Category: Idaho Solar

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.

 

We just completed another install in the great state of Oregon.  We installed 2 Mystic panels mounted on the south facing wall.  The installation also included a 50 gallon energy efficient solar storage tank, a solar controller, water to air heat exchanger in the forced air furnace system and a heating controller to dissipate the extra heat in the assisting in the comfort heating of the house.

The install was completed in two days with a Master plumber and a certified solar installer.  The system is functioning and the clients are excited to lower their energy bills and do something sustainable for the environment.

This is a great step in improving your independence upon the energy system.  You  basically have your own energy plant at your house!

We look forward to working with clients that are interested in saving money and helping the environment.

I tested an evacuated solar thermal tube in January in Idaho.  The tube heated from 55 degrees to 120 degrees in 10 minutes.  The temperature went to 350 degrees in 30 minutes.  The tube reached 395 degrees in 60 minutes.

I completed the same test in September of 2011.   For this test I used 2 tubes one with a reflector one with out.  The tube without the reflector achieved very similar results to the January test.   The tube with the reflector was 40 degrees warmer in 10 minutes.  6o degrees warmer in 30 minutes and 220 degrees hotter in 60 minutes.

I was impressed with the gain using the reflector.  There is a tremenduous amount of energy available for us to
use from the sun.  The other interesting item was the energy gain from the tube in January vs. September was very similar.

Carl S.