TWO friends in Ulverston have launched a new business installing solar panels in the roofs of houses, which provide free hot water when the sun is shining, reports Zoe Casson.

Andy Bell, 44, and Stuart Campbell, 47, met more than 15 years ago when they built their own houses at Lund Farm, which first sparked off their interest in energy efficient systems.

Two years ago, the neighbours completed a course which made them accredited installers of the solar water heating system.

Mr Bell and Mr Campbell are running the business, Lakeland Solar Systems, in their spare time as they both have full-time jobs during the day.

Mr Bell said the system - which pumps water from a storage vessel and flows through micro-bore copper piping fitted beneath the solar collector when there is sufficient daylight - almost made boilers redundant during the summer months. It was not only kinder to the environment but also saved people about 70 per cent on their hot water bills. He said: "Even during the winter months, the system heats the water to about 40 degrees. The boiler only has to heat it to 60, so it is not working as hard."

The cost of installing a system starts from about £2,800 for a family-of-four. "It depends on the amount of hot water people use and the amount of people in the house for the size of system people need," said Mr Bell.

Mr Campbell said there was never a better time for people to go solar.

"To encourage people to go green, the Government is giving out grants of £500 towards the cost of having a system like ours fitted. They are already very popular abroad and the market for them down south is growing rapidly."

May 1, 2003 14:30