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Solar Thermal: Questions About Cost

It surprises us that many people are still not familiar with solar thermal technology and often compare it to traditional solar photo-voltaic.

This is especially interesting because solar thermal is actually the older of the two solar technologies!

To help dispel some of the common misconceptions about solar we’ve put together this quick graphic so you can see the differences at a glance.

idaho solarNow, this isn’t to belittle solar PV! We have worked with it as an accompanying technology in the past with great success, and we believe it is through comprehensive use of multiple methods that you get the most benefit.

The biggest differences between the solar thermal we offer and solar PV is that solar thermal heats the water/liquid directly whereas PV creates electricity which then heats your water. Either one works, but when it comes to water heating solar thermal simply can not be beat!

Price too high? Not enough ROI?
These are all things we hear when people want to down talk solar and fact is when it comes to solar THERMAL these things are even less of a concern! Fact is, solar thermal from Renewable Energy NW has one of the fastest paybacks of any alternative energy; best of all you will see immediate return in the form of lower energy bills even before the system is paid off!

Are there up front costs? Yes! But that’s true of ANY investment.
After you’ve already enjoyed years of low energy costs and have your system paid off you can still see more returns should you decide to sell your home – as much as $20,000 in some cases! Ready to start saving? Let’s talk!

It’s Never Too Late For Solar Thermal!

You’ve already noticed the temperatures dropping and the days getting shorter; according to the old farmer we’re in for another hard Winter in the Northwest. So you may be thinking it’s too late in the year to start that solar thermal project you started checking out in Spring – but it’s not! In fact, we likely have a couple of months of easy installation before the elements become a factor for our team and we can even still handle new jobs into the icy season.

What if you’re not building new? No problem!
While it’s definitely easy to install our solar thermal in new construction we can retro-fit existing homes without any issue. Roof space isn’t a problem either as we are able in some situations to mount our evacuated tube vertically to save room or to capture optimal UV.

But what about snow? And less sunshine? Winter is coming!
We’re happy to say that even during the “snowpocalypse” of 2016-2017 we only had a few service calls for clearing snow, and no real outages. While it is true that your solar thermal tubes will be receiving less direct sunlight during Winter since our systems are so highly efficient you’ll have no trouble having plenty of hot water for your home. You see our systems work on radiant ultraviolet energy; this is available even on cloudy days so you will have no troubles during the cold months.

Breathe easy – Renewable Energy NW has you all taken care of! We’ve been the Northwest’s source for affordable solar thermal and whole home holistic energy solutions for almost a decade and have over 1,000 panel installs under our belt. We love helping homeowners save on the energy costs and business owners too! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have questions, we’re glad to talk or provide a free estimate for your specific energy needs!

Solar Thermal Answer for Frozen Driveways, Patios and Walks

Shoveling sidewalks, patios and driveways is hard work. It’s even harder if you put it off too long and it sits overnight in the sub-freezing temperatures. While using a snow blower helps, wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to deal with it at all? We’re not talking about moving to Florida. We’re talking about a smart solution that’s available right here in Southern Idaho. Solar thermal snow melting uses the sun’s rays to keep your driveway, sidewalks, and patios clear of snow and ice, regardless of the temperature.

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Use Solar Thermal for Warmer Floors!

Our cold winter mornings here in Idaho are more enjoyable with the addition of radiant floor heat. Walking on the cold tile first thing in the morning can be a shock to your system. Adding a radiant floor heating system alleviates this problem. Using a solar thermal radiant floor heating system is even better. Not only will you enjoy warm floors, but you’ll save money while being more environmentally friendly doing it!

Continue reading “Use Solar Thermal for Warmer Floors!”

idaho solar power
SOLAR PV

SAVE WITH SOLAR!


Harness the power of the sun to fuel your home or business for just pennies a day! Find out how much you can save!
idaho solar thermal
SOLAR THERMAL

MORE THAN HOT WATER!


Solar thermal is a efficient way to heat all the water in your home! More than just hot showers, it can save you from shoveling snow too!
idaho house fan
WHOLE HOUSE FANS

WHOLE HOUSE COOL


Our whole house fans are one of the most efficient ways to cool your home and bring in fresh air!

idaho power independence
ELECTRICAL UPGRADES

SAVING IS SIMPLE!


You don’t have to spend a lot to save a lot! Fact is, there are hundreds of ways to improve your home energy efficiency beyond solar!