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The Sun Shines on Solar
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| Submitted by: | David Williams (dtel@montanadsl.net) 11/14/2008 12:40:36 PM PT |
| Location: | Big Sky Country |
| Occupation: | Solar Engineer and Consultant |
Jim, KUDO''''''''s to rethinking the entire process. It will take real innovation to pull our economy out of this current mess. Free thinkers have always led the world economy (Edison, Ford, Franklin, etc.) and the same old same old is just not good enough. If government and big business don''''''''t get in the way, America might be able to return to the supply side of the world economy.
Buildings must be designed to function with a minimum of outside resources. It really does take complete systems integration to assemble the right building for the environment in which it is located.
To simply just put PV panels on the same old house plan is not enough any more..
| Submitted by: | Daxx Green (DaxxGreen@Hotmail.com) 9/28/2008 8:59:56 AM PT |
| Location: | Lake Waccamaw, NC |
| Occupation: | Mfg. Engineer |
While you're adding solar thermal to your article you might also add wastewater heat recovery system. It's a very cheap heat exchanger that takes the 80% wasted heat in your hot water that goes down the drain and pre-heats your supply water going to your hot water heater there by significantly reducing the total number of degrees the heater has to work to heat your water.
| Submitted by: | E. "Manny" Abraben AIA RIBA (abrarch1@aol.com) 9/24/2008 2:17:29 PM PT |
| Location: | Ocala, Florida |
| Occupation: | Architect |
The article is very sketchy and without facts and figures a reader would be lost in thye morass of offerings and confused at the type of systems available at reasonable costs.
| Submitted by: | Jeff Wedge (jwedge@fafco.com) 9/24/2008 8:54:34 AM PT |
| Location: | California |
| Occupation: | FAFCO Solar Water Heating, VP Sales & Marketing |
Alas, solar is making its mark! But please don't overlook solar hot water. Solar thermal is where using the sun's energy for the home all started. And as stated--solar thermal is 6-7 times more efficient than solar PV--and our costs are MANY, MANY TIMES LESS! When the home building market awakens from its recent slowdown--the affordable advantage that solar thermal brings to a builder will make for a compelling story to tell in the home--and we'll be there.
| Submitted by: | Susan Fernandes 9/24/2008 8:54:00 AM PT |
| Location: | South central Indiana |
| Occupation: | Arch. Programmer |
QUESTION: I'm planning a small 1-story house (approx. 2000 sf)in the trees in a deciduous woods in S. Indiana. I anticipate not much AC use except about a total of 2-3 weeks a summer. Site orientation, shade, and natural ventilation will take care of the rest. It will be well insulated. What thoughts does anyone have for me in terms of solar? We anticipate building next spring. Thanks for any advice.
| Submitted by: | Greg Dryden (gdryden@aegonusa.com) 9/24/2008 8:47:11 AM PT |
| Location: | Iowa |
| Occupation: | Real Estate |
I've been considering the SolarSave brand, because they are finally making a product that resembles the typical roofing tiles and makes sense financially for my all-electric commercial property. See below..
Open Energy’s SOLARSAVE® Roofing Tile is a unique product that enables to maintain the natural look of your property while generating clean, safe, efficient electricity from the sun. SOLARSAVE® Roofing Membranes can be easily installed on residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial structures, making it an ideal solution for your renewable energy project.
Features & Benefits
Easily installed using Roofing Tile Institute standards
Robust, weatherproof, fire-rated, fully warranted
Edge profiles naturally shed water
Modular, expandable system can be energy customized
Snow load capacity over 200 pounds per square foot
Wind load rating up to 125 mph with clips installed
Class A Fire rated
CSA certified; UL1703 listed; Class II 600VDC
25-year warranty to produce 80% power output
Comes in different colors; black, red & brown
| Submitted by: | Nick Bajzek (nicholas.bajzek@reedbusiness.com) 9/24/2008 8:37:59 AM PT |
| Location: | Oak Brook, IL |
| Occupation: | The Product Guy |
Jim/Richard--you both make good points. I'll have to pay closer attention to solar thermal systems. Thanks for reading and commenting guys!
| Submitted by: | Richard Chacon (rgc@iecsolar.com) 9/15/2008 5:28:16 PM PT |
| Location: | Farmington, NM 87401 |
| Occupation: | Solar equipment distributor |
Solar thermal systems that heat the home and the hot water are six times as efficient as solar electric systems. Solar heating systems require less square footage of collector area and typically less money to install. Both types of systems can save a substantial amount of energy. The best system for your needs depends upon the heating and oooling loads of your home and the area that you live in. If you live in a cold climate a solar heating system could be your best choice. If refrigerated air conditioning is a large part of your carbon footprint, a solar electric system could the best solution.
| Submitted by: | Jim Crowell 9/11/2008 4:30:27 PM PT |
| Location: | Worldwide |
| Occupation: | innovator in construction |
Financial Fact: While most others are working on improving the cell/array,over 2/3rds of the cost is in the rest of the system and its installation. Don't forget to include the cost of the roof that it sits on.
Technical Fact: A 1930's DC-3 prop plane had more advanced technology than the latest PV solar panel encapsulating system ~ clear plate glass - 1904; steel and wood framing - 1833; sheetrock - 1913; roofing - 1700's.
Technical Fact: the Dreamliner 787; our PVe solar system and its companion alternative construction systems will use the very latest technology including biomimicry and leading-edge materials in bioclimatic systems.
Financial Fact: These systems are projected to provide solar systems at residential and below heavy construction current non-solar costs.
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