Solar panels are becoming more and more recognizable, and the general population’s interest in using solar energy at home is rising. Homeowners are often concerned with the price of installing a solar power system. Solar heat systems are available to heat hot water, which differ from the solar photovoltaic systems which produce electricity for your home. For the average homeowner, solar heat is an affordable way to go solar and efficiently heat hot water for use in the home.

There are many reasons why a solar heat system is a smart and affordable choice for homeowners. When considering upgrading your current hot water heater, or replacing an old model, “high-efficiency” gas or electric water heaters can still cost in the thousands of dollars with equipment and installation, and they don’t offer the yearly energy savings as a solar heat system. For many homeowners, the energy savings offered by a solar heat system is worth paying more initially for its installation, versus an electric or gas water heater. Plus, certain solar heat systems qualify for federal tax credits and even state or local incentives, which can further reduce your costs.

A solar heat system uses approximately 80 percent less energy than a traditional gas or electric water heater. That significant reduction in energy consumption translates to over $500 per year for the average home. When you add savings from tax credits and other programs and your yearly reduction in energy costs, many homeowners find that a solar heat system can pay for itself in about 5 to 7 years.

If you’re interested in a solar heat system for your home, don’t let cost stand in the way. Smith Sustainable Design works with our customers to find the right solar heat system for their needs and their budgets. Contact us today to explore your solar water heating options.

When investigating the world of geothermal heating and cooling systems, it’s crucial to know the facts from fiction. There are many misconceptions about geothermal heating and cooling technology which simply are not true. Here are a few of the most common myths about geothermal heating and cooling systems, and the facts you can use to make well-informed decisions for your home or business.

A geothermal heating and cooling system can’t handle cold winters

Despite the temperature above ground, a few feet below the surface, the Earth’s temperature remains a fairly constant temperature of 54 degrees. A geothermal heating and cooling system accesses these consistent below-ground temperatures to extract warmth to heat your home. Using the Earth’s energy, these systems should be able to keep your home at a comfortable temperature on the coldest of days.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems require backup heat

While many geothermal heating and cooling systems are installed in addition to a new or existing backup heat source, it isn’t required. Your geothermal heating and cooling system can provide enough energy to heat your home with proper sizing and installation.

A geothermal heating and cooling system can’t be installed on a small lot

Geothermal design is flexible and can be used on lots big to small! Many people often think that geothermal heating and cooling systems can’t be used if the soil or terrain of their land is not ideal, but this is simply untrue. Working with a qualified geothermal design and install team, like Smith Sustainable Design, will show you how these “obstacles” are really not a big issue.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are only for new homes

You don’t have to build a new home to install a geothermal heating and cooling system. While geothermal systems can be integrated more conveniently during construction, retrofitting your current home is common. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a great option for home and business owners who are faced with replacing an aging heating or cooling system, or upgrading equipment.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are new

Geothermal heating and cooling systems aren’t a new way to keep your home or business comfortable. Naturally-occurring geothermal hot springs in North America were an attractive location for early Native Americans to settle. In the 1940s, the first groundwater heat pump was developed to others to use the Earth’s naturally-occurring energy to heat and cool homes and buildings. As technology has advanced, efficiency has improved upon this same concept.

If you have any questions about geothermal heating and cooling systems, call Smith Sustainable Design for reliable information and advice. We will provide the geothermal facts you’re looking for, and can help you choose a geothermal system for your home or business.

There’s no question that solar installation is a major investment for your home or commercial facility. The price tag for installation is costly, leading you to believe it isn’t affordable. If you are interested in installing solar panels for the benefits and energy savings they provide, don’t let the upfront installation costs stand in your way. There are financing options available which allow you to reduce the upfront costs of solar installation, such as solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPA).

Solar leases for your solar installation

Solar leases eliminate the high installation costs for your solar panels and other equipment. Instead, you’ll pay a fixed amount each month to cover the solar installation and use the energy produced. Your panels will be owned by the lease provider, and they will maintain them as well. Solar leases provide a way for you to lock in low rates for electric solar power for years, a benefit you won’t receive from your current electric utility provider.

Power purchase agreements for your solar installation

A power purchase agreement (PPA) allows you to pay only for the electricity generated and used. Your PPA provider owns the solar panels and other equipment, and will cover the solar installation for your home or business. They’ll maintain the equipment for a specified length of time, so you won’t have to worry about maintenance or repairs. You pay no installation costs, just a fixed rate for the electricity produced.

The right option for your solar installation

When considering solar leases or a PPA for your solar installation, which programs available to you are determined by your location. Each offer similar benefits which can make solar power affordable for your home or business use.

Benefits of financing your solar installation

When you choose a solar lease of PPA in lieu of paying for your solar installation upfront, there are additional benefits you’ll receive besides saving money in the beginning. With these financing options, a third party owns and maintains your equipment, which can save you thousands over the lifetime of your system. Depending on where you live, permits and inspection fees increase the price of installation, which is avoided with these solar installation financing options.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can take advantage of solar power for your home or business with no upfront costs, contact Smith Sustainable Design. We’ll assist you with financing options which can make solar installation fit your budget.

When choosing a solar hot water heater system for your home, it’s important to look for the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) seal. For residential systems, an OG-300 rated system is a great, reliable choice for your new solar thermal system.  The OG-300 System is a complete package; solar thermal kits with this rating include solar collectors, storage tanks, and other components needed for safe installation.

An OG-300 SRCC seal tells consumers that the solar hot water heater system has undergone thorough product testing, and meets safety requirements, operates effectively, and can provide a specified amount of solar energy, given ideal conditions. Compare ratings between OG-300 systems to determine the best choice for you, or evaluate the benefits of choosing a rated system over an unrated solar thermal kit.

Purchasing an OG-300 System may qualify you for rebates or tax credits. The federal government offers incentives for homeowners who choose to install OG-300 Systems; there is a federal tax credit of 30 percent of your costs, with no high limit. This tax credit is applicable for existing homes, or new construction, as well as primary and secondary residences (but not rental homes). This tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2016, so make plans to purchase and install your new OG-300 solar hot water heater system sooner than later.

The state of New Jersey has a Clean Energy Program which offers financial incentives for purchasing qualifying OG-300 systems. Your utility company may offer rebates or credits for installing these systems, which you would not receive if purchasing and installing a non-rated system. Many cheaper solar hot water heater systems made overseas are not rated by the SRCC, which can disqualify you from receiving these added benefits.

Smith Sustainable Design installs OG-300 Systems in homes across New Jersey and the surrounding states. Contact us today to discuss our selection of available OG-300 solar hot water heater systems and learn the benefits of choosing a system bearing this designation.

Many homeowners, as well as business owners, are concerned about reducing their environmental impact. The market is flooded with “green” products for your home or business, offering ways to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and more. Out of all the products and systems available to you, none is as “green” or environmentally-friendly as a geothermal heating system.

A vast majority of the homes and businesses in the United States rely on fossil fuels to provide energy for heating and cooling. The average home spends around 50 percent of its total energy consumption towards heating and cooling. The gas furnaces found in many homes cannot produce heat as efficiently as a geothermal heating system, using more energy and expending valuable fossil fuels to get the job done.

Geothermal heating systems have the largest positive impact on the environment because of their efficient energy use. They make use of the natural energy found within the Earth instead of burning fossil fuels directly for heating your home or business. A geothermal heating system uses the Earth’s energy as well as electricity to operate, so no harmful combustion byproducts or greenhouse gases are produced directly from operation. While fossil fuels are used to produce electricity, a geothermal heating system uses a larger percentage of natural, geothermal energy compared to electricity for operation. This allows your geothermal system to conserve electricity, and lower energy consumption.

There is a reason geothermal heating systems make up over half of the world’s direct geothermal usage. Their high-efficiency use of energy allows these systems to be more effective in reducing environmental impact compared to other green products and systems available. Turn your home into a true “green” house by installing a geothermal heating system. You’ll reduce your carbon footprint, as well as save money on heating and cooling costs. Call Smith Sustainable Design today for more information.

When using electrical power or natural gas provided by a utility company, many people monitor their use to understand their consumption and how their power is being used. For many home and business owners, the goal of installing electric solar energy systems is to reduce consumption of these utilities, but monitoring usage doesn’t have to stop once the switch is made to solar power. Monitoring systems can be used in conjunction with electric solar energy systems, and they continue to provide valuable data about energy use, as well as alerts if the system is not performing properly.

When your electric solar energy system is installed, you’ll have the option to include monitoring. The monitoring system collects usage information from your commercial building or residence, and displays it in an easy-to-understand, typically web-based format. Depending on the monitoring program you choose, you can access this data remotely from any computer and other web-enabled devices. Use this information to make smart decisions about your energy use and track your system’s performance.

Monitoring tools for your electric solar energy systems allow for the measurement of energy production, as well as energy use. It can also provide live weather information for your area, providing information such as panel temperatures, solar irradiance, wind speed, and more factors which affect energy production. Monitoring tools make it easy to look back over periods of time to see production and usage data to identify trends and plan for the future. These tools can also alert you if your electric solar energy system isn’t performing as it should, allowing you to troubleshoot and solve issues affecting system performance.

Many monitoring tools provide information regarding the positive environmental impact your system has. For some, technical data isn’t always the best way to communicate; your monitoring system can translate the electric solar energy your system produces into real-life equivalencies, such as gallons of gasoline saved, or hours to power the average home. Seeing this data in relatable values can provide a better understanding of just how much your electric solar energy system is benefitting your family, your business, and the world around you.

Take your electric solar energy system installation one step further with monitoring tools; measure consumption and production, system performance and efficiency, and see the direct benefits your system has on the environment. Contact Smith Sustainable Design today to discuss monitoring solutions for your commercial or residential electric solar energy system.

Living in the U.S., you’ve probably heard a great deal about ratings such as ENERGY STAR when purchasing new appliances, central heating and air systems, water heaters, and more. When it comes to solar thermal equipment and solar hot water heater systems, look to the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (SRCC). The SRCC rating is a certification for solar collectors, and the organization also has a program for complete solar water heating systems.

When products bear the SRCC certification seal, you can see how it rated for operating guidelines, product testing, and product standards. The program was designed for manufacturers to rate and test the efficiency of the solar thermal equipment they produced. This rating gives homeowners a credible rating system to use when evaluating various models of solar thermal equipment. SRCC has been rating solar thermal systems since 1980, and is relied upon by the United States’ government for reliable product information to determine tax credit qualifications.

Just as the ENERGY STAR program does, the SRCC rating program provides valuable information to guide consumers when making purchasing decisions. When comparing solar thermal products for your home, use the SRCC rating to measure product performance and provide a side-by-side comparison of products. The SRCC certification and rating system is nationally recognized as a standardized method to compare solar thermal products. Using these ratings can help you determine the best buy for your needs.

There are many collectors and solar thermal systems available bearing the SRCC seal. Over 1,000 collectors and 2,000 systems have completed the SRCC’s certification and have been rated. Smith Sustainable Design offers a variety of SRCC rated solar thermal collectors and systems which can be used in your home. For more information on what the SRCC rating means to you, and how to use it, please contact us.

In the second installment of our two-part series, we’ll examine additional benefits of heat pump systems. These geothermal heating systems allow you to reduce your energy consumption, and lower your energy bills. Because of this factor, geothermal heat pump systems are a smart choice for the environment.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems use less energy

The difference in energy needed to operate a geothermal heat pump system compared to a furnace is drastic. Geothermal heat pumps also require much less energy to operate than other types of heat pumps, such as air source heat pumps. Because of their low energy usage compared to other heating and cooling systems, using a geothermal heat pump system can reduce your energy bills significantly. Their improved efficiency allows homeowners to recoup installation costs in a matter of a few years in many cases.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems provide free hot water

A geothermal system not only keeps your indoor spaces at a comfortable temperature, it also provides hot water for your home. Your geothermal heat pump system can transfer the excess heat it creates to your hot water tank. Because the geothermal system heats your water, too, you’ll pay less for hot water year-round. Receive hundreds of gallons of free hot water each year, courtesy of your geothermal heat pump system.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems are better for the environment

If you’re concerned about your home’s eco footprint, geothermal heat pump systems are a better choice for the environment. Geothermal systems are also incredibly efficient, as much as 400 percent on even the coldest days. Higher efficiency means less energy must be used to keep your home comfortable. Because of the lower amount of energy they require to operate, the impact on the environment from using these systems is much less than a gas or electric furnace.

If you’re ready to take advantage of the benefits a geothermal heat pump system can offer, contact us today. Smith Sustainable Design will plan and install the ideal geothermal system for your home, allowing you to reap the benefits of a high-efficiency, long-lasting, environmentally-friendly way to keep your home comfortable.

When installing solar panels for homes, we find that many homeowners have questions about how they’ll be situated and how big they will be. A number of factors contribute to the design of your solar panel installation, including the space available, orientation of your home, and the pitch of your roof. We’ll explain why these factors are important, and how they help determine the design of your solar panel installation.

One of the most important factors when installing solar panels for homes is the orientation of the house. Your solar panels should face south in order to maximize the collection of the sun’s energy. If your roof doesn’t have southern exposure, or if there are obstructions to a southern exposure like trees or other homes, we may consider land mounted solar panels rather than roof mounted panels.

While facing south is an important factor, the angle of the panels is related. The pitch of your roof refers to how steep it is. When installing solar panels for homes, its ideal to install them at an inclination of 40 degrees plus or minus 15%, facing south. If your roof is steeper, solar panels may be land mounted in order to receive maximum sun exposure. If your roof isn’t quite as steep, solar panel mounts can be configured to achieve the proper sun exposure.

When sizing solar panels for homes, the construction of your roof and its effective areas are determining factors. The space available for ideal solar panel installation and the load ratings for your roof must be taken into account in order to safely and effectively install your solar panels. Roof mount solar panels have a size range from 3 to 10 kilowatts of installed capacity, while land mounted solar panels are usually  larger, up to 20 kilowatts. Your desired installed capacity will be taken into account to determine if your roof is ideal for installation, or if solar panels should be installed on land.

The experts at Smith Sustainable Design will develop an effective plan for your solar panel installation. We carefully evaluate your home and its surroundings to determine the best course of action to complete your solar power system. Call us today to schedule your site evaluation and begin designing your system.

Want to heat your outdoor pool, but think it will cost a fortune? Think again! Solar hot water systems are an excellent choice for low-cost, efficient heat for your pool. Keep your pool at a consistent temperature, using natural energy to keep your water warm.

A solar hot water system for your pool will include a solar collector, a filter, a pump, and a flow control valve. Water from your pool is pumped through the filter and sent through the solar collector to be heated before reentering the pool. In hot climates, the same process can be used to cool pool water, by operating during nighttime hours.

Sizing the solar hot water system for use with your pool will depend on a number of factors. The size of the pool, desired water temperature and length of swimming season, your pool cover, and average temperatures in your area must be considered. This information will help determine the size of your solar collector and pump.

With a traditional gas or electric pool heater, the costs may be prohibitive. The U.S. Department of Energy states that the cost to heat the average residential pool using these methods is around $2,000.00 per year. While the installation costs may be more affordable initially, they’ll cost you year after year.

After installation, these solar hot water systems have low annual operating costs, allowing you to recoup installation costs in just a few years. Heating your pool using solar energy will allow you to enjoy your pool without worrying about operation costs.

Smith Sustainable Design can design and install a solar hot water system to heat your pool. Enjoy comfortable temperatures and a drastic reduction in operating costs by using the sun’s natural energy instead of your current gas or electric pool heater. Planning to install a pool soon? We can help you harness solar energy to heat your pool from the first day forward. Contact us today to discuss your needs.