Environment
AES recognises that as a result of the impact of wide-scale carbon emissions on our planet and changing climate, it is up to us all as individuals to seek out solutions to reduce our own carbon footprints.
Solar thermal technologies are the only Zero Carbon and Zero Fuel renewable energy heat source. While the use of all available technologies to reduce carbon emissions is warranted, other renewable heating technologies are actually in the "Low Carbon" rather than "Zero Carbon" category. For example, the growth of biomass fuels typically requires a significant percentage of fossil fuel input, while heat pumps have significant electrical loads that may be generated from non-renewable sources.
Therefore, after core energy efficiency measures such as insulation, solar thermal should be included as the first choice renewable heating technology up to the functional requirements of a building, complemented by other appropriate low carbon technologies. This choice is based on both a carbon focused and a financially motivated answer to the issue of reducing individuals' carbon emissions.
