SOLAR HOT WATER
Solar water heating systems just make good sense. Consumers currently use more than 50
Trillion kilowatt hours of power each year, and yet the sun provides enough energy to meet the
world's energy needs for a whole year in less than one hour!
Solar water heating systems consist of two main parts: a solar collector and a storage tank.
The collectors can be mounted on a roof or on a stand-alone structure, depending on the site.
The sun heats the absorber plate in the collector which heats the fluid running through the
tubes within the collector. The water then moves down into the storage tank inside the home
or business. View a drawing of the solar hot water heating process (PDF).
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average household will spend over $500
per year to heat water with electricity in an 80-gallon tank. Augmenting your current system with
a solar one can reduce water heating costs by 75 to 90%!
Solar hot water systems provide clean, cost-effective, versatile, and reliable energy that, when
well maintained, have a life expectancy of more than 20 years.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLAR HOT WATER
Most important and required is a 180 degree, due south exposure to the sun. The panels
typically have to be at a tilt of 35 to 55 degrees, depending on different issues but mostly for
performance. Hot water panels need to be as close as possible to the existing hot water
system.
HEATING YOUR HOME WITH SOLAR ENERGY
You can heat your home with solar energy, but it may not be 100% in Michigan without a large
array working to store its heat in the form of a thermal mass (either in a larger water tank or
heated earth under the house slab). Those homes can be built but retrofits are difficult and
costly. You can tie into existing radiant heating using a boiler type set-up, or some other
heating system which we can supplement. Large solar arrays for heating generally are a
alternative/supplement to an existing or main system you're trying to reduce its demands on.
Plus large hot water arrays do like to have a job in the summer, like heating a pool and or a
hot tub!
ROOF RE-ENFORCEMENT
Typically, homeowners do not need to re-enforce their roofs. We will look at the roof's condition
and if we feel it is over weighted and not able to handle the system we will not put it on your
roof but recommend an alternative location. Most standard 24" OC roof trusses can handle PV
without a problem, but hot water panels do need to go on a solid roof. Rarely do we reinforce a
roof, mostly we just relocate the panels instead.
SOLAR PANEL LOCATION
Many people ask us if the panels have to be on the roof. NO! We can locate them anywhere we
can see the southern sun. The reason roofs are so good is their constant exposure
maximizing your outputs and keeping them away and up high away danger. Better winter
performance with lower sun angles is also a plus.
Locations other than roofs may include a wall, poles, and the back side of buildings. As long
as we can see the sun to the south we can install a system.
MAINTENANCE TO OUR SOLAR PANELS
For the solar panels themselves, maintenance is never needed. There are no moving parts
and nothing to wear out. Safe, clean, no bi-product emitted energy...what a concept! The
system's collector loop fluid should be checked for performance and pressure every 10 to 20
years. This is typically about a $200 fee.
Trillion kilowatt hours of power each year, and yet the sun provides enough energy to meet the
world's energy needs for a whole year in less than one hour!
Solar water heating systems consist of two main parts: a solar collector and a storage tank.
The collectors can be mounted on a roof or on a stand-alone structure, depending on the site.
The sun heats the absorber plate in the collector which heats the fluid running through the
tubes within the collector. The water then moves down into the storage tank inside the home
or business. View a drawing of the solar hot water heating process (PDF).
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average household will spend over $500
per year to heat water with electricity in an 80-gallon tank. Augmenting your current system with
a solar one can reduce water heating costs by 75 to 90%!
Solar hot water systems provide clean, cost-effective, versatile, and reliable energy that, when
well maintained, have a life expectancy of more than 20 years.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLAR HOT WATER
Most important and required is a 180 degree, due south exposure to the sun. The panels
typically have to be at a tilt of 35 to 55 degrees, depending on different issues but mostly for
performance. Hot water panels need to be as close as possible to the existing hot water
system.
HEATING YOUR HOME WITH SOLAR ENERGY
You can heat your home with solar energy, but it may not be 100% in Michigan without a large
array working to store its heat in the form of a thermal mass (either in a larger water tank or
heated earth under the house slab). Those homes can be built but retrofits are difficult and
costly. You can tie into existing radiant heating using a boiler type set-up, or some other
heating system which we can supplement. Large solar arrays for heating generally are a
alternative/supplement to an existing or main system you're trying to reduce its demands on.
Plus large hot water arrays do like to have a job in the summer, like heating a pool and or a
hot tub!
ROOF RE-ENFORCEMENT
Typically, homeowners do not need to re-enforce their roofs. We will look at the roof's condition
and if we feel it is over weighted and not able to handle the system we will not put it on your
roof but recommend an alternative location. Most standard 24" OC roof trusses can handle PV
without a problem, but hot water panels do need to go on a solid roof. Rarely do we reinforce a
roof, mostly we just relocate the panels instead.
SOLAR PANEL LOCATION
Many people ask us if the panels have to be on the roof. NO! We can locate them anywhere we
can see the southern sun. The reason roofs are so good is their constant exposure
maximizing your outputs and keeping them away and up high away danger. Better winter
performance with lower sun angles is also a plus.
Locations other than roofs may include a wall, poles, and the back side of buildings. As long
as we can see the sun to the south we can install a system.
MAINTENANCE TO OUR SOLAR PANELS
For the solar panels themselves, maintenance is never needed. There are no moving parts
and nothing to wear out. Safe, clean, no bi-product emitted energy...what a concept! The
system's collector loop fluid should be checked for performance and pressure every 10 to 20
years. This is typically about a $200 fee.
| DID YOU KNOW??? |
How Much Power Solar Energy
Can Make
With two collectors facing south, an 80
gallon tank for storage should make about
57% of a four-person family's hot water
needs, including showers, baths, laundry
and dish washing.
Three collectors and a 120 gallon solar
storage tank will meet 54% of the water
needs of a family of five or six.
Typical systems take 55-degree ground
water and use electricity to bring that water
up to 120-130 degrees. Solar hot water
systems divert that water through solar
panels that heat the water to 90-150
degrees prior to storage, thereby keeping
the existing hot water heating system
requirements to a minimum.
Can Make
With two collectors facing south, an 80
gallon tank for storage should make about
57% of a four-person family's hot water
needs, including showers, baths, laundry
and dish washing.
Three collectors and a 120 gallon solar
storage tank will meet 54% of the water
needs of a family of five or six.
Typical systems take 55-degree ground
water and use electricity to bring that water
up to 120-130 degrees. Solar hot water
systems divert that water through solar
panels that heat the water to 90-150
degrees prior to storage, thereby keeping
the existing hot water heating system
requirements to a minimum.
| PRICING |
Solar Hot Water systems start around
$6,900 to $9,900 for a basic system that
meets the needs of most homes.
$6,900 to $9,900 for a basic system that
meets the needs of most homes.
| INCENTIVES |
Incentives for Homeowners
The government offers a 30% tax credit on
the total the cost of an installed solar
system, with NO LIMIT. Example scenario:
$25,000 system yields a $7,500 tax credit.
The amount comes off any tax liability you
have at the end of the tax year. There is
also an Illinois rebate of 30% capped at
$10,000.
Incentives for Business Owners
The government offers a 30% tax credit for
business owners who install a solar system,
with no limit. Example scenario: $50,000
system purchase - $15,000 tax credit =
$35,000 final cost. There is also an Illinois
rebate of 30% capped at $10,000.
The government offers a 30% tax credit on
the total the cost of an installed solar
system, with NO LIMIT. Example scenario:
$25,000 system yields a $7,500 tax credit.
The amount comes off any tax liability you
have at the end of the tax year. There is
also an Illinois rebate of 30% capped at
$10,000.
Incentives for Business Owners
The government offers a 30% tax credit for
business owners who install a solar system,
with no limit. Example scenario: $50,000
system purchase - $15,000 tax credit =
$35,000 final cost. There is also an Illinois
rebate of 30% capped at $10,000.
© Bauer Power, Inc. 2009 |
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