Energy Alternatives carving its own niche

Dana Darwin, founder and managing director of Energy Alternatives. Photo: Ted Baghurst

"It's a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts."

So says Dana Darwin, renewable energy entrepreneur, talking about how solar photovoltaic (electricity producing) panels work in conjunction with the brand-new-to-the-market heat pump water heaters - a replacement for the traditional hot water cylinder. "On their own both products are effective. Together they're super-efficient, and have an investment payback time of just five to eight years."

This combination of innovative technologies is the cornerstone of Darwin's business, Energy Alternatives, based in Auckland.

The company is riding the zeitgeist of ultra energy efficiency - the latest trend for people who have realised that the energy their homes and businesses are using is an unnecessary drain on the bank accounts.

Founded in 2006 by Dana Darwin, Energy Alternatives has experienced rapid growth with its range of energy efficiency and renewable energy options for residential and commercial applications.

The company's offering is fourfold: the aforementioned solar photovoltaics (PV) and heat pump water heaters, and solar hot water and solar swimming pool heating. It is also about to introduce a range of super efficient lighting solutions.

"We've found that the combination of solar PV and heat pump water heaters has become core to our business simply because it is producing quite astonishing results in terms of the power bill. Because a heat pump water heater needs only one third of the energy that a traditional hot water cylinder uses, it's easily powered by even a modest solar PV array, effectively making your hot water free when the sun is shining, leaving enough power from the panels to contribute to, or completely run, the rest of your home."

Darwin says that Energy Alternatives products are sourced for their efficiency credentials, quality and bang for buck, whether they are New Zealand-produced or imported. The company has established strong supply chain relationships with suppliers and installers.
"It's important for us that customers have some peace of mind that we are going to be around to look after them and make sure everything's operating as it should, and that there is accountability for both products and installation work," says Darwin. "Most of our sourced core products also come with additional external support from internationally established suppliers which carry extended warranties."

Darwin has been an advocate for renewable, clean technologies for many years. Since 2005 he has been active in the NZ solar and renewable space having acting as business development officer to many of the largest solar companies and served as acting CEO of the Solar Association. He is currently the business development officer and assists with the launch of the Customer Assurance Scheme.

One of Darwin's recent successful solar initiatives is the 'Warm Pools for Schools' program which he still manages. Thousands of square meters of solar pool heating has been installed since its inception in schools all throughout NZ.

He also belongs to and supports several industry associations including the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand (SEANZ), New Zealand Green Building Council and Sustainable Business Network.

Darwin is based on Waiheke Island where he and his partner Liz are planning to build the first 10 Homestar building in New Zealand which will be a demonstration project featuring some of the latest innovations in clean technology.

His philosophy is borne out in his business. "We are working towards a Company Carbon Neutral Programme, and ISO standard ratings. We also employ low-carbon transport solutions where possible." Dana has up-cycled his old pushbike to an electric one for city trips and local client site visits. Staff drive hybrid vehicles and support their local car-sharing initiative. Darwin is still looking for a bio diesel source on Waiheke to provide eco friendly juice for the company's diesel 4WD installation vehicle.

"We believe in walking the talk," says Darwin. "We demonstrate our commitment to the environment in as many ways as we can, as well as assisting our clients to become more environmentally responsible by providing cost-effective energy solutions which enables further investment in renewables and energy efficiency."

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH)
A HPWH works using the same technology as the heat pump on your wall. The compression of gas travelling in a circuit makes use of the latent heat in the air, transferring it into the water. The only energy needed is that to push the gas around the circuit, making this form of heating water among the most efficient. It is at least 65% more efficient than your traditional electric water heater. When you consider that a third of the average power bill is made up of water heating, that's a big saving.
It's a core part of Energy Alternatives' business, and is set for take-off. Overseas the technology is more common, and is experiencing huge growth. It looks like the same is going to happen here.
"They are easily retro-fitted," says Darwin. "And, really, any new builds should have one as standard. It significantly lowers the running costs of the house, and those savings are huge over the lifetime of the unit. It works perfectly with solar PV, delivering large reductions in power bills."

Solar PV technology
The solar photo voltaic (electricity producing) panel market in New Zealand is also growing quickly - the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand puts it at over 300% per year. "We have a great climate for it, with plenty of sunshine hours. With power prices pretty high in New Zealand, it makes good sense. It is certainly a significant investment, but the right system should be paid off in around eight years. That's not bad, considering you'd expect to get 25 years of solid power production out of your panels."

Solar hot water
Energy Alternatives uses high-quality, high-durability, long-life products (such as stainless steel hot water heat pump tanks). "We aim to sell good stuff that will go the distance," says Darwin.
Of course the energy source for solar hot water is free as long as the sun is shining. "Solar hot water costs a more to put in, but the payback period can still stack up in some circumstances where a heat pump is not particularly appropriate such as off grid situations with limited power production or limited roof space available."

Solar swimming pools
The sun can be used not just to heat private and commercial pools directly, but also through the use of lower cost 'unglazed' pool heating panels which provide lower temperature / high volume heating solutions for swimming pools. Depending on site and location, your swimming season can be extended for up to six months with the use of a good pool cover solution.
Solar pool heating, when appropriately designed and installed for a seasonal application, (Labour Day to Easter), solar pool heating offers one of the strongest solar payback return on investment after heat pump water heating.

Check out energyalternatives.co.nz for more information