Solar thermal offers alternative to natural gas

Although natural gas is ridiculously low in price at the moment, it will inevitably be back on the rise sooner than later. As a recent boon for the natural gas extraction industry,  horizontal drilling will eventually see a  decline in popularity due the expensive and complicated problems associated with it. Formation instability, improper hole cleaning and break-out debris in the hole wedged beside the drill string can cause the drill pipe to become stuck resulting in costly pipe recovery operations. In addition, further unpopularity for this new technology stems from the negative environmental impact it has had on surrounding communities and landscapes where this method has already been implemented. This type of gas extraction presents unacceptable risks to nearby drinking water supplies, well quality, groundwater, aquifers, ponds and streams.

So what's next (not if, but when) natural gas prices soar again? Solar thermal is an ideal alternative, and has been for close to 30 years. Up to 20 years of maintenance free energy production with the installation of a solar thermal system. Check out this great article from the Boulder Weekly posted last week in regards to solar thermal vs natural gas:
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-4545-solar-thermal-offers-alternative-to-natural-gas.html#commAjax

REAPing Solar Hot Water

Webinar Registration

Renewable Energy For America (REAP) Grant Administration with Solar Heat Exchange Mfg.:  A primer on sales and management of solar hot water systems using REAP grants in conjunction with Federal 30% cash back and factory financing, led by Jeff Morrow of Solar Heat Exchange Mfg.  The webinar will cover the programs, documents, costs, financing, and grant management using Google Apps.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/934922710

Title: RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR AMERICA GRANTS FOR SOLAR HOT WATER Date: Friday, February 25, 2011 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. SHEM will be hosting a webinar this Friday, February 25th at 10:00 A.M. Kansas time (central).  You’re invited to join us.  Can’t attend?  We’ll post information on our website at: www.solarheatexchangemanufacturing.com/incentives

Taking Full Advantage of the REAP Program

Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing has partnered with select solar dealers to assist small businesses and communities in the purchasing and installation of solar hot water systems. This program utilizes a host of available incentives and rebates in combination with SHEM financing.

How Does It Work?

If your business uses 250 gallons (or more) of daytime hot water and is located in a community of under 50,000 population, then you may qualify for a new solar hot water system using both REAP grants and Federal cash back tax credits.

The USDA Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) grant, in combination with Federal cash back rebates and SHEM financial support enable you to realize the cash value of multiple programs and long-term benefits of free hot water.

That's the good news. The bad news is this program combination is limited in it's availability. REAP funds area available on a first come first served basis. Federal cash incentive program is available only until the end of 2011. The REAP commercial grant deadline is considerably shorter, ending April 1, 2011.

Allocation of Expenses

This program involves a 20% downpayment by the purchaser, payable incrementally as follows:

5% of estimated cost of your system will serve as an initial deposit to begin the grant application. There is a significant amount of work involved in the development of the grant for every individual system. This deposit ensures the dedication of participating parties.

Another 5% payment is due upon the award of the grant. If the grant is not awarded, the initial 5% deposit is returned.

The final 10% downpayment would be due upon completion of the installation. These three payments (5%, 5%, 10%) represent the total cash investment. The balance of system cost is financed through grants (25%), rebates (30%) and cash flow from reduced utility expense (25%). 

The REAP grant will cover 25% of the system cost. This 25% payment will be due from the purchaser after it is received from REAP, some 75 days after completion.

Federal rebates of 30% are payable in a similar fashion. These amounts are payable after the purchaser receives their federal rebate, estimated at 150 days after completion.

SHEM will provide a maintenance agreement and financing for the 25% balance of your system's total cost. The cash flow for these payments is guaranteed to come from the utility savings. Twice per year, your solar dealer will check your system to assure peak performance, and to communiate savings. In other words, future payments cover both system cost and on-going maintenance and supervision, and are paid for by savings.

The net result: Your total out-of-pocket expense will be 20%. The system's savings are guaranteed, with performance measured with data loggers and supervised by bi-annual site inspections.

Please call (785) 597-2333 or email us to contact our REAP Program Director to begin the application process.

Assistance with California's Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32)

Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing has developed a leasing program to assist Californians in the mandated AB32 law (aka the Global Warming Solutions Act). This leasing program allows governmental units to take advantage of federal and state incentives that would be otherwise available only to the private sector. Our Thermal Services Division can utilize existing funding resources to finance the implementation of a solar hot water system for your organization, which fulfills the AB32 mandate.  Here are some of the program highlights:

*This is a time sensitive program. California's Tier One incentives are limited in their funds. Federal tax rebates & incentives offer cash back only in 2011. Immediate action is required to take advantage of the historically affordable upgrade to your building's efficiency and energy independence.

*This program meets AB32 mandates. This California law requires the state to reduce green-house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Solar hot water is specifically identified as a means of fulfilling this requirement.

*No out of pocket cost. Our leasing program allows for your bi-annual payment to be lower than your actual energy savings, with no capital expenditures.

This program will not only promote healthy change to the current standard of building practices in the state of California, but it will also promote new job growth and new learning in the green building sector.

Again, this is a time-sensitive program. Funding is limited.  If you're interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please contact our website for more information here, or contact our Thermal Services Division at 785-597-2333.

Elementary School Students Learning the Wonders of Solar Hot Water

Last November we installed a solar thermal system at the Wakarusa Elementary School in Lawrence, KS.  We've been logging data on the systems performance for the past 2 months and have since had a write up in the paper on the success of the installation. Tours given by staff to the "Solar Hot Water Room" have proven to be a successful tool in educating the kids in the function of the solar hot water system, and the importance of reducing energy consumption while also saving money.

Read more and see the video at:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/jan/25/wakarusa-valley-school-gets-new-solar-thermal-syst/#c1498531

Achimedes & His Friendly Sun Powered Deathray

As the story goes... in 114BC Archimedes used solar death rays to destroy enemy Roman ships that dared to sail too close to the Syracuse by focusing the rays of the sun using a series of giant mirrors. It's true! They even proved that its possible on Mythbusters, so you know it's legit.

Anyways, we may not be torching enemy vessels with our innovative Simple Drainback design, but we are using the sun's energy with good purpose. And we don't use a complicated series of giant mirrors, either. What do we use? One tank, one pump, and one controller. It's that simple:

The sun begins to heat the collectors, and when the collector's sensor is hotter than the tank, the controller turns on the pump, and solar water is pumped up to the collectors. The solar water is then heated as it passes through the collectors. The solar water then flows down to the tank, and heats the water within the tank. The cooler solar water is pumped from the bottom of the tank back up to the solar collectors. As the solar water continues to circulate, the coiled heat exchanger transfers the heat from the tank to the domestic water within the heat exchanger. The tank sensor will signal when the tank has reached its maximum temperature, and will then turn off the pump. The solar water then drains back from the solar collectors down to the tank.

So when hot water is drawn for domestic use, cold water enters the heat exchanger, an then comes out hot. The hot reservoir continues to supply energy to the domestic line until the stored solar water cools.

Then the sun reheats the tank. When the collector temperature drops below the tank temperature, the pump turns off and the water drains back into the tank. The system then waits again for the sun to heat the collectors.

Check out this simple video demonstrating how it works:  http://simpledrainback.com/simpledrainback.swf

(No Romans were harmed in the making of this video demonstration.)

A Solar Water Heater Made of PET Bottles

I found this old article from back in 2007. What a great way to do a little double-time recycling. After guzzling a ton of tasty soda, you can now get even more out of your old plastic bottles by using them to heat your water! Temas says:

"The government of the southern Brazilian state of Paraná has been conducting an interesting experiment in environmental design utilizing waste materials.

Since August 2006 state agencies have sponsored projects to construct solar water heaters constructed from used PET bottles and “long life” (aseptic) milk packaging. So far some 3,000 such heaters have been constructed and put into operation in 254 Paraná municipalities, in the process diverting about 1.2 million PET bottles and aseptic milk cartons that otherwise might have gone into landfills. It takes 200 PET bottles and 200 aseptic milk cartons to construct the solar water heater array.

It’s estimated that if the heater is used to heat the water for two bathrooms, it can save as much as 120 kilowatts per month."

However, if you're not quite into the extreme DIY approach as our friends in Brazil have so brilliantly developed, check out our approach, developed and designed right here in the heartland of the USA at www.simpledrainback.com

Read more about the PET bottle solar hot water heater here: http://www.temasactuales.com/temasblog/environmental-protection/waste-recycling/a-solar-water-heater-made-of-pet-bottles/