Complex going solar

[TedLasso]

If your complex has non-functioning trustees then probably, but really anything installed outside your unit or major building work requires trustee approval even if it is the norm in your complex. So for instance our complex allows aircon units, but if I want to install one I would still need approval and would have to ensure it is a neat installation. If you do things without their approval you put yourself at big risk of having to tear it down. Legally, they can tear you a new one if you just do things without following the process even if in practice a lot of people get away with it.

For stuff that dramatically changes the appearance of a complex, you need an AGM approval to add it to the list of approved projects owners can undertake. Common one's could be thatch lapa's in exclusive use area's, water tanks, and solar installations.

So my presentation to the AGM will have the purpose of getting our complex to agree on the fact that we want to allow solar installations and what the rules and limitations are around that. Like geysers on the roof or inside the roof.

I am starting with solar geysers, and panels. Next year I might tackle water storage (potable or grey water harvesting). Both are not currently allowed in our complex just because we have never bothered to vote on it or talk about it in the AGM. It requires someone to do the research, present it, motivate for it, and to get people to vote.

As an aside, one reason I chose never to ever live in a complex again. Glad I never have to face that kind of interference and ineptitude again .

But a question related to this thread:-
What about heat exchangers to heat geysers? I ask because my house has one, but I have never used it and they apparently save loads of electricity and look like AC units so could be mounted without breaking any BC rules, or allowing BC rules to be modified? If a complex has flat roofs then easy to hide too?

 

[isie]

Look at attached file. This doesn't cost an arm and a legView attachment 615744

Hi
any idea on approximate costs on these?

 

[Cius]

As an aside, one reason I chose never to ever live in a complex again. Glad I never have to face that kind of interference and ineptitude again .

But a question related to this thread:-
What about heat exchangers to heat geysers? I ask because my house has one, but I have never used it and they apparently save loads of electricity and look like AC units so could be mounted without breaking any BC rules, or allowing BC rules to be modified? If a complex has flat roofs then easy to hide too?

I call that a heat pump. Basically an aircon in reverse. They are allowed but all my research says they are a lot more expensive in the long run than solar geysers as they are essentially a far more complicated machine that requires regular maintenance etc. From the reading I did they tend to last 5 to 10 years where solar geysers tend to be 15 years plus.

 

[isie]

As an aside, one reason I chose never to ever live in a complex again. Glad I never have to face that kind of interference and ineptitude again .

But a question related to this thread:-
What about heat exchangers to heat geysers? I ask because my house has one, but I have never used it and they apparently save loads of electricity and look like AC units so could be mounted without breaking any BC rules, or allowing BC rules to be modified? If a complex has flat roofs then easy to hide too?

@Cius basically explained this.
Any reason you aren't using it rather then your normal geyser - also why do you have 2?

 

[TedLasso]

@Cius basically explained this.
Any reason you aren't using it rather then your normal geyser - also why do you have 2?

Because when we bought the house , it didn't seem to be connected correctly (how the house passed its COC still peeves me) , and we were used to turning on geyser for only 1.25 hours daily to meet our needs so we do this. It looked like the heat pump would use more .

I need to get that wiring sorted out and give it a go as my entire home including geysers are connected to iOT switches so I can see power differentials in use.

Ideally , I should install solar Geyser and be done with it, but that would be a project on its own as then I want to take most of the house off grid.

 

[isie]

Because when we bought the house , it didn't seem to be connected correctly (how the house passed its COC still peeves me) , and we were used to turning on geyser for only 1.25 hours daily to meet our needs so we do this. It looked like the heat pump would use more .

I need to get that wiring sorted out and give it a go as my entire home including geysers are connected to iOT switches so I can see power differentials in use.

Ideally , I should install solar Geyser and be done with it, but that would be a project on its own as then I want to take most of the house off grid.

lol similar situation to me ,
I moved into a house with 3 geysers (and not some mansion 3 Bedroom) 1 electric, 1 solar and 1 gas - It boggles the mind we only 4 people its over kill and wasteful:
150l Solar connected to one bathroom and kitchen
150l Electric connected to En suite bathroom (which gets used the most)
6l Gas connected to 1 tap on the outside (it hasn't worked for awhile i need to get it fixed)

Coincidentally my plumber came today i basically connected the water to go into the electric and then into the solar - the electric stays off and just stores water (if it warms up its just basically sitting n the sun (flat roof) then it goes into the solar which will be in use with its own electric back up (if the solar ever fails i can just switch on the Electric to warm up the water. hat goes to the entire house - the gas i left connected but created a shut off valve so when i get it repaired water will go into the kitchen from that geyser - but for the time being kitchen is fed from solar


the heat pump will need to run the whole day and night however from what i understand although it runs longer it still uses less electricity in a day then a standard geyer would use for a couple of hours - and the benefit above Solar is it can work at night and cold / cloudy days.