Solar Installations Throughout Central PA
Home Solar
The Challenge:
A typical 4-person household in central Pennsylvania will use one MWhr of electricity per month. This may or may not include the energy to heat the household’s monthly hot water demand of up to 2,100 gallons per month. Over the long term, most energy prices are likely to increase, thus assuming an even greater percentage of the household budget.
What If:
What if homeowners could invest in technology which would lock in their energy costs for both electricity and hot water heating at competitive rates for the next 20 years. What if that technology used renewable sources which did not emit greenhouse gases or other chemicals such as nitrogen oxide (causes ozone and smog) or sulfur dioxide (causes acid rain).
The Process:
Homeowners are installing solar electric (PV) and solar thermal (hot water) systems for both financial savings and protection of the environment. By combining solar PV with solar thermal and customizing these systems to the homeowner’s usage profile, a residential combination system can offset a significant portion of the home’s current energy consumption.
The Solution:
At no cost to the homeowner and at their convenience, a qualified Earth Energy Innovations, LLC (EEI) professional will visit the residence for a site visit, verifying the actual equipment and residence characteristics as well as reviewing the home’s energy costs over the past 12 months.
Regarding hot water, the current profile of energy sources as well as the efficiency of the water heating equipment will be noted. The use of solar thermal technology (collectors) is two to three times more efficient for heating water than installing a comparable amount of solar electricity (PV) and then using that electricity to heat the hot water.
However, for other electrical loads, solar electricity will be required, and a system will be designed that is tailored to the home’s electrical profile of usage. Both solar hot water collectors and solar electric (PV) modules can be either roof mounted or ground mounted per the characteristics of the residence.
Once the site visit is completed, EEI will prepare a detailed Performance and Financial Analysis for the proposed project. At this point, the EEI representative will also propose a time line for the project. When both parties agree to the design, terms and costs, a contract is signed to engage EEI for a turn-key installation of the Solar Electric and/or SolarThermal System.
Case Study:
Home Solar Electric/Hot Water System, Chambersburg, PA
This system is comprised of an 8.05 kW solar PV system and a single collector (24 evacuated tube) solar hot water system.
As shown in the photo, both the solar PV array (35 modules) and the solar thermal collector were mounted on the home’s south-facing roof. The solar array uses EnPhase microinverters to maximize energy output.The solar thermal collector feeds a 119-gallon solar storage tank/water heater in the basement.The closed loop system uses a non-toxic propylene glycol solution as the heat transfer liquid which circulates through the collectors and a heat exchanger inside the storage tank.
The Solar Thermal System will produce an average of 80 gallons of hot water daily, and the Solar Electric System will produce 10.4 MWhrs of electricity annually.
Customer ReviewsThe entire project went very well and we are happy with the results, Workers were very professional in all aspects of the job process. Millerstown, PA |
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