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No.1
Nov-Dec 2009 |
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News from Penguin - your perfect partner in
Portugal's glorious Algarve for air conditioning plus solar, underfloor
and pool heating.
Welcome
to the first of our regular bi-monthly newsletter aimed at keeping you
informed of our latest products and services, plus updates from the
ever-developing world of energy-efficient cooling and heating systems.
Also as this is the weird and wonderful world of Penguin, we'll
be offering some informative snippets about our famous, flightless,
feathered friend - and some fun too!
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Solar system grant scheme - save 50% now!The Portuguese Ministry of Finance has launched a program to encourage solar systems in homes. A grant to the value of €1641.70 is available to home owners applying to the scheme, PLUS a tax-deductible sum up to €796.00.As certified installers, Penguin are participants in the scheme, which offers an unmissable opportunity for any home owner whose property is suitable for a solar installation. The low purchase cost it now offers, if set against your annual water heating bills, can bring a return on investment in as little as 1 - 2 years. Thereafter, 80% of your domestic hot water needs is supplied by the sun - entirely FREE. Two configurations of system are available, each comprising a 300 litre water tank and 2 solar panels:
This grant is available to foreign property owners, the only provision being that they must have a Portuguese bank account and must physically be in Portugal to make the application. Applications are only being accepted until 31st December, so your first step should be to contact Penguin NOW for further information and a free site survey.  Penguin Fact
There are at least 18 species of penguin.
All live in the Southern Hemisphere, many at the South Pole in
Antarctica. Some species live in milder places such as the coasts
of South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Galapagos
Islands. The Emperor penguin is the only species that breeds and
nests in Antarctica throughout the sub-zero winter temperatures.
Penguin Play
Q. What do you call a penguin in
Lisbon?
A. Lost New Levels of Air PurityTwo
of our leading air conditioning suppliers, Panasonic and Samsung, have recently released new
incorporating the latest air purification innovations.
The Samsung range and Panasonic's Etherea system now feature among Penguin's 'Gold Rated' products. Achieving new levels of quietness (just 20Db - as quiet as a human whisper), these inverter-based models carry a Class 'A' energy rating, saving 50 - 64% on electricity consumption compared to many standard air con units. Both ranges not only de-humidify but also monitor air purity. When impure air is detected ions are emitted to attract dust, fumes, odours (including cigarette and pet odours) and even bacteria, drawing these into the unit's filters to actually purify the air in the room. The sensor constantly monitors dirt in the air whether the air conditioning is operating or not. With its sleek, curved design, Panasonic's Etherea unit harmonises beautifully with the contemporary interior of any home: whilst there are several stylish models to choose from Samsung.  Benefits:
Penguin Fact Penguins spend a lot of time dealing with temperature and often need help to stay warm. Groups bunch together shoulder-to-shoulder with their wings tight against their body, keeping each other warm. It is because of this behaviour that the name for a group of penguins is called a 'huddle'. As many as 5,000 penguins will crowd together to warm each other up. Some penguins have the opposite problem: Galapagos penguins live in such tropical weather that they get too hot, so they have to fluff out their feathers and stand with their wings spread out to help cool off. Penguin Play Q. Why can't penguins fly? A. Because they don't have money for the plane tickets Introducing 'Ecodan' high economy hot water & heatingHeat pumps
(or 'heat exchangers') are usually associated with pool heating in the
Algarve, but nowadays they can also be used to provide highly
cost-efficient domestic hot water, radiator and underfloor heating.
New on the market, Mitsubishi's innovative Ecodan range is now available
through Penguin.
 
The Ecodan air-source heat pump system consists of an external box fitted to your outside wall, identical in appearance to an air-con unit. Indeed its principle of operation is much the same, but switched in reverse, extracting low grade heat from the outdoor ambient air and concentrating or 'upgrading' it to supply domestic hot water and heating. So effective is this process that its CoP (Coefficient of Performance) is between 4-5, in other words for every 1kW of electricity fed into the system, you will get at least 4kW of heating energy. A heat pump therefore operates at a significantly lower cost than a gas boiler. The system works year-round even if the outdoor temperature should drop to -15°C - an impossibility in the Algarve's mild climate! Contact Penguin NOW for a free quotation Penguin Fact Penguins are 'counter shaded', being black on their backs and white on their bellies. This is a very successful camouflage because 'whilst swimming' their white bellies cannot be seen by predators below against the ocean's bright surface: yet conversely their black backs cannot be seen from above against the dark ocean depths. Penguin Play Q. What's black and white and black and white and black and white? A. A penguin rolling off an iceberg  |
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