Installing a solar hot water heater system

When installing a solar hot water heater system in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, there are many factors which should be considered. To determine if this choice is best for your home, you’ll want to learn about the advantages and if you are a good candidate. For peace of mind, Smith Sustainable Design has included this information below. We can also provide further assistance in determining if a solar hot water heater system is right for you- just give us a call.

Solar hot water heater systems reduce a home’s reliance on other domestic hot water heating systems such as an electric water heater or a boiler. With a solar hot water system installed, solar thermal energy is free to collect and use- unlike electricity, natural gas, or oil. Solar hot water heater systems allow you to produce most, if not all, of the hot water your home needs, reducing energy costs drastically.

Solar hot water heater systems are an environmentally friendly choice for providing the hot water your home needs. Without the use of fossil fuels, your solar thermal system will help your household cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. Fossil fuels are commonly used to produce electricity; so even if you have an electric water heater, your home is still contributing excess carbon dioxide emissions indirectly. Anytime you can use the solar hot water heater system, you will be benefiting the environment.

So, is your household a good candidate for a solar hot water heater system? Households with the following qualities are likely to benefit greatly from installing one:

• Homes which are occupied all year long (a primary residence, not a vacation home)
• Homes which are currently not heating water efficiently (using older, inefficient equipment)
• Homes with higher hot water demands (households of four or more people, or multifamily homes)

If you think you’re a good candidate for solar hot water heater system installation, or for help determining whether you are or not, contact us. We’ll review your household’s characteristics and your current water heating systems to see if solar hot water would benefit you.

Evacuated tube panels versus flat plate solar heat panels

When installing a solar heat system, there are two types of solar heat panels which can be used: evacuated tube panels and flat plate panels. Evacuated tube solar heat panels are a newer technology which is utilized in many new installations today. Does newer technology always mean better? Below, we will discuss evacuated tube solar heat panels so you can decide for yourself.

Evacuated tube solar heat panels:

• Collect sunlight better due to their greater exposed surface area
• Transfer heat more efficiently than flat plate solar heat panels
• Are able to be used for applications where temperatures fall below 0 degrees
• Perform well even in less-than-ideal weather conditions
• Take up less space

In general, evacuated tube solar heat panels are more efficient than flat plate collectors. Evacuated tube panel technology is newer, so the price of components is higher than with flat plate panels. While they cost more initially, they are very durable and replacing broken tubes can be done easily and affordably. Repairs for flat plate panels can be more expensive if needed.

When determining which type of solar heat panel is right for an application, we have to consider the temperature of water in the storage tank as well as the outdoor temperature. Flat plate collectors are more efficient than evacuated tube solar heat panels when there isn’t much temperature variance. On the other hand, evacuated tube solar heat panels offer increased efficiency when the temperature variances increase, making them ideal for use in colder temperatures.

Though evacuated tube solar heat panels are becoming the preferred choice, there are many applications where flat plate solar heat panels are still the best choice, including:

• Housing and dormitories, such as for colleges, the military, correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes
• Cafeterias
• Car Washes
• Laundries

Smith Sustainable Design will determine which panel type is right for your application, and answer any questions you may have about the equipment we recommend. Call us today to schedule your consultation.

Solar hot water systems versus electric hot water systems

When it is time to install a new hot water heater, many homeowners start doing their research and comparing different systems. One system you may be overlooking in your search is a solar hot water system. This can be a costly mistake, as solar hot water systems have many advantages over their traditional electric competitors. Not convinced? See for yourself:

Electric hot water systems are a major consumer of energy within a household. Many times, these systems aren’t tied into an off peak power program like heating and cooling may be, so you’re likely paying full price for power whenever you need hot water. With solar hot water systems, most if not all of your hot water is produced using solar energy, so your household electricity bills are much lower.

Think you can only use a solar hot water system on a sunny day? Think again. Evacuated tube systems are very effective and work well even when the weather isn’t cooperating. Your solar hot water system can be used when it’s cloudy, raining, or snowing! Yes, an electric system won’t normally be affected by inclement weather (unless of course there is a power outage), but with these systems, you’re still using utility power anytime you need hot water.

Still worried about the weather affecting your hot water supply? There is really no need because solar hot water systems do have electric backup systems which will produce hot water for your home during periods where solar energy collection is minimal. These backup systems aren’t utilized very often, so utility energy use is still minimized with a solar hot water system.

If you’re not sure about whether you should ditch electric and switch to a solar hot water system, feel free to give us a call. Smith Sustainable Design can help you compare the benefits and discover the savings that solar hot water can offer your household.

Solar thermal for commercial laundry applications

Commercial applications which have high hot water demands are excellent candidates for solar thermal installation. For instance, commercial and coin operated laundry businesses use a significant amount of hot water each day. Utilizing solar thermal systems in these industries can significantly reduce operating costs for a facility.

Commercial washing and coin operated laundry facilities can harness solar energy for water heating purposes by installing solar thermal systems. Solar thermal systems can reduce a facility’s operating costs by lowering the amount of energy needed to heat water using traditional equipment, such as boilers or gas and electric water heaters. Solar thermal systems can be custom designed to meet the ranging needs of individual laundry facilities.

Commercial solar thermal systems for these applications are designed using the same principles as other solar thermal systems. Collector panels are installed on a southern exposure of the building, though the number of panels will vary based on the facility’s hot water demands. Storage tanks are sized large enough to work with the system and meet the hot water demands of a facility.

Using solar thermal hot water systems won’t negatively impact the available hot water supply, which is a concern for many commercial and coin operated laundry facilities. Solar thermal systems provide a continuous supply of hot water for use in the facility. Commercial washing and coin operated laundry facilities which have already installed solar thermal systems have found that sufficient hot water is produced for meeting the daily needs of their businesses.

Solar thermal water heating offers many advantages for commercial washing and coin operated laundry facilities, as well as in other commercial applications where hot water is in high demand. To learn more about installing a solar thermal system for your facility, contact Smith Sustainable Design for a consultation today.