The Solar Trade Association represents the interests of its member companies AGAINST both the consumer and some solar technology innovators.

Solar panels. STA Board members. Non-members. Influence and solar water heating. Solartwin review of solar trade secrets. RHI market grab?

Which? Who? Why? Would you best buy a solar panel from…?

Solar Trade Association Chairman, Howard Johns, MD of Southern Solar.

“Helpful” Howard Johns makes exaggerated environmental claims on behalf of the Solar Trade Association (STA) of which he is chair, about solar water heating, to whoever will believe him. His strategy is that of all “sensible” propagandists: tell a big enough lie often enough to as many large, medium and small people as possible and eventually some the lie will soak in and become fact. His trusting audiences include: The UK government, Gas-Safe plumbers and the general public, via the Solar Trade Association website.

How would you describe a trailblazer of environmental deception in an environmental industry?

Which? Magazine describe the business which Howard Johns runs as “helpful and sensible”.

Which? Magazine (May 2010) crowns Southern Solar as the only solar company they would name, and whose phone number and website they would publish for the benefit of readers of the Consumers Association Magazine.

The Solar Trade Association are also involved in the renewable energy industry’s watchdog which implements an OFT approved ethical code of conduct called the REAL code. Southern Solar is approved by the REAL code.

Strangely, REAL will not investigate Howard’s false environmental claims that Solar Water Heating is “Truly Zero Carbon”.

Howard Johns’ diplomatic immunity from REAL should be a relief to Which? Magazine who, although we have told them about Mr John’s false claims, still acclaim Southern Solar as “helpful and sensible” while correctly reporting other cowboy solar salesmen to the REAL code – whose own ethical code of conduct, in turn seems to be: “smite the foes of the STA”.

David Matthews. Chief Executive of the Solar Trade Association.

Dignified David Matthews claimed to the press that the Solar Trade Association conducted “extensive research and testing” into Legionella and Solar. He would not give us any evidence of this research and testing when we asked him. So we offered a prize to any member of the public who could supply evidence of the STA’s extensive R&T programme. This competition was directly communicated to thousands of Solartwin users, and it was posted on our website for a month. But £2599 of DIY solar panel water heating system prize went unclaimed.

We called him “Truth Lord” for a bit of fun. David Matthews threatened us with exclusion from from market-making regulatory consultations if we didn’t censor our site of reports of his misconduct and of reference to him as Truth Lord.

Trustworthy David Matthews assured me in writing of involvment in the solar industry’s Legionella risk assesment process. (I wasn’t.)

Chris Laughton is an independent solar installer who is a regulations consultant.

“Dark Doctor” Chris Laughton lives two lives. More here.