenance.

Once the installation is up and running we will be keeping detailed records on the performance of the system so we can judge how successful it will be. We will periodically post them online too so you can judge for yourself!

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