If you have already made the choice to install a solar hot water system, you can already see the difference on your energy bills. Solar thermal technology is an energy efficient way to provide hot water for all your needs. Saving water is an important element of conservation and helps protect our planet. There are many changes you can make around the house to use less water, which can also reduce your energy bills if you still access backup hot water, or even use an electric well pump to move water inside. If you still use hot water from a backup source, or are looking for ways to conserve hot water, we can help. You can make your system even more efficient with these tips.

Go low-flow when choosing new plumbing fixtures. Low-flow faucets and showerheads use an aerator to mix air and water to keep volume the same while using less water. Regulations for new low-flow showerheads dictate that flow rates cannot exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch; showerheads made before 1992 may have a flow rate of over 5.5 gallons per minute, more than doubling the flow of today’s low-flow options. Older toilets can be using over 3 gallons of water per flush, while new low-flow models only use around a gallon. Switching to low-flow fixtures will help you conserve 25% to 60% of your current water use!

Fixing leaky plumbing fixtures helps save water as well as energy used by solar hot water systems. If the hot water tap is leaking, you’re not just wasting water; you’re wasting energy, too, if a backup hot water source is in operation. Hot water or not, just one leaking faucet can waste over 1000 gallons of water over the course of a year.

Making these 2 switches around the home will help you save water and energy when using solar hot water systems. For more advice on how you can make your solar hot water systems more efficient, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Years ago, geothermal heat systems were generally installed in new construction settings. Thanks to improvements in technology over the last several years, geothermal heat systems are also an option for existing homes. Retrofits can be performed using selected strategies to integrate a geothermal heat system for your current home. A great way for homeowners to reduce energy use, these systems can add value to your existing home and lower daily energy expenses. 

One element that once caused owners of existing homes to shy away from geothermal heat systems was the placement of the ground loop. The ground loop, or earth loop, is a necessary component of a geothermal heat system, which facilitates the collection of energy from the Earth’s consistent underground temperatures.  Placing the ground loop requires digging, as it is generally buried under the frost line around the existing dwelling. Vertical placement is now an option, as opposed to horizontal placement, which makes a geothermal heat system a good option for homeowners worried about interfering with outdoor property features.

When retrofitting a geothermal heat system for existing homes, there are products available to minimize alterations and take advantage of the home’s existing elements. If your home is currently using a forced-air heating system, your new geothermal heat system can be installed to use the duct work that is currently in place. Another option would be to incorporate a geothermal split system, which keeps your existing furnace in place as a backup heat source, creating a hybrid heat system.

If a new heating system is in your home’s future, don’t overlook considering a geothermal heat system as a replacement system. Geothermal heat systems can be retrofit to your existing home without extensive alterations, providing an easy to install and use option for heating your home. To learn more about the many benefits a geothermal heat system can offer your family, or about how simple a retrofit can be, contact Smith Sustainable Design. Our knowledgeable team will expertly retrofit your new geothermal heat system, addressing any concerns along the way.

There are many terms used in the electric solar energy industry which you may not be familiar with. In order to help you understand the information presented to you, or which you discover through your own research, we’ve put together another post with more detailed explanations of some common terms you may stumble across.

Module power ratings: Module power ratings refer to your solar panel’s electric solar energy output. The STC-DC (Standard Test Condition Direct Current) rating is the global standard for rating a panel’s output, and tests panels using ideal laboratory test settings. The CEC-AC (California Energy Commission Alternating Current) rating uses realistic conditions to measure a panel’s output, as well as inverter efficiency. The CEC-AC rating is always lower than the STC-DC rating because of the difference in testing conditions.

PACE: PACE, or Property Assessed Clean Energy, is a program administered through municipalities which allows residents to finance the installation of an electric solar energy system by paying for it through annual property tax bills. These programs can have higher interest rates than other solar financing options.

PPA: A PPA, or Power Purchase Agreement, is a method to finance the installation of an electric solar energy system. Through a PPA, you will purchase the energy produced by your electric solar energy system at a flat rate. The solar equipment is owned and maintained by the provider, which means you benefit from the energy produced without added maintenance and installation costs.

Prepaid lease: A prepaid lease is another option for those who want to utilize electric solar energy, but don’t want to purchase the system outright. By prepaying for the use of your system for a predetermined time period, prepaid lease providers warranty the system, and you are able to use the electric solar energy produced by the system during that time period.

If you have any questions about these or other terms you have come across while researching electric solar energy systems, contact Smith Sustainable Design. Our knowledgeable team can help demystify the electric solar energy industry, so you can make informed choices for your home or business.

An important element of owning and maintaining any system in your home, including your solar heat panels, is inspection. Inspecting your solar heat panels regularly can alert you to potential issues needing professional attention, and other problems which may hinder performance or affect the lifespan of your equipment. Inspect your solar heat panels and other system components regularly to ensure peak performance; make sure to include these areas in your inspection.


Shading of your solar heat panels

Shade can cause significant differences in collection. While shading is evaluated before installation of your solar heat panels, vegetation can grow or new structures may have been built which now produce shading. Check to see that your solar heat panels are not shaded during the day. If you find that they are, carefully trim back vegetation if that’s the issue. If the issue is a new structure, call us and we can determine its affects and a plan for relocation if necessary.

Cleanliness of your solar heat panels

Dirt, dust, and other particles can collect on your solar heat panels, which hinders their ability to collect solar energy. If you find that your collectors are dirty, regular cleaning can improve performance.

Glazing and seals on your solar heat panels

Damage to your solar heat panels can affect their performance. You should check your solar heat panels regularly for problems with the glazing and their seals. Cracked glazing and worn out seals should be repaired to keep your solar heat panels in good working condition.

Support structures on your solar heat panels

Inspect your solar heat panels to make sure they are tightly secured to your roof or other structures which support them. Problems with the support structure could lead to major damage of your solar heat panels.

Smith Sustainable Design helps homeowners and business owners maintain their solar heat panels and other components of their solar thermal systems. For inspection or service, please contact us today.

As you know, retrofitting your current home with a new geothermal heating and cooling system can be done with minimal alterations, making it an excellent choice for replacing your home’s existing systems. Depending on your home’s current system, your new geothermal system may be able to utilize existing elements, reducing the need to install additional components. While geothermal heating and cooling systems are a great option for almost any home, there are a few specific reasons why replacing your old equipment with a geothermal system is a smart choice.


Longer service life

The average forced air furnace and air conditioner have a service life of only about twelve years. If your home’s current heating and cooling systems are nearing or past this important milestone, it’s time to begin investigating replacement options no matter what type of system you’re considering. A geothermal heating and cooling system can last you longer than two or more furnaces or air conditioners can; indoor components of a geothermal heating and cooling system have a life expectancy of twenty or more years, and outdoor components can last over fifty years.

Increased efficiency

As they age, the efficiency of a forced air furnace or air conditioning system is reduced year after year, especially when routine maintenance is neglected. Plus, older models weren’t as efficient as newer equipment is to begin with; so if your home’s furnace or air conditioner was new several years ago, its inefficiency is likely leading to higher energy bills for your family. Geothermal heating and cooling systems boast an impressive four to five hundred percent efficiency, drastically reducing your energy bills compared to your home’s former systems. With routine maintenance and care, geothermal heating and cooling systems can maintain this high level of efficiency year after year, benefiting your family longer than forced air furnaces and air conditioners.

If you are ready to replace your forced air heating and cooling equipment with a new geothermal heating and cooling system, contact Smith Sustainable Design for more information about the products and systems we install. Our expert team can provide more details to help you evaluate your current equipment and learn how a new geothermal heating and cooling system will be a wise investment for your family.

Whether you are just beginning to investigate electric solar energy systems, or already have a system in place, there are many terms commonly used throughout the solar industry which you may be unfamiliar with. To ease confusion and understand important features and elements of electric solar energy systems, familiarize yourself with some industry lingo. Knowing the meaning behind these terms and phrases will help you better understand the valuable information you read, or what your electric solar energy contractor is saying so you can make informed decisions.

Balance of system: This phrase refers to the solar panel racking, wiring, conduit, and roof integration components necessary to install an electric solar energy system.

Interconnection: Interconnection refers to your electric solar energy system’s connection with the electric utility grid. In order to tie your system to the utility grid, therefore interconnecting it, you’ll need permission from the utility provider; Smith Sustainable Design can guide you through this process.

Kilowatt hour: A kilowatt-hour, often abbreviated as kWh, is equal to 1000 watt-hours. Electric companies bill in kilowatt-hours and you may measure your home’s electric solar energy use in this unit as well.

The grid: The grid refers to the network used deliver electricity from the utility company to the end user. When you install a “grid-tied” electric solar energy system, your system is connected to the utility grid, where you can access electricity from the utility if your system hasn’t produced enough for use, and deposit any additional electricity created by your system. “Off-grid” systems are not connected to the electric utility grid.

Net metering: With an electric solar energy system that is tied to the electricity grid, the utility company uses net metering to measure the amount of energy your system produces along with the amount of energy you are producing.

Solar inverter: A solar inverter is a necessary component of an electric solar energy system. This piece of equipment converts the direct current (DC) produced by the solar panels to create alternating current (AC) electricity for use in your home or business. If you have a grid-tied electric solar energy system, the solar inverter also works to deliver excess electricity to the grid.

If you have questions about any electric solar energy terminology you come across in your research or conversations, feel free to contact us for further explanation and advice. Smith Sustainable Design educates our customers on electric solar energy in order to help them make informed choices.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents know how brutal our winter temperatures can be. Freezing temperatures can also be devastating to your solar hot water heater system if you don’t take precautions to protect it. Solar hot water heater systems that use liquid for heat transfer need special protection from harsh winter temperatures.

Just because your solar hot water heater system has good insulation around the collector and the piping doesn’t mean it has all the protection it needs. This insulation is in place mainly to reduce heat loss during transfer, which increases system performance. It’s not always enough to protect the system from freezing temperatures. You can use approved antifreeze solutions for heat transfer fluid, or drain the collectors and piping when there is a threat of freezing temperatures.

Using an antifreeze solution in your solar hot water heater system allows you to keep using it despite freezing temperatures. Antifreeze solutions degrade, and need to be changed about every three to five years; the solutions are only effective if the level of antifreeze concentration is maintained. Your solar hot water heater system is pressurized, so you’ll need professional help to check the concentration and change the solution.

Draining your solar hot water heater system to protect it from freeze damage means you won’t be able to use it during colder months. You’ll need to drain the collector and the system’s piping completely; in integral (“batch”) systems, your collector is your solar hot water heater system’s storage tank. You can place heavy insulation over unglazed collector components to protect it against cold temperatures, but it may still be vulnerable to extended periods of freezing temperatures. Draining your solar hot water heater system to protect against freezing means you’ll have to rely on your backup hot water source during these colder months.

Smith Sustainable Design helps homeowners and business owners protect their solar hot water heater systems against the harsh Pennsylvania and New Jersey winter temperatures. Call us today for antifreeze solution replacement or concentration testing, as well as help draining your solar hot water heater system to protect against freeze damage.

Geothermal heating systems make use of the Earth’s energy to heat, and cool, your home. By tapping into the consistent underground temperatures below your home, geothermal heating systems provide a natural way to stay warm no matter what temperature the air may be outside. How do geothermal heating systems capture this energy? The answer is the ground loop, a crucial component of any geothermal heating system.

When a geothermal heating system is installed, a ground loop is placed underground near the home. The ground loop is made up of polyethylene or pex-a piping. The ground loop is filled with fluid which collects the Earth’s underground temperatures and conducts this energy for use in the home.

Each system’s ground loop is designed based on several factors, including soil type, climate, size of the structure, and the orientation of the structure in relationship to the lot. Closed-loop systems, including horizontal, vertical, and pond loop systems, use loops of installed piping to facilitate heat exchange. Horizontal and vertical systems are buried underground, and pond loop systems are installed in sizeable bodies of water, like a nearby pond or lake. Open-loop systems utilize clean groundwater for energy, tapping into a well to gain heat in the winter, and deposit heat in the summer. Whichever loop system is recommended for your geothermal heating system, they each have approximately the same operating costs as well as efficiency. A quality loop installation for your geothermal heating system will help your loop last longer.

For more information on geothermal heating systems, stay in the loop with Smith Sustainable Design. Call us today to learn more about loop design options for a new geothermal heating system, or how to maintain the components of your current system.

Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation out there about solar power energy. This bad information can cause a lot of confusion, causing those interested in solar power energy to evaluate their decisions based on inaccurate criteria. Get the facts on solar power energy from Smith Sustainable Design; we’ve busted these solar power energy myths so you can weed out the bad information you may come across in your research.



Solar power energy myth 1: It’s too expensive

The cost of installation is often a fear factor for many people interested in utilizing solar power energy. The fact is, solar power energy technology improves every day. Improvements in technology have significantly reduced installation costs for solar power energy systems. Installation costs dropped 20% in 2011, and are expected to continue to drop another 33% in the next 10 years. Many programs are in place through the government and local utility companies which provide incentives to help purchase solar power energy systems. Plus, solar power energy costs less to use than utility-provided energy, reducing day-to-day costs.

Solar power energy myth 2: It’s a bad investment

The solar power energy industry is growing, and more and more consumers are investing in solar power for use in the home and at the office. With electric utility costs on the rise, solar power energy systems are a smart investment which can help you eliminate or offset increasing energy bills.

Solar power energy myth 3: It’s ugly

Some people may say that solar power energy equipment sticks out like a sore thumb. This is just a matter of opinion, and varies from person to person. As solar panel technology has evolved, there are newer options available for installation which can eliminate this concern. Some solar power energy systems boast sleeker panels and mounting hardware for installation. Looks or not, the benefits of installing a solar power energy system outweigh aesthetic worries for most consumers.

Get accurate information on solar power energy systems from a source you trust. Smith Sustainable Design’s team of experts can give you accurate information and guidance if you’re looking to invest in a new solar power energy system.

If you’re comparing the costs of installing a solar thermal system versus an electric or gas-fueled tank or tankless water heater, look beyond the equipment and installation costs to see how much each will cost you after they’re in place. Solar thermal systems help many home and business owners save more in the long run compared to gas or electric hot water systems. 

Installing a solar thermal system protects you from variances in utility charges. As you’re probably aware, natural gas and electric prices fluctuate. As an electric or natural gas user, you’re also vulnerable to significant price hikes if there’s a fuel shortage, making your operational costs skyrocket. Unlike natural gas and electric energy from your utility company, the sun provides its energy free of charge. Solar thermal systems allow you to reduce or eliminate your need for electric or natural gas fuel to heat hot water, depending on whether or not you have a backup hot water system in place. Solar thermal hot water systems typically drop water heating bills between 50% and 80%, which can be a huge savings depending on your hot water use. Other factors, like system sizing, can also affect your energy savings.

It’s true; solar thermal systems are more expensive to install compared to electric or natural gas water heating systems. The upfront price tag can be a turn off, which is why it’s so important to consider the big picture when it comes to comparing costs. Opting for the lower upfront cost of a natural gas or electric hot water system can haunt you later, and end up costing you significantly more than a solar thermal system.

Don’t let installation quotes deter you from installing a solar thermal system that can save you big money over its lifetime. If fact, there are many financing programs which can help cover the cost of solar thermal installation, including a new mortgage or refinance. Federal tax incentives and rebates from local energy programs can further reduce your installation costs, making the installation price tag on your solar thermal system less.

Smith Sustainable Design installs solar thermal systems which can save you money while providing many years of reliable hot water for your home or business. Call us today to learn more about your installation options, and about the energy savings solar thermal provides.