IBERSOL Sustainability Report 2018

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 > Switching off equipment As a good practice, the idea is to switch off electrical equipment when not in use for some time, and delay switching on electrical equipment, knowing in advance how long the equipment needs to reach the desired temperatures. As these are measures that do not imply any investment, the return is immediate. During off-peak hours, we chose to switch off the air-conditioning system, the new air extraction machines and exhaust machines and the outdoor lighting, through automatic support systems with timers. > Thermal solar system The main components of a solar system are the solar panels, responsi- ble for absorbing sunlight, and the storage tanks, for storing energy in the form of hot water. In installations with a drive, the thermal solar energy is linked to the hot water production process for bathrooms, with a significant reduction in the need to use other sources of energy, such as electricity or gas. This is a renewable and safe energy, with low operating costs, making it possible to reduce a facility’s energy bill. With proper maintenance, solar energy systems have a useful life of over 15 years. The typical return on investment varies between 6 and 10 years. 49