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Solar Energy

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Solar paybacks

Helps the environment: No carbon dioxide (Global Warming)Gain independence from utility grid,

be self-reliant Cost of electricity is set, which means your electricity bill does not depend on the price of fuel. Saves money (In the long term)

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Solar drawbacks

Not a constant supply of electricity – Need a backup source of electricity High initial investment Need space to put the panels. Not a constant supply of hot water – Need a backup source for heating water.

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There are two main types of solar panels :

Photovoltaic solar panel - ElectricitySolar thermal panel – Heats water

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Solar power (Electricity)

There are two types of power systems:

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Stand-alone power (Off power grid)

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Stand-alone power (Off power grid)

When utility power is not available, such as at a cabin site or remote ranchWhen power bridging is required (such as during power outages)When there is a desire to store power (a desire for independence)Requires batteries

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Power grid systems (Hooked to your existing electricity)

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Power Grid-tied systems

Operate in parallel with and are interconnected with the electric utility grid Allow you to collect a credit (money) for electricity when you produce more than you use.Does not require batteries

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Solar hot water:

A more accessible and affordable approach to solar energy

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Two types of solar hot water collectors:

Vacuum tube panels - More efficient so not as many panels are needed. More expensive than flat platesFlat plates - Less efficient so more panels are needed, but cheaper than

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Flat plate panelsFlat-plate panels are less costly, but more panels are needed.

Wahweap campground shower/laundry facility

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Flat plate panels are basically an insulated box with a glass cover; copper or aluminum fins collect the heat, which is delivered to the storage tank by circulating fluids.

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Vacuum heat tube panels

Evacuated tube technology is the most efficient, able to gain higher temperatures and still have good heat production under light to moderate cloudy conditions. A typical house with 4 people would require 1 30-tube panel. No water goes through the tubes themselves.

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Here, mounts for evacuated tube panels are installed on the roof of a S. Utah home. The panels will heat all domestic water for this home, and supply the heat for most of the radiant floor. Any extra heat will be dumped in the hot tub.

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Uses for solar-heated hot water

Radiant floor heathot water for household useSwimming pools/hot tubsSnowmelt

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Radiant floor heat

Concrete floors provide an excellent storage medium, so a large solar storage tank is not needed.

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Hot water for household use

Flat-plate panels create hot water for showers for visitors to the campground at Snow Canyon State Park.

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Snowmelt

PEX for radiant snow melt being installed on a driveway at Suncrest above Draper. Snowmelt is closed-loop system, circulating glycol, just like a solar system.

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Swimming pools

This pool is located at 7,000 ft in the Ogden Valley,and reached 80 degrees in May.

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What you’ll need inside your home for your solar hot water system

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Here, the solar storage tank rests next to the water heater

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At this off-grid cabin, the power system and the heating (radiant floor) systems share a closet.

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Solar power and thermal on the job

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Backup power system for KRCL radio’s broadcasting hub in Salt Lake City

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Large off-grid strawbale estate in Colorado; Thermomax mounts can be seen at right. The solar thermal includes 4 Thermomax evacuated heat tube panels, producing about 200,000 BTUs a day.

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The Gunnison (One of the coldest towns in the United States) Municipal Swimming pool boasts 48 panels, which heat the water to 86 degrees. 90% of the heating for this pool will be created by these solar panels year round, at 83 degrees.

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Wahweap laundry/shower centerLake Powell, 24 panels

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Grid tied system in Cache Valley

The homeowner is a spunky 85-year-old woman

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Bigelow home in SLC, remodel of older home; two collectors look like the skylights below.

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Seven solar collectors provide all this radiant heat for this Wanship home

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Cabin in the Monte Cristo area

Power box under the porch houses the inverter

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Cabin near Ant Flats, Weber Co.

Panels are pole mounted

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Evacuated tubes provide heat for a Sedona, AZ, home

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Flat plate panels heat a pool in New Harmony

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An isolated cattle ranch is powered by solar near Logan

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Deer Creek ReservoirSolar powers an isolated station for Qwest

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The same wireless relay station, disguised as a rock!

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Helpful web links:

www.seia.org (Solar Energies Industries Association)

www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/30178.pdf (a PDF brochure on hot water heating)

http://alpha.fsec.ucf.edu/Solar/TESTCERT/COLLECTR/tprdhw.htm (an independent comparison of solar thermal panels, Fla. Solar Center)

http://www.solar-rating.org/ (Solar Rating and Certification Corp.)

www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/ (North Carolina Solar Center)

CFA1. What two types of energy can we get

from solar panels?2. Which type of solar energy is more

affordable and cost effective, electricity or hot water?

3. If you lived in a remote area that did not have electricity, which type of solar power system would you need? What does this system require that the other system does not need?

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