solar water heating
Last year, the Como neighborhood of the city of Minneapolis did a pilot project of installing solar hot water heaters on 19 houses. I’d like to swing by there and get some pictures of them.
It sounds like a great deal, especially now that that pilot project has worked out some of the kinks in permitting, installation and usage. The systems cost about $6,000 and it takes 15 years for them to pay for themselves. (could be faster if fuel prices say… double over the next few years)
Here is an article about it in the Minnesota Daily and here is a thread in a newsgroup about the project. I like the quote:
“If we only knew now what we know now, maybe we would we take some action.”
July 18th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Lots of people here where I am in India (Gujarat) have whole-house solar water heaters. I don’t even think gas or electric or any other types are available (at least not that I have seen).
I’m staying in an apartment in a three-story house. The Tank & Solar Panels are on the roof. The hot water tank for the building is 400 liters size, and there are three solar panels attached to it. The system cost aout $1000, new, with installation & all costs. The price is lower if you get less panels &/or a smaller tank.
I have hot water about 80%-90% of the time, I would estimate. The climate is well suited for this type of thing, because it is sunny more than 300 days a year, and usually very hot, as well.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:22 am
In deed solar panel water cooling is popular in many areas. It is an interesting idea.