Solar Thermal System

The Solar Thermal System (200 – 350) can provide domestic water heating, space heating and additional summer heating for an indoor or outdoor pool or hot tub. It includes five 4 x 10 G-series collectors, and a 350-gallon solar storage system. Copper coil heat exchangers which sit in the tank transfer solar energy to preheat domestic hot water, pool water, or provide space heating. The system is ideally suited to allow solar heating of radiant floor systems. Because of the large amount of energy gained in the summer months, it is necesary for this system to have a summer heat load. A swimming pool or hot tub is an ideal summer load for this system.

Features:

  • TDL G-series solar collectors with 10-year warranty
  • Pre-assembled pump/control board
  • 350-gallon STS solar storage system
  • Complete installation & operation manual
  • Expandable to up to ten collectors

Operation:

The Closed-loop 200-350 is a pressurized, antifreeze-based, solar heating system. A GL-30 differential temperature control monitors the temperatures at the collector outlet and at the solar storage tank. When the collectors are hotter than the tank, the control turns on a circulator which circulates non-toxic propylene glycol through the collectors and back to the heat exchanger. Heat is stored in the 350-gallon tank until it is called for. When there is draw on the domestic water system, cold water flows through a heat exchanger in the storage tank and out to an auxiliary water heater and then to the point of use. As the water is passed through the heat exchanger, it is heated to the temperature of the storage tank. If the water has not reached delivery temperature by the time it enters the auxiliary heater, this heater will turn on and provide supplimentary heat.

For pool and space heating, additional heat exchangers are provided. An Independant Energy SP-342 dual stage control is used to monitor the system and divert heat to either the house or the pool as needed. An optional 4-station digital temperature display can be provided to allow system monitoring at a glance.

System Components:

  • 5 – 4 x 10 G-Series collector with Sunstripâ„¢ selective surface absorber.
  • 1 – Solar Works, Inc. DHW PAC 2 control board, including GL-30 controller, digital temperature monitor, Grundfos UP26-96 circulator, S-30 expansion tank, air purge and vent, fill assembly, check and pressure relief valves, and pressure gauge.
  • 1 – 350-gallon STS storage system with internal copper coil heat exchangers.
  • Collector mounting kit for flat or pitched roofs.

Options:

This basic system can be expanded to up to 400 square feet of collector area and 700 gallons of storage for large residential or commercial applications.

Energy Star Air Conditioner

To replace the old with a new Energy Star Air Conditioner, that is the question? With spring soon approaching, I hope that is also the reality. My family has an expensive decision to make.

We bought this home almost two years ago. The heating unit in the basement was replaced in 2001 so that was a relief but the outside air conditioning unit is 30 years old. To make matters worse I had the house inspected in the winter on a day that about 10 inches of snow fell, testing the central air was not possible.

Come summer it’s hot and it is time to fire that dinosaur up, no dice. That’s most likely a $3,000 replacement and that is not the kind of coin we keep incase our outside air unit takes a, you know what. So off I go to the local Wally Mart to pick up a window unit to help keep us comfortable.

I also picked up the most powerful fan I could to move the cool air around the house, it sounds like someone parked a prop aircraft in the hallway. I have no idea how much juice I am drawing with the fans, and window unit but after we had a month of cooling the “cheap way” the electric bill I received was just staggering.

So morale of the story, short term fixes can bleed a lot of money out of your bank account. Our fix for this summer (I hope) is to put in a new efficient outside air conditioner unit.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR and taking steps to optimize the performance of your cooling equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air while enhancing the comfort of your home.