Someone said at Solar Thermal 2011 that “Solar Thermal” is a relatively new term and that “Solar Heating” is what solar water and air heating professionals were calling it back in the 70s and 80s. Well, whatever it’s called, it’s been around and working fine for a long time.
We’ve exhibited our solar energy products and services at the Darke County Fair for the last three years and quite a few people comment that they have or have had solar water heating systems on their houses; nearly all of them were very pleased with the sun’s performance.
Why we quit installing solar energy systems between 1985 & 1995 is something to ponder because solar heating is a wonderful thing; especially for pools and domestic hot water, but also any application where hot water is used year round. Sometimes solar heating is used for space heat but it’s a little harder to justify when the system is only in use for half the year. It can be done and has been done but it’s a bit more of a sacrifice and requires a more intense design process.
One reason for the lull in solar heating installations was because the financial incentives ended, and people had been motivated by those incentives. Another reason is that there was very little regulation and there were some less than honest manufacturers and installers getting some incompetent systems installed. Now we have NABCEP and SRCC but it’s still good to inquire about a company’s history to be sure!
We have NABCEP certification in both Solar Thermal and Solar PV (electric). NABCEP is the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.
Although outdoor pools are seasonal, the technology to get the pool water in the sun is so simple that it becomes a fantastic and economical way to extend the swimming season by a couple months!
Hot water for household use such as showers, laundry, dish washing, etc., can be justifiably heated with solar. It’s a really basic technology, simply pump freeze proof heat transfer fluid in tubes through an insulated panel with glazing toward the sun and a heat exchanger near or in a domestic hot water tank.
It’s important for efficiency to have a designated solar hot water storage tank but that isn’t always possible. We are eligible to receive for customers up to $2,400.00 from Green Energy Ohio toward domestic solar hot water systems. Put that and a 30% tax credit with the new eco-Flare collectors from Magen – eco Energy and we can install residential solar hot water systems, parts and labor, for as little as $2,500.00 after rebates!
Thank you for visiting! Please contact us for a system or more information today!
