SPECIAL FEBRUARY OFFER: Purchase any solamate system through BREAZE and get 30% OFF our energy smart LED lighting range! Offer only valid on domestic purchases made during February 2012. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information.

Warm your home…not the planet!

Until recently, the only way to keep yourself warmer in winter without resorting to using fossil fuels was to clad yourself in so many layers of wintry cable-knit jumpers that you looked and felt like a Michelin Man. Or perhaps you jumped up and down on the spot a lot and passed it off as ‘exercise’.

It is a frustrating Catch-22 that the dominant ways of warming our homes tend to make our planet warm up as well, because of the energy sources that we use to do the job. Ditto for cooling.

So…if you’d like to stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, while using energy from a clean, renewable source that will keep going for the next 50 million years, perhaps a SolaMate might be the thing.

What is SolaMate?

The SolaMate solar air heating, cooling and ventilation system was the winner of the HIA Greensmart Product of the Year in 2009 and was a winning invention on the ABC’s ‘New Inventor’s’ Program in 2009. SolaMate delivers naturally heated fresh air generated by the sun, or naturally cool evening air via a triple-glazed roof mounted panel, low-watt fan, series of ceiling ducts and a set-and-forget controller. It also serves to ventilate the air within a building and has a filtering system to clean incoming air of dust, pollutants and allergens. The SolaMate website is below:

http://www.sola-mate.com/

If you missed the presentation, you could download pdf's of the powerpoints
1   SolarMate Performance Overview (4 MB 2010-08-04 20:17:15)
2   SolaMate Installation Overview (5.73 MB 2010-08-04 20:15:33)

Will my roof have the space for these things?

Luckily, the SolaMate panels come in two different lengths and widths. The dimensions are below and the different prices are found in the separate price sheets below

STANDARD (LONGER) PANELS (mm): 3431(L) x 1028(W) x 86

“STUMPY” PANELS (mm): 2512(L) x 1530(W) x 86

Click on the link here ‘SolaMate options’ to see photos of these different panels and how they can be arrayed in either ‘portrait’ or ‘landscape’ arrangement

 SolaMate Options (283.71 kB 2010-04-23 10:01:14)

Alright, whadda they cost? 

Firstly, if you are a member of BREAZE, there is an additional discount applied to the ex-GST price. Have a look below on how to become a member: 

1 PANEL System = $200 discount

2PANEL System = $400 discount

 *Plumbing costs are indicative and are only shown in order to give some sense of a combined materials + installation cost. A full and accurate installation quotation is submitted to BREAZE after you have completed an Enquiry Form and BREAZE has discussed your home’s ‘site specific’ requirements. If you do not already have a power point in your roof cavity space, there is an additional $150 for this electrical work. 

 *Plumbing costs are indicative and are only shown in order to give some sense of a combined materials + installation cost. A full and accurate installation quotation is submitted to BREAZE after you have completed an Enquiry Form and BREAZE has discussed your home’s ‘site specific’ requirements. If you do not already have a power point in your roof cavity space, there is an additional $150 for this electrical work.

** Note: there is no ‘Stumpy’ panel available for flat roofs, due to higher wind load rating requirements

** Note: there is no ‘Stumpy’ panel available for flat roofs, due to higher wind load rating

I’m interested. What should I do now?

By filling out the SolaMate Enquiry Form, you can provide contact details and other information that will enable a plumber to visit your house in order to provide an installation quotation.

You can click on this link below and download the form and then do one of the following:

 BREAZE Solamate Quote Enquiry Form (184.5 kB 2010-04-23 09:58:37)

(This is an MS Word document - information if you do not have this program on your computer)

• SAVE the document and then place your cursor into each blank cell, TYPE your answers into the cells and email it back to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or
• Print off a hard copy, hand write your answers in the spaces and drop it off in person at the BREAZE office (2 East St Sth, off Victoria St) or mail it to:

BREAZE, SolaMate Project Applications,
PO Box 319W, BALLARAT WEST
VIC 3350.
(Telephone 5329 1730)

How do I become a member, or check my membership status?

You can fill out a membership form by dropping in to the BREAZE office at 2 East St Sth (just off Victoria St). But for all youse on-line types, then:

For members, log in, check your profile and find out your number, click the link below for instructions.

http://breaze.org.au/resources/web-site-information/485-member-no

If you are not a member, click the link below to join us and get a great discount off SolaMate (and things like solar hot water and solar electricity)

http://breaze.org.au/get-involved/join

Getting a SolaMate system installed by BREAZE

If you are keen to get some SolaMate panels on your roof, this is a summary of the process:

1. Examine the price list above. BREAZE members receive an additional discount!
2. Download and fill out the on-line Enquiry Form, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or ring/visit the BREAZE Office (5329 1730)
3. BREAZE will contact you to discuss 'site specific' installation issues. In less straightforward cases, BREAZE will organize a plumber to visit your home to conduct a house inspection
4. BREAZE will prepare a quotation (incl. materials and installation) and email (or post) this to you
5. After accepting the quotation, BREAZE will order your SolaMate system once your payment is deposited in the BREAZE ‘Sustainability Initiatives’ Bank Account (see payment details here)
6. The plumber will contact you to arrange a mutually agreeable time for installation
7. Toss the extra cable-knit jumpers back in the wardrobe….