Solar electricity or solar hot water?

If you are thinking about installing a solar panel system on your home, you may be wondering whether solar electricity or solar hot water is the way to go.  There are probably several factors that you are thinking about:

• Cost
• Efficiency
• Appearance
• Return on investment
• Energy savings
• Tax rebates and incentives

Comparing solar electricity (photovoltaic, or PV panels) to solar hot water systems, you can stand to save a lot of money with both.  In general, solar photovoltaic panels generate electricity for use throughout your home.  Using PV panels, you draw less on the grid and pay less to your electrical utility.  On the other hand, solar thermal panels save you money on the energy required to heat water for domestic use – bathing, washing dishes, laundry and more.

Here is a brief introduction to solar hot water:

For homeowners considering solar, solar hot water is less expensive than solar electricity systems.  In fact, many people make the switch to solar by going with solar thermal panels, rather than PV panels.  As a result, the return on investment for solar hot water is shorter than for traditional solar panels (5-8 years, compared to 10-15 years).

On the other hand, solar PV panels can save you significantly more money and energy over the life of a system.  Plus, with grid-tied systems, you can get credit on your utility bill for excess solar power generated via net metering.  Because all water heated with a solar hot water system is used on-site, there is no opportunity to extend your savings by selling excess solar-heated water to your community.

There are currently more options for financing solar PV panels than solar hot water systems, including solar panel leasing.  But both types of solar panels boost the value of your home and help you reduce your carbon footprint, while saving you money on your monthly utility bills.

So – whether you switch to solar electricity or solar hot water, you’re making a smart investment.  What would you do?

Solar hot water, also known as solar thermal systems (or solar thermal panels), use energy from the sun to heat water for domestic uses without the need for electricity.  For homes and commercial operations that require heated water, a solar thermal system could be just the thing to help significantly trim monthly expenses.

Solar thermal collectors

Once you have a solar hot water system and are not paying for electricity to heat your water, let’s talk about saving even more energy and money.  How can you do that?  By using less hot water, of course!

1.  Go with low-flow shower heads.  A nice hot shower is relaxing, but let’s talk about saving water and energy!  Today’s low-flow models are so efficient and advanced, you might not even believe you are saving money.

2.  Reduce the thermostat on  your hot water tank.  Whether you have young children or not, turn down the maximum heat for your hot water.  A few degrees lower will use significantly less energy over a month or a year.

3.  Use hot water during off-peak periods.  Demands for electricity, and hot water, are highest at the beginning and end of the day.  If possible, delay your shower until mid-day (maybe go to work until noon, then exercise and shower afterward?).  Set your dishwasher and washing machine on a delay setting, and wait until you arrive home in early evening to start your appliances.

Solar thermal systems generally work as follows:  Sunlight heats glycol (an antifreeze solution) in the panels’ tubing.  The tubing is connected to a hot water tank with a pump that circulates the glycol to heat the water throughout the system.  As water is drained from your hot water tank, new solar hot water is replaced/pumped into the tank.

Solar thermal panels work, regardless of whether you have bright sunlight.  Even a cloudy day offers enough light to create heat for a solar hot water system!

Solar Washer and Dryer

While a solar powered clothes dryer has been around for centuries – in one form or another – a solar powered washer and dryer runs on solar electricity and can save you money.

Miele & Solvis offers a new SmartGrid-ready washer and dryer. Not only do these appliances run on solar power, but the SmartGrid can help pinpoint the cheapest times of day to run on grid-based power when the sun is not shining!

The solar powered washer and dryer are characterized by these main points:

• Convenience
• Ability to determine the least expensive electricity rates and then start washer and dyers when the cost is at its lowest
• Solar power usage

Heat for the solar powered dryers is generated by solar-thermal collectors, which are usually used for solar hot water.  Unlike solar electricity, the collectors involve a freeze-protected fluid, which transfers thermal heat from the sun to water.  A storage tank is connected to the dryer with 4 pipes: solar heated water is transferred to the dryer which then heats up the air in the tumbler. Cool water is then piped back to the heating system. Once heated again, it goes back to the tumbler and its heat is used to remove water from clothes. This process continues, till the time all the clothes in the tumbler are dried. The best part of the system is that is makes use of less water, since water is recycled every time it is used to dry clothes. Because the system uses solar heat to heat water, energy is saved which further reduces the carbon footprint.

The solar powered washer and dryer uses conventional sources of electricity during cold winter months.   Yet, the system’s designers claim that the machine can cut operating costs up to 50% compared to a conventional dryer and will offer an 80% reduction compared to standard condenser dryers.

Solar thermal panels like this one generate solar hot water

Saving energy and money is a snap when you install solar hot water at your home.  Unlike traditional photovoltaic (PV) panels, solar thermal panels are less expensive.  You’ll get your return on investment much more quickly, as well.

If you are currently using grid-based electricity or natural gas to heat household water, why not switch to renewable energy-based solar power instead?  A solar hot water system includes the following:

• a solar collector (there are several different types: flat plate, evacuated tube, or integral collector-storage systems)
• a pump, or a thermosiphon system which uses gravity and thermodynamics to move hot and cold water
• a solar hot water tank
• a back-up water heater
• piping

If you are interested in a DIY solar hot water system, check out the simple instructions on this video:

The cost for a solar domestic hot water system varies, depending on whether you go with a DIY solar project, or not.  As noted above, there also are several different types of solar hot water systems available, which may affect price.

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $1000-2000 for a new solar hot water system.  Annual savings are such that you can expect to gain your return on investment in a year or two.  Don’t forget the generous tax credits and other incentives available to defray the cost of solar installations.

Using the sun to heat your water is inexpensive, energy-efficient and just plain makes sense!

Don’t you want to save money with solar hot water at your home?

Solar heated water requires solar thermal panels

In Cornelius, Oregon, about half an hour west of Portland, there is a new attraction at a popular commercial nursery.  Blooming Nursery sits on 130-acres on the site of a former dairy farm; the owner has worked for the better part of three decades to transform it into a profitable business.

Yet the future – not the past – is what is most newsworthy.  The nursery is installing the largest solar thermal system in the state of Oregon.  Solar thermal panels work differently than photovoltaic (PV) panels.  Instead of generating electricity, the panels heat tank water, providing solar heated water that will circulate underground and warm plants growing in a 54,000 square foot greenhouse.

Currently, contractors are installing solar thermal panels along the length of the nursery’s 700-foot driveway.  A covered concrete tank will hold 300,000 gallons of water, which will be heated by the solar thermal system.  Consider this surprising observation from The Oregonian‘s review:

“The system is so immense and the tank so well-insulated that it will retain heat for months.”

Blooming Nursery’s owner states that she will use natural gas only as a backup.

Blooming Nursery will have the largest solar thermal system in Oregon!

In case you are wondering what the new solar thermal system cost…. the owner is keeping that figure, well, “mum.”  She did state that her current heating bill is $150,000 per year, and that the project will pay for itself in about 5-8 years, including a 50% tax credit provided by the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit program.

Blooming Nursery will save enough in its annual natural gas bills to heat 200 homes!

Ra Energy designed the system for Blooming Nursery – the same company that provided services for the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company in Portland.

Other commercial nurseries in Oregon and across the U.S. are watching to determine the effectiveness of the solar heated water system at Blooming Nursery.  And there is a lot at stake.  Annual nursery sales in Oregon top $820 million.  Being able to defray part of the energy costs associated with heated greenhouses will help not only the bottom line but the environment, as well.

Solar thermal panel

Have you considered solar power, but thought that its too expensive?  Perhaps you want to start with a solar water heater instead!  Solar thermal panels can heat your water without expensive electricity with the power of the sun.  And, you don’t have to live in a sunny climate for them to be effective.

Homeowners, small businesses, even swimming pool owners are turning to solar water heaters for free hot water.

Part of the cost savings is realized from the fact that there are a number of DYI Solar Hot Water instructions and/or kits to use.  Instead of paying contractors, you can do it yourself, and also tap into some generous tax incentives for renewable energy.

Before you get going, however, you’ll have to decide which type of solar water heater system to install, either a closed loop glycol system, or a drainback system.

With a closed loop glycol system, a thermal collector is warmed by radiant energy from the sun.  Once the collector is warmer than the water being heated, a pump starts circulating the water to heat it evenly.  This continues until the storage tank reaches its maximum set temperature, or until the thermal collector is no longer warmer than the water in the tank.  Because there is pressure involved with the closed loop glycol system, the unit will have to include an expansion tank, pressure gauge and pressure relief valve, for safety measures.  Once installed, this solar hot water system runs reliably for years, with the only exception of periodic changing of the glycol solution.

In a [drainback] system, the water is not pressurized.  It works in a manner similar to the closed loop glycol system.  The thermal collectors are warmed by the sun; once the collector is warmer than the water in the tank, a pump circulates the water until maximum heating is achieved.  These are so simple and affordable that drainback systems are usually the first type considered when a homeowner desires to install a solar hot water system.

I was impressed by this DIY solar water heater instructional video.  Don’t you think you could do the same thing?

Your return on investment (ROI) for a solar water heater is anywhere from 2-8 years, depending on the size of the system and your local real estate market.  Traditionally, renewable energy installations increase the value of property based on energy/electricity savings associated therewith.  Of course, your utility savings will start immediately.

Want to learn more about solar water heaters?  You’re at the right place.  We’ll put up additional posts this week.  If you have specific questions, be sure to leave them in the comments below.

DIY Solar Hot Water

Perhaps the easiest way to dip your toe into the solar hot water “pool” if you will, is with a DIY kit.  The return on investment for thermal solar panels is quicker than with PV solar panels: 7 years or less. You’ll start seeing an immediate saving on your utility bills, too.  And, if you look to re-sell your home, expect a boost in value from installing a renewable energy system like solar hot water!

Whether you use the panels to heat your pool and/or hot tub, or all the water used in your home, you could save up to 80% on the cost of hot water!

I will honestly say that, while PV panels still seem a bit out of financial reach for our family, a solar hot water system like the ones shown below is within range – and quite exciting for us to consider this renewable energy project.  Add in the fact that current tax incentives allow 30% or more in savings, and who wouldn’t want to invest in DIY solar hot water?

It is easier to show than tell about the benefits of a solar hot water system:

Basically, you will need solar thermal panels to collect the solar energy.  Tubing will take the energy to a high-efficiency water tank in which the water is heated.  Its best to have a back-up water heater, just in case.

To me, this looks like a super home improvement project on which several neighbors on a street could collaborate.  One researches the cost of components, one determines how to get tax rebates or other incentives, one works to negotiate with the manufacturers/suppliers and all people involved help with the installation.

What do you think about DIY solar hot water?  What would hold you back from installing such a system at your home?