Solar Hot Water | Northeast Solar & Wind Power, LLC

The most efficient and affordable use of renewable energy!

How much oil, natural gas or electricity will I save with a Solar Hot Water System (S.H.W.S.)?

1. An average home in the Northeast will reduce their fossil fuel or electricity consumption between 30 and 55% if your solar domestic hot water system is sized properly. These savings translate into a high return on your investment after tax credits.

2. Northeast Solar & Wind Power frequently comes across customers that use close to 400 gallons of oil annually for domestic hot water use (showering, cooking, laundry etc.). Four 4'x8' solar hot water panels will eliminate almost all of those oil, natural gas or electricity dollars used for domestic hot water.

SHWS for Space Heating Facts:

In addition to supplying 70% of your yearly domestic hot water needs additional solar hot water panels can also supply up to 75% of your winter space heating needs depending on your building size and heat loss. Excess heat from additional panels can be used to heat your pool or Jacuzzi during the summer months.

Requirements For A SHWS System :

Your roof must be in good condition and the location of your panels either on your roof or ground mounted must be unshaded. Solar hot water panels can be plus or minus 30 degrees from true south and continue to work well during all seasons. Solar Hot Water panels can also be mounted beyond the +/- 30 degrees from true south with an acceptable degree of customer satisfaction.

Flat Plate Collectors Vs. Evacuated Tube Collectors:

Far Right- Evacuated tube collectors still covered in snow 4 days after a snow storm
Right- Solar Flat Plate panel without snow and operating fully functional.

Flat plate collectors are always used when temperatures up to 160° F hot water is needed. This water temperature is adequate for domestic hot water, certain types of space heating delivery system's , swimming pools or Jacuzzis. Solar Research Certification Corporation, (SRCC) testing documentation supports flat plate collectors performance over evacuated tube collectors at these temperature ranges even in cloudy conditions. Evacuated Tube collectors are mainly used when temperatures in excess of 160F are needed.
Flat plate collectors are less expensive, shed snow in the winter, and are a more simple design that translates into a longer life expectancy than evacuated tube collectors. Frost in the morning on flat plate collectors dissipates faster than evacuated tube collectors because of the warm glass when the sun is shining.

Solar Domestic Hot Water Tank Size:

The 120 gallon system is always more efficient unless the collector ratio exceeds three gallons per sq. ft. of collector area. A 40 sq. ft. collector with 120 gallons in any climate will collect more BTU's than an 80 gallon tank and result in more savings during intermittent weather, such as sunny days followed by cloudy ones. Most buildings and basements can accommodate the added size of going from a 80 gallon tank to a 120 gallon tank and the added cost is minimal when compared the life cycle savings in energy

Some statistics from the above are from Solar Hot Water Systems by Tom Lane copyright 2004 Lessons Learned from 1977 to Today

Links/Downloads
(Download Format- PDF)

SHW System Pros & Cons

Actual Natural Gas Bill from home with Solar Hot Water