Category: Idaho Solar

Solar water, comfort heating and hot tub heating.

RENW just finished a great install in Ada County Idaho.  We installed 2 – 20 tube solar panel systems.  One panel is designed to provide enough hot water for a family of 4.  We focus on “Affordable Solar Solutions” delivering high quality installs for affordable prices.  This install we use the extra energy from the 2nd panel to assist in comfort heating the home.  When heat is not required in the home the home owner can switch with two ball valves over to heating the hot tub.  This solution allows both panels of renewable energy to be used year round.   We have a great roof mount system that is secure and water tight.   If you are considering reducing your utility costs please give us a call for a free solar site visit.

A little over a year ago we installed a solar thermal system at the Dirt Buster Car Wash in Fruitland, ID.  The system was designed and installed to reduce the Natural Gas consumed in heating the hot water for washing cars and the radiant floor heating in the wash bays.

The natural gas was turned off in April of this year and we estimate that the gas will be turned back on in October.  The system provides about half of the energy load for the facility in the winter months.

This installation paid for itself in approximately 1 year.

The Dairy installation that was completed in January in Castleford, ID is operating to plan and is producing ~ 1000 gallons of 165 degree water from the energy of the sun.  This hot water is used in cleaning up the milk barn for a modern dairy facility.  This system will also pay for itself in less than 1 year.

Solar water heating on a home built in 1898.

We just finished a great project on a GREAT classic historical registered house.  We installed 2 panels on the 45 degree roof.    That roof mount wast some careful work.  The water lines to the basement were already installed by the home owner.

The home owner had also installed ~3,000 feet of 1/2″ Pex-Al-Pex tubing under the floors.  A radiant barrier was also installed to drive the heat upward for the intended use.   The insulation bats were then installed behind the radiant barrier.

We installed a 75 gallon natural gas combi-water heater with a coil in the tank.  The radiant floor system is hooked in through the heat exchange loop.  The radiant floor tubing is hooked in to a 8 valve manifold that is connected to a controller and thermostats into 3 separate heating zones.

When the thermostat calls for heat it starts the radiant circulation pump and opens the valves for that zone.  The system runs until the heat load is satisfied.

The solar loop is tied into the combi tank and provides all the energy the sun has to offer for that day.

We also installed a “Clear Wave” salt-less water conditioning system to keep the system in top shape with no hard water build up.

Using Solar Thermal radiant cells (evacuated tubes) is a very good solution for agricultural companies such as dairies, meat and food processing plants. The heat energy that can be harvested from the suns radiation, ultra-violet and infrared rays, is a large untapped energy source.

The systems can be designed and installed to provide hot water of 165 degrees for wash down in the milk barns. The energy can also be used for space heating for the milk barn and shop buildings using radiant floors or hydronic heating with water to air heaters.

The systems can be used to offset propane usage and electric heating of the water. The systems are scalable to satisfy the energy needs of each dairy or business.

The incentives that are currently available are the USDA REAP Grant of 25%, US Treasury Investment Tax Credit  of 30%, Accelerated Depreciation of 100% = 42% and some cases of utility incentives and state incentives.

Some projects can be covered with close to 80-110% incentives. Please contact us for more information.
 

The Renewable Energy NW LLC systems we install are eligible for the Federal Tax credit of 30% and the Idaho State deduction of 100% over a period of 4 years (40%, 20%, 20% and 20%) of the total installed solar thermal project.