As we’ve discussed before, pressurized glycol and drain back solar heat systems are the two most common systems designs used today. Today, we will discuss how a pressurized glycol system works and how to care for one.

A pressurized glycol solar heat system has a closed-loop design. Unlike with drain back systems, the water you use is not passed through the collectors. A glycol and water mixture circulates through the collectors, and your hot water is warmed by heat transfer from this mixture. The glycol acts as antifreeze to prevent system components from freezing. The concentration of glycol in the system is determined carefully in order to provide adequate freeze protection for your solar heat system.

The pH of the glycol solution within your system should be checked annually. Your solution needs replaced whenever the pH falls below 7. Other components need checked regularly to ensure your solar heat system is working properly. Pressure relief valves, check valves, and automatic air vents are prone to failures and have short service lifespans. These components should be tested as part of your solar heat system’s regular maintenance routine to determine whether or not replacement is necessary.

Pressurized glycol systems require fluid changing every few years. As these fluids are under pressure, it’s best to contact a trained professional to perform this maintenance for you. Over time, glycols within your system can degrade and cause system components to deteriorate, which is one reason proper care for your pressurized glycol system is important.

Solar heat systems are becoming more common and are being utilized by more and more home and business owners every day. Pressurized glycol systems can be a useful design for your application, but require regular maintenance and care to maximize system life. If you have questions about pressurized glycol solar heat systems, please give us a call. At Smith Sustainable Design, we’re here to answer your solar heat questions anytime.

When we design and install a geothermal heating and cooling system, we use quality, reliable components to ensure your system will operate effectively and efficiently for many years to come. At Smith Sustainable Design, we use components manufactured by Rehau, a leader in geothermal component design.

The RAUGEO™ line of components includes features that combine to create a more secure geothermal heating and cooling system. These components are cost effective and easier for us to install versus other manufacturers’ products, meaning less install time and expense for our homeowners. Here are some of the RAUGEO™ products we use:

• RAUGEO PEXa Pipe: This flexible piping material requires fewer fittings than HDPE piping, saving you money on additional components. RAUGEO PEXa piping provides excellent resistance to impact, earth movement, and rock impingement, and we trust it for its durability.
  
• EVERLOC Fittings: REHAU EVERLOC brass compression-sleeve fittings allow for secure connections between ground loop components. Their heat shrink wrap protects the fittings from corrosive soils which may be present.
  
• PRO-BALANCE XP Manifolds: By using a PRO-BALANCE XP manifold, we can easily optimize your geothermal heating and cooling system. These manifolds include balancing valves, flow meters, and isolation valves which allow for easy access and control of the ground loop.
  
• RAUGEO U-bends: Using the RAUGEO PEXa piping, bends can be bent in a tight 180-degree radius and cast in fiberglass-reinforced polyester resin, eliminating the need for connections and potential leaks.
  
• RAUGEO Double U-bends: These double u-bends extract more energy than the typical vertical loop components and offers higher security against ground loop failures. RAUGEO Double U-bends feature seamless technology, just as the single u-bends. These components are built to resist damage caused during borehole insertion and remove the risks associated with underground joints.
  

At Smith Sustainable Design, we use top-quality components to ensure our customers receive long-lasting performance and satisfaction with their geothermal heating and cooling system. We are confident that the products we install and the systems we design will offer you optimal energy savings and durability. For more information about the components we use when installing a geothermal heating and cooling system, contact Smith Sustainable Design anytime.

Each day, we receive several questions from homeowners just like you about solar system panels. We have found that many of you have similar questions and concerns, so we have compiled a post to answer the most common questions easily!

1. How long do solar system panels take to install?

For a typical residential system, installation takes about a day. Steep roofs or delicate roofing systems may take a little longer, but no more than 2 or 3 days.

2. Should I replace the roof before installation?

If your roof is in need of replacement, go ahead and have it replaced before having the solar system panels installed. If you replaced your roof recently or still have a lot of life yet, don’t worry about it. In the event you need to have the roof replaced after solar system panels are in place, they can be removed and reinstalled.

3. How are solar system panels priced?

Solar system panels are typically priced by the watt. The average wattage of a solar panel is about 250 watts.

4. How many solar system panels will I need?

Your home’s electricity demand, your current usage, and available roof area help determine how many solar system panels you will need.

5. How much will I save?

If you buy your solar system panels outright, it’s a difficult equation; you’ll have to consider net metering, system life, and how much electricity will rise. If you choose a solar lease or power purchase agreement, you can compare your usage at the price of electricity from your utility company to the price guaranteed by the third-party system owner to see how much you’ll save each month.

Hopefully we’ve provided some answers for many of the questions you have about solar system panels. If you have additional questions or would like to receive a detailed estimate for your home, call Smith Sustainable Design anytime!

While many people associate solar power with electricity generation, not everyone knows it can be used to heat water. Solar hot water is called solar thermal, and is an energy efficient way to meet the hot water demand of your household. Solar thermal can also be used to provide cost-effective heating solutions for pools. Get the facts below to learn more about the advantages of solar thermal.

Solar thermal is cost-effective

A complete solar energy system for electricity generation may be out of your price range, but solar thermal systems are very affordable. Using solar energy to heat your water is a cost-effective way to begin utilizing natural energy to save money on your utility bills. Whether you are used to using a gas or an electric water heater, solar thermal will provide significant savings over both these traditional water heating methods.

Solar thermal is more efficient

Converting the sun’s energy to electricity takes a lot more work than simply absorbing the sun’s heat for use. Solar thermal is around 3 times more efficient than the average solar panel which converts sunlight for electricity. Hot water is also much more efficient for storing energy than the electrical storage which is used by solar panels.

Solar thermal is a good investment

Considering their cheaper price tag and higher efficiency, solar thermal systems can be a much better investment financially. Without the high cost of a solar electricity system, solar thermal systems have a much shorter payback period.

If you’re interested in using solar energy in your home, solar thermal is an affordable way to do so. Reduce energy costs by meeting your home’s hot water demand using the sun’s energy instead of your utility provider’s. Smith Sustainable Design installs solar thermal systems for homes as well as businesses. If you want to learn more about solar thermal for your home, feel free to contact us.

The way a traditional furnace transfers heat is easy for most people to understand- but how do geothermal heating systems transfer heat? With a geothermal heating system, there is no combustion like with a gas or fossil fuel-powered furnace. The energy source for these systems lies beneath the ground.

Geothermal heating systems work by transferring heat from one area to another. They work very similarly to the refrigerator in your kitchen, which moves hot air out of the interior to keep perishable food cool. Geothermal heating systems transfer heat from the earth into your home to keep you warm in the winter, and transfers heat from your home back into the earth in the summer to keep you cool.

The ground loop which is installed in conjunction with geothermal heating systems uses fluids to absorb the warm temperatures from within the ground to heat a home. When the earth is warmer than the fluid in the ground loop, the fluid works to absorb the warmer temperatures and moves this energy back to your home. Just like a refrigerator or traditional air conditioner, geothermal heating systems use a refrigerant, like Freon. The refrigerant allows the system to extract heat from the fluid inside your ground loop.

As you may know, geothermal heating systems provide not only heating, but cooling as well. When cooling is needed, the same principles are at work, except heat is drawn from your home and travels back into the cool earth through the warm loop fluid. Geothermal heating systems work simply by transferring heat from one place to the next- no combustion needed!

Geothermal heating systems transfer heat much differently than a traditional furnace. Because they lack the use of combustible fuels and use natural energy from within the earth, geothermal heating systems use less energy and are an efficient choice for many homes. To learn more about how geothermal heating systems work, or to schedule a consultation for your home, contact Smith Sustainable Design today.

Questions to ask yourself

In Part 1 of this blog series, we discussed considering what you want to spend when deciding whether or not a solar installation is right for you. Today, let’s look at how energy prices compare, which will show you what you’ll be paying with a solar installation versus continuing to buy all your power from your electric utility provider.

2. How do energy prices compare?

To determine your savings when going solar, think in terms of kilowatt hours (kWh). On your electric bill, your usage will be stated by kWh, and you’ll also see how much you are being charged per kWh of electricity use. If you’re interested in a solar lease or power purchase agreement, the provider can tell you how much you’ll be charged for each kWh produced, and you can determine your annual savings when going solar.

If you’re looking to own your solar energy system, you’ll need to determine how much electricity the system will produce and see how it compares to your annual kWh usage. If you require additional kWhs, you’ll pay your utility company for the energy- with a grid-tied system, you may receive a lower rate per your interconnection agreement.

Another factor to consider is your payback period. Once you determine your annual energy usage and savings through your solar energy system, you can figure how long it will take the solar installation to pay for itself through your savings. In New Jersey, the average payback period for solar installation is only 5 years! And in Pennsylvania, the average payback period for solar installation is only 6.5 years! Once the payback period is met, it’s as if you’re using the electricity you generate completely free- you’ll only pay for energy used from your utility company, if it’s even needed.

When deciding if a solar installation is right for you, look beyond upfront costs and see how much you’ll save annually. You’ll find the savings will be a huge benefit no matter which route you go; owning outright or choosing a solar lease or power purchase agreement. For answers to all your solar installation questions, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Drain back solar hot water systems are one of the most common types of solar thermal systems used today. In short, they utilize two temperature sensors to control the system. When rising temperatures are detected in the solar collectors, cold water from the storage tank is pumped through, absorbing heat as it’s pushed through. The water then flows back into the drain back tank to maintain a certain temperature. 



Drain back solar hot water systems can be designed a few different ways:

Type 1 drain back design, often called a two-tank system, uses a full size solar hot water storage tank, and a separate solar storage tank. This design can be used for large or small systems. When hot water is used in the home, it passes through the heat exchanger into the hot water heater, preheating the water and minimizing the energy used by the regular water heater.

Type 2 drain back design uses a solar hot water heater with a built-in heat exchanger. This one-tank system uses one pump to run the collector loop, and holds the volume for solar storage and for the regular hot water heater. They are used mainly for smaller residential systems.

Type 3 drain back design is used for similar applications, and has a heat exchanger located within a small reservoir tank, making it compatible with gas or electric conventional hot water heaters. A second pump is usually needed to circulate water within the system.

The advantages and disadvantages of each system design vary by application. Depending on your home and the configuration required, one solar hot water system design may offer better results and more energy savings. The experts at Smith Sustainable Design will plan your solar hot water system design using the most appropriate configuration for your home. If you have questions about the drain back options available, please give us a call.

There are many ways homeowners can further improve the efficiency of their geothermal heating systems. One way you can drastically improve efficiency is by performing duct sealing. Gaps or broken sections in your duct work cause air loss, leading to energy waste and inefficiency. By sealing these areas, you’ll keep your conditioned air in the duct system and flowing into your living areas for maximum efficiency.

Sealing duct leaks keep more of your conditioned air traveling to your living areas, rather than allowing it to escape the duct system. Duct system allows your geothermal heating system to work less to keep your home comfortable. When air is lost through breaks and openings in the duct system, your geothermal heating system has to work longer and harder to make up for the loss, using more energy than it really needs. By decreasing the run-time of your system, you will lower your energy bills even further than you already have by installing a geothermal heat system.

Your duct work is likely located in an unconditioned area, like your attic, crawlspace, or basement. If your duct work is easily accessible, you can perform an inspection and the necessary sealing to improve the performance of your duct work. Check for:

• Loose joints and fittings
  
• Fallen duct work sections
  
• Gaps around connections to registers and return air grills

Duct sealing can be a simple procedure, but many homeowners don’t know the right technique. Contrary to popular belief, duct tape shouldn’t be used to perform lasting duct work repairs. A compound called mastic should be applied to the duct work, as it dries solid and provides a permanent fix for duct issues. If you cannot easily access your duct work, it is best to call in a professional to perform safe and reliable duct sealing for your home.

Duct sealing is a great way you can improve the performance of your geothermal heating system. Simple solutions like duct sealing can result in major energy savings, and help improve the lifespan of your equipment. If you have any questions about duct sealing, or other ways you can improve your geothermal heating system’s performance, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Questions to ask yourself

A solar installation is a big investment for any home or business. Generally, when we are faced with the decision to make or forego a sizeable investment, we do a lot of questioning and perhaps even “soul searching” to determine if we’re making the right call for our families, our businesses, and even ourselves. If you’re thinking about going solar, you should definitely ask yourself this question:


1. How much am I looking to spend?

Years ago, if you wanted to go solar, you bore the burden of solar installation cost completely. Nowadays, that’s not the case. If you want to own your system, there are many programs and incentives available to help you save. Federal tax credits are available which provide a credit accounting for 30% of your solar installation and equipment costs! In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, there are state and local rebates available to cut the cost even further. You many also have the ability to connect with the local utility grid, and you can receive credits for the excess electricity produced by your system.

There are also ways to begin using solar energy without the upfront costs of solar installation. Solar leases and power purchase agreements are increasingly common. With this option, you pay for the electricity generated by the panels, not for the cost of equipment. Solar leases and power purchase agreements require little or no upfront costs to you. These solar installation alternatives are making it possible for more homes and businesses to go solar, especially when upfront expenses would be cost-prohibitive.

For many people, cost is king and will ultimately be the deciding factor when going solar. If the expense of a solar installation is too high, don’t decide against solar- there are other alternatives which allow you to harness solar energy! In Part 2 of this blog series, we’ll discuss another important question you should ask yourself when considering a solar energy system. For answers to all your solar installation questions, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

While solar hot water heater systems are available in many configurations, there are two types that are commonly used today: pressurized glycol systems and drain back systems. In this article, we’ll take a look at how the drain back design works and its characteristics.

Drain back solar hot water heater systems have been in use for decades. The system uses two temperature sensors: a high temperature sensor on the collectors, and a low temperature sensor on the coolest area of the storage tank. The sensors detect when it’s time to start pumping water through the collectors to absorb heat. Solar power preheats water for use inside the home while a traditional water heater finishes by heating water to the desired temperature. So, the warmer the water in the solar tank is, the less energy must be used by the traditional water heater to finish off the job.

Drain back systems have some distinct characteristics, which can make this design an excellent choice for your solar hot water heater system installation.

1. Drain back systems can be used in applications of all sizes, from small homes to large residences, even commercial buildings.

2. Drain back solar hot water heater systems are the most durable. The alternative pressurized glycol systems have a 30% shorter lifespan, because glycols break down over time and their acids eat away at system components.

3. Drain back systems work in any climate. No matter how hot or cold it is where you live, they won’t freeze or boil.

4. Drain back systems have fewer components- this means a drain back solar hot water heater system requires less maintenance and less hassle.

A drain back solar hot water heater system can be configured a few different ways to fit your home and your needs, which we’ll discuss in an upcoming article. If you think a drain back solar hot water heater system may be right for your home, or have questions about solar thermal installation, give the experts at Smith Sustainable Design a call- we’re here to help, anytime.