Posted on Tue, Mar 30, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Home owners often ask me about technologies that can be installed in their homes to reduce both energy costs and their carbon footprint. Installing a solar water heating system is definitely an affordable way to "go green."
Solar water heating is a proven technology that works in all climates, even here in Central New York. With a solar water heater your water heating bills should drop 50 to 80 percent and, thanks to generous federal and state tax credits, payback can be realized in as little as three years
Solar water heating systems use the sun's energy as a source of heat to produce hot water for domestic use. There are two kinds of systems: active and passive. Active systems rely upon moving mechanical parts to transport heat. Passive units just use the sun to accomplish this action. Most systems installed in the United States are active because they're considered more efficient and attractive.
The system I recommend to home owners is the VELUX solar water heating system. It's an "active" system using low profile "roof integrated" solar panels that look just like skylights.
Here's how it works. A residential solar water heating system uses one to three solar collectors on the roof which are approximately 4.5' x 6' each. The solar collectors contain copper tubes and a copper plate that is covered with a special coating. This assembly is enclosed in a well insulated aluminum frame and covered with tempered glass glazing. A solution within the copper tubes is heated by the sun and circulated through a heat exchanger located in the bottom of a solar storage tank in the home. Household water within the tank is heated by the solution circulated through the heat exchanger. Automatic controls operate a circulation pump and provide optimal solar water heating operation.
The collectors work best when installed on a south-facing roof. The storage tank works most efficiently when installed near and under the collectors, but can be located up to 60 feet away.
Installed residential systems typically range from $9,000 to $13,000. Costs are determined by the following:
- The size of the family to be served
- Type of roof in which the panels are mounted
- Building code requirements
- Roof pitch and site conditions for the home
- Distance from the solar collectors to the storage tank
- Access to run new piping from the roof to the basement
Home owners can qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit and 25 percent NYS tax credit. Coupled with energy savings, it's definitely an investment worth considering.
Posted on Tue, Mar 16, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Skylights and sun tunnels provide daylight and warmth to a home, especially in dark rooms with small or few windows. New designs now give homeowners a wide variety of options for adding natural light and ventilation. No leak skylights have now replaced the dripping units of the 1960s and the acrylic bubbles of the 1980s. Today's skylights have added layers of water protection and better flashing design. New glazes help to improve energy efficiency. Venting can be done at the touch of a button.
One of latest designs in natural lighting is the sun tunnel, or tubular skylight. The flexible design of the sun tunnel permits the unit to bend around attic obstructions to maximize sunlight. On the exterior, sun tunnels look like small domes and are the perfect unit for bathrooms, storage spaces and kitchens. Sun tunnels are easy to install and are being used by architects in "green" building projects. Sun tunnels take up a small area on the roof and minimize heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Their size also minimizes their impact on the architecture of a home.
If you're adding skylights or sun tunnels, climate and your home's design should be the primary factors in selecting the appropriate unit. Here are some things to consider:
- The physical size of the skylight impacts the illumination level and temperature of the space.
- As a general rule, a skylight size should be less than 5 percent of the floor area in a room with many windows and less than 15 percent of the floor space of a room with few windows.
- In Central New York, we experience short summers and long winters. You may want to maximize passive solar heating potential. The placement of skylights on the roof will affect heat gain. East-facing skylights will maximize heat gain in the morning. West-facing skylights will maximize heat gain in the afternoon while south-facing has the greatest potential for heat gain than any other location.
Skylights have become more energy efficient and new glazes help to control the problem of solar heat gain in the summer months. Glazing will also impact performance. The types of glazing include heat absorbing tints, insulated glazing (double-glazed, triple glazed) and low emissivity (Low-E) coatings.- Solar blinds improve the energy efficiency of skylights. Blinds can be manually or electrically operated and are available in black out and light diffusing materials. Solar blinds may also qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit.
- A properly installed skylight can help minimize heating, cooling and lighting costs.
ENERGY STAR has established efficiency criteria for skylights. You may want to look for products that carry the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR rated skylight products we frequently install are VELUX Skylights and VELUX Sun TunnelsTM. VELUX offers glazing in tempered glass and laminated safety glass. VELUX Sun Tunnels may also qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit.
When selecting a skylight for your home, work closely with your contractor to determine the best option. Do It Yourself.com advises consumers, "Even the most energy-efficient skylight must be properly installed to ensure that its energy performance is achieved. Therefore, it's best to have a professional install your skylight."