[Greenbuilding] Solar Water Heater architecture

[Justin Close]

(Hey, my first posting.  But it seems a bit awkward to reply to a single 
message out of the digest mode.  I don't appear to get any of the 
automatic quoting mechanisms.  Anyone have any suggestions?  So I made 
my own, below my response, to at least put a small bit of context on my 
response.)

Lawrence,
    I don't have too much familiarity with solar water heaters of any 
type, but I did participate in the installation of, and learn about, one 
system a few weeks ago.  I am not affiliated with the company in anyway, 
just a green-horn's over exuberant energy.

www.mrsunsolar.com

They have a drainback type system that they sell.  It is a type that the 
owner (John Patterson) apparently designed (I think he said that he has 
a patent or two in the process).  It is a glycol (polypropylene) 
drainback system that uses a PV pump.  It uses a heat exchanger built 
into a tank with a backup electric coil.  I don't know if it will fall 
into your budget, though.  The system, installed and all parts (to my 
understanding), is $6500.  You can do it for less if you install 
yourself, but out here in Oregon you need to have a certified contractor 
do the installation to qualify for various tax credits and rebates.  And 
the collector panel is very large:  4'x15'.  (They have a nice boom 
crane to do local installs.)

Justin
_______

From: "Lawrence Lile" <LLile at projsolco.com>

Getting ready to install a solar water heater in new construction, and 
have been agonizing about the arrangement.

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