Understand the fundamental principles and requirements of environmental technology systems 

Aim: This knowledge unit provides learning in the fundamental working principles along with regulatory requirement relating to renewable energy. Be able to distinguish the potential type of building features that will meet the requirements to install renewable energy water conservation along with typical advantages and disadvantages.

Learning outcome

1. Know the fundamental working principles of micro-renewable energy and water conservation technologies

1.1 Identify the fundamental working principles for each of the following

heat producing micro-renewable energy technologies:

solar thermal (hot water)

ground source heat pump

air source heat pump

biomass

1.2 Identify the fundamental working principles for each of the following electricity producing micro-renewable energy technologies:

solar photovoltaic

micro-wind

micro-hydro

1.3 Identify the fundamental working principles of the following cogeneration technologies:

micro-combined heat and power (heat-led)

1.4 Identify the fundamental working principles for each of the following water conservation technologies:

rainwater harvesting

greywater re-use.

2. Know the fundamental requirements of building location/building features for the potential to install micro-renewable energy and water conservation systems to exist

2.1 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a solar water heating system to exist

2.2 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a solar photovoltaic system to exist

2.3 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a ground source heat pump system to exist

2.4 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install an air source heat pump system to exist

2.5 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a biomass system to exist

2.6 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a micro wind system to exist

2.7 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a micro hydro system to exist

2.8 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a micro-combined heat and power (heat led) system to exist

2.9 Clarify the fundamental requirements for the potential to install a rain water harvesting/greywater re-use system to exist.

3. Know the fundamental regulatory requirements relating to microrenewable energy and water conservation technologies

3.1 Confirm what would be typically classified as ‘permitted development’ under town and country planning (environmental impact) regulations in relation to the deployment of the following technologies:

solar thermal (hot water)

solar photovoltaic

ground source heat pump

air source heat pump

micro-wind

biomass

micro-hydro

micro-combined heat and power (heat-led)

rainwater harvesting

greywater re-use

3.2 Confirm which sections of the current building regulations/building standards apply in relation to the deployment of the following

solar thermal (hot water)

solar photovoltatic

ground source heat pump

air source heat pump

micro-wind

biomass

micro-hydro

micro-combined heat and power (heat-led)

rainwater harvesting

greywater re-use.

4. Know the typical advantages and disadvantages associated with micro-renewable energy and water conservation technologies

4.1 Identify typical advantages associated with each of the following technologies:

solar thermal (hot water)

solar photovoltaic

ground source heat pump

air source heat pump

micro-wind

biomass

micro-hydro

micro-combined heat and power (heat-led)

rainwater harvesting

greywater re-use

4.2 Identify typical disadvantages associated with each of the following technologies:

solar thermal (hot water)

solar photovoltaic

ground source heat pump

air source heat pump

micro-wind

biomass

micro-hydro

micro-combined heat and power (heat-led)

rainwater harvesting

greywater re-use.