SOLAR HEATING
UPDATE: February 2009 . As part of the economic stimulus package a 30% tax rebate is in effect and the former $2000.00 cap
To offset installation cost has been removed. This is great news and will encourage many to Go Green!
Much like radiant heating, solar hot water heating is not a new technology. Most of us remember the OPEC
Energy crisis of the 1970s and the solar industry that is spawned. Seemingly overnight, desperate homeowners
Were installing those awkward and obstreperous eyesores that were old-style solar hot water panels. You remember
Them…don’t you? To exacerbate the aesthetical problem of the cumbersome old-style panels, was the large, unsightly white insulation that was used to cover the piping on the roof. Today, if so desired, we can match them closer to the color of your roof to blend in better. The bad ones and
Their subsequent failures were highlighted and the solar industry got a bad name. Two other events put the first
generation of solar hot water in the trashbin: oil prices finally dropped and the federal tax credits were not reissued.
Fast forward some 30 years……erratic roller-coaster oil prices, hyper awareness of the environment, uncertain
Political situations throughout The World. Europe has been on the Solar bandwagon for many years now because
Fuel prices have been so high for so long. European governments have been very supportive in the R & D
(research and development) of solar and other high efficiency equipment and offer very inducive tax breaks and credits.
Here in America, I believe, we are on the cusp of a long-overdue “Green” revolution that will see much greater
support from our government via tax breaks, credits, and investment monies for entreprenuers that seek to develop
more efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies and products. The current tax rebates are not too shabby, but
I predict they will get even sweeter in the very near future. With the sharp and sleek look of the new generation of
solar panels, resistance due to aesthetics is virtually non-existent save in a quirky ARB (architectural review board)
or two…and they cannot hold out much longer. People are ready for Sea-change.
Basically, there are two types of solar energy systems: Solar Hot Water and Photo-Voltaic (PV). Solar hot water
systems convert the sun’s rays (even on cloudy winter days!!!) in to hot water that is stored and then used to provide
domestic hot water (water at your faucets) and even space heating for your home or building. Solar hot water
Integrates in to your heating system’s radiators or radiant heating. PV panels look similar but generate
electricity…often provided more than the building needs meaning your meter actually spins backwards…I kid you not!
This is called net metering and the utility actually pays YOU!
Here at Triple Crown Plumbing-Radiant-Steam-Solar we specialize in solar hot water systems but also work
closely with licensed electricians for your PV project. As some of you are already aware, we service and install
The German-made Buderus heating systems and boilers. Buderus also manufactures high-quality hot water solar
panels that integrate perfectly in to your existing systems. This is very important as not many companies make
complete systems and they can fall short on performance and longevity due to poorly-fitting components. Below
Are prime examples of the Buderus solar hot water systems that you can have in your home or building. Are you ready
to make the investment that not only pays real financial dividends, but environmental and social ones as well?”
Layman's Glossary of solar terms:
Emmissivity: The percentage of sunlight able to pass in to the panel. Buderus Panels have high emmissivity - a good thing!
Diffused Radiation: Sun's energy available to the panel on a cloudy day. More than you'd think!
Insolation: How much energy is available from the sun.
Solar Fraction: The percentage of domestic hot water and/or heating load one wishes to glean from their solar system
In relation to their building's existing energy systems.
PHOTO GALLERY OF SOLAR HEATING
