The benefits of solar thermal

When it’s time to replace or upgrade your current water heater, consider all your options. Too many people overlook solar thermal systems as a choice for their new hot water heater. Before you buy a new water heater, learn the benefits solar thermal brings to your home or business.

It’s cost-efficient affordable

Solar thermal is the most cost-efficient form of renewable energy for home and business use. The energy output generated by a solar thermal system is greater than a standard water heater, and can meet your hot water demands using less energy. There are federal tax credits and local incentives available when you install a new solar thermal system, which will help you recoup your installation expenses faster.

It works anywhere

Do you worry that a solar thermal system won’t be good for your home or business because our climate is sometimes cloudy and rainy, and we get our fair share of snow most winters? Don’t worry about the weather affecting your solar thermal system, they operate effectively in our region, and all over the United States.

It’s easy to maintain

Solar thermal systems require little on your part, allowing you to enjoy your hot water without extra work. Throughout their lifetime, solar thermal systems need hardly any maintenance or service. Solar thermal equipment is long-lasting and durable, even the solar collectors can stand up to harsh weather conditions. Installation also goes quickly- typically, only a few days’ work is needed for us to install your system completely.

It helps you save

A solar thermal system will help you save big on your energy bills annually. By producing most if not all energy needed meet your hot water demands, all the hot water you want will cost you very little. With energy from your utility company, your expenses increase every time they raise their rates. With solar thermal, you can reduce your home or business’s dependence on utility power.

Are you wondering if a solar thermal system is right for you? Call the experts at Smith Sustainable Design to learn more benefits and discover how solar thermal is the right choice for your water heater replacement or upgrade.

Solar hot water systems for businesses

On a smaller scale, solar thermal systems do wonders to reduce household utility expenses. On a larger scale, solar hot water systems are an efficient solution which can provide significant savings for your business, year after year. Business owners across the United States are switching to solar thermal to reduce operating expenses.

Solar thermal systems are available for commercial use, and have been used in a variety of settings, including:

• Manufacturing
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Laundromats
• Multi-family housing
• College dormitories
• Car & truck washes

Many businesses are looking for methods to reduce waste and move to environmentally friendly processes and equipment. Solar hot water systems are a sound investment for businesses and commercial facility owners which can help meet these goals, allowing owners and occupants to reduce energy consumption, in turn reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The energy savings provided by using a solar hot water system for your business isn’t the only way you can save. Your commercial solar thermal system may qualify your business to receive federal tax credits as well as incentives from your state or other local organizations. These incentives help you recoup the cost of your investment when you choose a solar thermal system to provide for your business’s hot water needs.

Choose solar hot water systems for business use and benefit from the energy savings they provide. Smith Sustainable Design installs solar thermal systems for a variety of commercial applications, and will help your business utilize the same environmentally friendly technology other companies are taking advantage of. Contact our experts to learn more about the benefits a solar hot water system will have in your line of business, and discover the return you can expect to see when you invest in a commercial solar hot water system.

Heat exchangers: double wall versus single wall

Your solar thermal system uses a heat exchanger to warm water using the energy collected by your solar heat panels. Solar thermal systems use either a single wall heat exchanger or a double wall heat exchanger. The single wall heat exchangers are commonly used, but sometimes there are requests to use a double wall heat exchanger. Often, customers are under the impression that a double wall heat exchanger is needed for their system, but that is not always the case. Here is a look at the difference between the two, and why it may be better to choose one over the other.

The difference between the two heat exchangers is something you may be able to guess- one wall, and two walls. A single wall heat exchanger has just one barrier. A double wall heat exchanger has an additional layer. The barrier is typically made of a metal, such as copper or steel, and works to separate the solar fluid from potable water. It prevents the solar fluid from contaminating your hot water reserves.

While some may think the extra protection is a plus, a double wall heat exchanger may be a detriment in other areas. They are more expensive, adding additional cost to your solar thermal system installation which may not be warranted. They may also reduce your system’s performance because of their design, giving you results which are less than you expect from an efficient solar thermal system. The gap between the two barrier layers acts as a layer of insulation so the heat cannot be transferred as efficiently.

Using a single wall heat exchanger provides excellent protection against contamination of your water source if you follow these recommendations:

•  Label the system so toxic fluids are not inserted where they shouldn’t be.
• Use a pressure relief valve that is properly rated for your system.

If you have any questions about which heat exchanger is appropriate for your solar thermal system, call Smith Sustainable Design. Our design and installation experts will give you the facts and information on the best equipment to keep you safe and help your solar thermal system work efficiently.

Solar heat for your pool

Many pool owners love their pools but hate their heating costs. Heating your pool using traditional pool heating systems can be cost-prohibitive, preventing you from enjoying comfortable water temperatures. Luckily, there is an alternative solution which makes heating your pool much more affordable. Solar hot water heater systems aren’t just for household needs- use solar heat to keep your pool at comfortable, even temperatures affordably!

Solar heating systems for your pool consist of a few components: the solar heat panels, the pump, the filter, and a flow control valve. The pump moves cold water from your pool through the filter to remove any debris. Then, the water is pumped through the solar heat panels where it is heated using the energy they absorb. When the water reaches the desired temperature, the flow control valve opens, sending the warm water back into your pool, raising the overall temperature. The process usually takes only a few hours of sunlight, depending on the pool’s location and the temperature you prefer.

Solar heat systems for your pool use little energy to operate. Without the use of fossil fuels to warm the water, the cost of heating your pool decreases dramatically. A solar heat system for a pool pays for itself with the savings you achieve over using traditional pool heating equipment. Depending on your system and your pool, a solar heating system can pay for itself in as little as two to seven years!

Enjoy your pool without the expense. Smith Sustainable Design offers solar heat solutions which allow you to maintain comfortable water temperatures for much less than your old gas or electric pool heater. Contact us today for solar heat systems designed to reduce your pool heating costs.

Save more with solar hot water systems

If you have already made the choice to install a solar hot water system, you can already see the difference on your energy bills. Solar thermal technology is an energy efficient way to provide hot water for all your needs. Saving water is an important element of conservation and helps protect our planet. There are many changes you can make around the house to use less water, which can also reduce your energy bills if you still access backup hot water, or even use an electric well pump to move water inside. If you still use hot water from a backup source, or are looking for ways to conserve hot water, we can help. You can make your system even more efficient with these tips.

Go low-flow when choosing new plumbing fixtures. Low-flow faucets and showerheads use an aerator to mix air and water to keep volume the same while using less water. Regulations for new low-flow showerheads dictate that flow rates cannot exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch; showerheads made before 1992 may have a flow rate of over 5.5 gallons per minute, more than doubling the flow of today’s low-flow options. Older toilets can be using over 3 gallons of water per flush, while new low-flow models only use around a gallon. Switching to low-flow fixtures will help you conserve 25% to 60% of your current water use!

Fixing leaky plumbing fixtures helps save water as well as energy used by solar hot water systems. If the hot water tap is leaking, you’re not just wasting water; you’re wasting energy, too, if a backup hot water source is in operation. Hot water or not, just one leaking faucet can waste over 1000 gallons of water over the course of a year.

Making these 2 switches around the home will help you save water and energy when using solar hot water systems. For more advice on how you can make your solar hot water systems more efficient, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Care for solar heat panels through inspection

An important element of owning and maintaining any system in your home, including your solar heat panels, is inspection. Inspecting your solar heat panels regularly can alert you to potential issues needing professional attention, and other problems which may hinder performance or affect the lifespan of your equipment. Inspect your solar heat panels and other system components regularly to ensure peak performance; make sure to include these areas in your inspection.

Shading of your solar heat panels

Shade can cause significant differences in collection. While shading is evaluated before installation of your solar heat panels, vegetation can grow or new structures may have been built which now produce shading. Check to see that your solar heat panels are not shaded during the day. If you find that they are, carefully trim back vegetation if that’s the issue. If the issue is a new structure, call us and we can determine its affects and a plan for relocation if necessary.

Cleanliness of your solar heat panels

Dirt, dust, and other particles can collect on your solar heat panels, which hinders their ability to collect solar energy. If you find that your collectors are dirty, regular cleaning can improve performance.

Glazing and seals on your solar heat panels

Damage to your solar heat panels can affect their performance. You should check your solar heat panels regularly for problems with the glazing and their seals. Cracked glazing and worn out seals should be repaired to keep your solar heat panels in good working condition.

Support structures on your solar heat panels

Inspect your solar heat panels to make sure they are tightly secured to your roof or other structures which support them. Problems with the support structure could lead to major damage of your solar heat panels.

Smith Sustainable Design helps homeowners and business owners maintain their solar heat panels and other components of their solar thermal systems. For inspection or service, please contact us today.

Protect your solar hot water heater system from freezing

Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents know how brutal our winter temperatures can be. Freezing temperatures can also be devastating to your solar hot water heater system if you don’t take precautions to protect it. Solar hot water heater systems that use liquid for heat transfer need special protection from harsh winter temperatures.

Just because your solar hot water heater system has good insulation around the collector and the piping doesn’t mean it has all the protection it needs. This insulation is in place mainly to reduce heat loss during transfer, which increases system performance. It’s not always enough to protect the system from freezing temperatures. You can use approved antifreeze solutions for heat transfer fluid, or drain the collectors and piping when there is a threat of freezing temperatures.

Using an antifreeze solution in your solar hot water heater system allows you to keep using it despite freezing temperatures. Antifreeze solutions degrade, and need to be changed about every three to five years; the solutions are only effective if the level of antifreeze concentration is maintained. Your solar hot water heater system is pressurized, so you’ll need professional help to check the concentration and change the solution.

Draining your solar hot water heater system to protect it from freeze damage means you won’t 

be able to use it during colder months. You’ll need to drain the collector and the system’s piping completely; in integral (“batch”) systems, your collector is your solar hot water heater system’s storage tank. You can place heavy insulation over unglazed collector components to protect it against cold temperatures, but it may still be vulnerable to extended periods of freezing temperatures. Draining your solar hot water heater system to protect against freezing means you’ll have to rely on your backup hot water source during these colder months.

Smith Sustainable Design helps homeowners and business owners protect their solar hot water heater systems against the harsh Pennsylvania and New Jersey winter temperatures. Call us today for antifreeze solution replacement or concentration testing, as well as help draining your solar hot water heater system to protect against freeze damage.