Latest News

AccuRATE V1.1.3.0

The latest version of 2nd Gen BTP Assessment tools has been released.

DoP agree to a new Pilot to commence early February 2007.

BASIX (DIY) Review

ABSA instrumental in securing DoP DIY Sustainability Tool - DoP Review...not independent but a starting point 

Visit the ABSA Site for further details.

DIY found to lower the standard of Residential Building BTP in NSW - varies between 200% to 400% below Simulation Method when compared with NatHERS and far more variation expected to AccuRATE.

Renewable Resources

Services are renewable when the supply is replenished from natural actions such as rainfall, sunshine, wind, water movement.
Some applicable technologies are described in separate pages on this website.

Many of the technologies described are more usually installed in rural and remote locations. In locations where water movement is seasonal few opportunities are available for water wheels, turbines, jack pumps or mini-hydro installations.

Where rainfall is a scarce rain water capture, treatment and the management of its use are high priority design criteria for remote projects.

Commercialised renewable energy systems utilise principally wind and sunshine.
Wind turbines are available both for mains power supply and individual development energy supply. The latter range between 0.2kW and 10kW peak output, the size, location, tower height selected in each location to maximise effectiveness.
In general, greater tower heights maximise power output of the system, location should assess both power drop in transmission from tower to point of use, and acceptable distance to mitigate noise from the turbine.

Solar systems include both heating and electrical generation. Heating options are discussed on the separate page.

Electrical systems utilise photovoltaic cells of various manufacture and power outputs to convert direct sunlight to DC electrical power. Common types are poly-crystalline, semi-crystalline and amorphous (thin film).
Electricity from the cells is controlled by regulator to storage, and delivered via circuit breaker protected circuits to suit building wide zoning and voltage segregation.

Location options include:-- a separate 'power station' separate from the building where generation, storage, inversion and back up are all situated - integrated to the building with each function included in the building layout, notably photovoltaic panels integrated to roofs of appropriate pitch and orientation, storage in secure or ventilated spaces, control and inversion gear as part of the building's control centre - in residential buildings usually in the kitchen.

The renewable energy supply industry favours the former layout, including tracking system for the PV modules, and back up petrol driven generator.

This practice has developed projects in remote areas of Malaysia with renewable energy systems integrated and having only the wind turbine remote thus being able to avoid back up systems entirely.

Kitchen based facilities can include monitor indicators and control sub- boards. Indicators can include volt/amp supply, storage volt, inversion incoming DC volt/outgoing AC; some commercial regulators also include 'accumulated to date' records.

Storage of electricity conventionally is by battery, lead acid or gel type.
For the future high speed flywheel, fuel cell or conversion to liquid hydrogen storage are emergent storage options.

Electrical system layout issues are described in the separate page.

Send mail to webmaster@architect-vzy.au.com with questions and comments about this web site.
©1999 to 2006 VZ Yanchenko Pty Limited - Architects
Last Modified: Sunday, 21 January 2007 10:57:37 AM