In a Solar Trade Asssociation rebuttal to a report produced by Legionella Control International (which said that Solartwin was safer than conventional solar water heating from a Legionella safety perspective) the UK’s Solar Trade Association have just announced to the press that they “conduct extensive tests and research into Legionella”.

This is fascinating: we had not known of this interesting fact. If the public are interested in reading the results of this extensive tests and research into Legionella they they should contact the Solar Trade Association at:

enquiries@solar-trade.org.uk

Ethics are very important to the STA. Indeed their website says that members are bound by a strict Code of Ethical Practice – backed up by a strict disciplinary procedure. In our experience this means fines of £1000 for publishing truths about carbon savings which happen to be inconvenient to influential STA board members.

Now we have got this off our chest, down to the important stuff – can you please get these documents for us? Solar Twin Ltd are not members of the STA. So we have not had sight of any such material, extensive or otherwise, despite having raised the matter with STA. When you are sent the material, do please let us know because…

There is a solar panel prize worth £2500!

The first person who is able to deliver evidence to us that the Solar Trade Association has, itself, conducted extensive tests and research into Legionella we will give them a free Solartwin DIY solar water heating kit worth over £2500 with only delivery to pay. (Delivery will be free to mainland UK.)

Rules of the competition are as follows:

To win, the STA’s claim that it “conducts extensive tests and research into Legionella” must be evidenced in full. This means that by the 20th of January 2009 (the original deadline was 31 January but we were underwhelmed by the response, which was limited to just one snotty, threatening email from the Chief Ececutive of the STA) you must:

Provide evidence that the Solar Trade Association Ltd (not another body) have:

Conducted extensive tests into Legionella in solar thermal, defined as at least 1 already published by 6/Jan/09 scientific study of at least 1000 words.

AND Conducted extensive research into Legionella in solar thermal, defined as at least 1 already published by 6/Jan/09 research paper of at least 1000 words.

Research or tests conducted by other parties are not eligible. Conference proceedings at which the STA attended are not either. Research and tests are what matter!

Please also include a tiebraker slogan, completing ths sentence: “I am dying to join the Solar Trade Association because…”

Please deliver all entries by post to Solar Twin Ltd, 50 Watergate Street Chester CH1 2LA. The date of reciept will be used as the eligibility date. In the event of a tie, the best slogan will win. This will be judged by our retail sales team in the final week of February. The panel will be sent to the winner by the end of March.

Please include your name, addresss and phone number. We will assume you want no publicity unless you state otherwise.

In the extremely unlikely event of the STA, ethical that it clearly is, not providing this material, then in March 2009 we will instead conduct a poll of customers from last year to instead donate the panel to a charity or eduational organisation in UK or Ireland. The most voted for charity or organisation will gain the panel.

Please tell your friends!