Solar Thermal: Successful DWH Applications (2008)
This article was created by Byron Stafford of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and was presented at the ACI New Jersey Home Performance Conference for Whole House Energy Solutions in September of 2008. It focuses on solar domestic hot water system options and capabilities for residential housing in New Jersey, USA.
Providing New Jersey homeowners with information on and a clear set of options for their potential solar domestic hot water system is the focus of this article. Homeowners have their wants, such as saving money and being carbon neutral, and they have their constraints, such as upfront initial cost and maintenance difficulties. The first step in this process is a site assessment, which will determine resources capabilities and access. Next is to determine which collector type and operation will best create a system for the household. Finally comes installation and maintenance, on which the article provides various resources.
In conclusion, solar thermal domestic hot water systems are an effective way to save on energy costs in the long term and to also reduce personal carbon footprints. However, homeowners must make informed decisions before buying a system to ensure all of their specific needs are met.
Author: Byron Stafford, NREL
Date of Publication: 2008
Pages: 44
Download document here
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