Solar heating specialists Solar Heat Exchangers has launched a new solar heating system, the Giosol range, to supply the South African market with a more affordable solar heating option.

The Giosol range is a combination of the French Giordano solar collector, partnered with a locally manufactured cylinder.

Solar Heat Exchangers, mana- ging member Dylan Tudor-Jones says that the complete installed product comprises about 70% local content. “By sourcing the materials locally, the company is able to pass on the cost saving benefit to its customers; however, the Giosol range does not compromise on quality and it is still approved by the South African Bureau of Standards,” he adds.

Tudor-Jones says that the load-shedding period at the beginning of 2008 fuelled people’s interest in the solar heating market. Following the energy crisis, and in the wake of State-owned power utility Eskom’s 43% increase in the cost of electricity, the company decided to launch the Giosol range in addition to its core product, the Giordano range.

The Giordano and Giosol products are high-efficiency products and comply with the standards of the Eskom measuring rebate system.

Tudor-Jones says that although the domestic market is the companies bread and butter, Solar Heat Exchangers focuses mainly on commercial solar heating. The company is involved in the design of large-scale systems, including hot water reticulation design and costing on larger applications.

There are three core benefits to implementing a solar water heating system, he says. He explains that a solar heating system is a wise investment. “The money saved on conventional heating will pay for the cost of a solar heating system, depending on location and application,” he adds.

Further, he notes that hot water systems are, in most cases, the single largest contributor to an establishment’s monthly energy consumption. Solar heating systems have reduced hot water-related energy consumption by up to 85%.

Even though the company focuses on commercial applications, it is able to offer the domestic sector a customer- based service in which the company sizes the solar heating system according to a household’s requirements. The company also conducts a full site assessment and offers an on-site quotation service.

Highs and Lows

Tudor-Jones says that the downturn in the economy is of concern for the company. He explains that people may now have less liquid cash to buy solar heating systems, and states that banks should consider buying into the technology and offer soft loans and finance options to the South African public to make solar heating installations more accessible and affordable.

He says that the solar heating industry is currently experien- cing a severe lack of competent solar heating installers, and adds that Solar Heat Exchangers prides itself on its formally trained and technically skilled teams.

The company’s training faci- lity in Honeydew will now be relocated to its new offices in North Riding and new employees will be recruited mainly from the plumbing industry. Training will cover the technical detail and installation process of Solar Heat Exchangers’ products, as well as sales training.

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