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Scottish solar showers in February!

In February of 2009 staff at the hotel enjoyed the very first 100% solar powered shower here at The St Columba. Our system was fitted during January and February by Solar Energy Systems of Fife. The panels we used are built in Scotland and the control units are German. On a clear winters day we can get the water in our tanks up to nearly 50 degrees without using any power except the sun! Of course with a busy hotel in the summer the solar will need help from our oil fired system but it should reduce our water heating bills by at least one third.

This winter we have also fitted several new double glazed windows and have upgraded insulation around our boilers and our hot water storage tanks. We're getting there!