Posts Tagged ‘Domestic Hot Water’

Williams Selyem Winery Goes Solar Thermal with SunWater Solar

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Renowned vintners Williams Selyem Winery announced this week the opening of a new winery in Healdsburg, California. Notable green features of the new 28,000 square foot facility include a green roof of native grasses and a solar PV system, as well as a solar thermal system installed by SunWater Solar. The system is powered by 14 solar thermal collectors that will heat approximately 650 gallons of water per day with clean, renewable energy from the sun. The winery will use this hot water to clean barrels, tanks, equipment and floors, and also to sterilize wine bottles.

A solar thermal system is an astute investment for wineries, which, like breweries, require large quantities of hot water in their operations. Utility bills associated with heating this water can be a major financial burden that puts wineries at the mercy of volatile fuel prices. Wineries that rely on natural gas or electricity for water-heating can immediately achieve substantial savings on fuel costs by adopting solar thermal. For “off the grid” wineries that heat water with propane, the savings are even greater because propane is even more expensive than natural gas.

SunWater Solar wishes to congratulate Williams Selyem on the completion of their new winery, and thank them for choosing us to build their solar thermal system.

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Posted in Process Heat, Solar Water Heating | No Comments »

SEIA Projects Continued Growth of Solar Thermal in 2010

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association, has released its year in review report for 2009, and they are calling for a continued increase in solar water heating systems in 2010 after a 10% growth rate in 2009.  Here is an excerpt from the report:

“SEIA expects continued growth in SWH in 2010. This year, California will launch the most ambitious state SWH incentive program with the goal of installing 200,000 SWH systems. In addition, increased use of SWH to generate renewable energy certificates (RECs) to meet state renewable energy standards could drive additional deployment in some states as we began to see in Arizona last year. This optimism is mirrored by the many new products seeking certification from the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation, the testing body charged with certifying equipment for eligibility to take the federal ITC.”

In addition to solar water heating, the report sites the huge potential of solar thermal technology for cooling applications like air conditioning and industrial cooling.  “While solar cooling technologies have yet to take off in the U.S., the potential is enormous. More than 60 percent of energy consumed residential and commercial buildings is for thermal services. Of that, water heating accounts for about one quarter. The rest is used for space heating and cooling, a huge growth opportunity for solar energy over the next few years.”

SunWater Solar offers both solar water heating and solar thermal cooling solutions and looks forward to more customers adopting solar thermal as a cost effective way of reducing energy bills and greenhouse gasses.

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SunWater Solar Releases “Solar Hot Water Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” Video

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

SunWater Solar, one of the only companies in California that specializes in Solar Thermal technology, today released a new video: “Solar Hot Water Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” This five-minute video is an excellent source of information for anyone looking to learn more about Solar Thermal, an efficient, low-cost, renewable energy source.

“Solar Hot Water Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” provides an overview of Solar Thermal technology and its history, benefits and applications. The video is narrated by SunWater Solar’s executive team, who are among the most knowledgeable experts in the U.S. Solar Thermal industry. Loaded with insightful commentary and high-quality footage of Solar Thermal systems in action, the video introduces viewers to a technology whose brightest days are still ahead, and that will play a vital role in reducing pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.

Click here to view “Solar Hot Water Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” (http://www.sunwatersolar.com/video.php).

Solar Thermal began to attract increased public attention in January 2010 when the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Thermal Program, which authorized $350 million in rebates. Solar Thermal systems use the sun’s energy, rather than fossil fuels, to heat water and other fluids, significantly reducing site-generated greenhouse gas emissions and enabling long-term ROI through decreased utility bills.

“The CSI rebate and the long-term financial benefits of Solar Thermal make this technology an excellent investment for any business that requires large amounts of hot water,” said Justin Weil, President of SunWater Solar. “A Solar Thermal system can reduce water-heating bills by up to 70%, and in 2010 we expect to see more and more businesses tapping into the value these systems can provide.”

Along with the new video, SunWater Solar has also released a Financial Rebates & Incentives fact sheet that explains six different financial options available to prospective buyers of Solar Thermal systems. This fact sheet is informative reading for businesses that understand the potential benefits of Solar Thermal and want to purchase a system for the lowest possible cost.

Click here to download the SunWater Solar Financial Rebates & Incentives fact sheet

(http://www.sunwatersolar.com/solar-rebates-financing.php). Registration is required to download the fact sheet.

“The upfront cost of a Solar Thermal system may be higher than that of a natural gas-fueled water heater, but with the many rebates and financial options available today, buyers can recoup that cost relatively quickly,” said Justin Weil. “And with a 25 to 40 year lifespan, these systems continue paying back long after they’ve paid for themselves.”

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Posted in SunWater Solar Video | No Comments »

Solar Thermal Around The World (Part #1): Chile

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Solar Thermal is common in first world countries such as Spain and Israel. And in the U.S., thanks to financial incentives and a growing desire for energy independence, the technology is increasingly widespread. Because basic Solar Thermal systems are relatively inexpensive and proven to reduce energy consumption, they’re popular not only in developed nations, but also in places with more limited financial resources.

In Chile, for example, a government project is currently bringing Solar Thermal to hundreds of shantytown residents near Santiago. Solar Thermal systems installed on new homes the government is building for these underprivileged people will provide financial savings of 62% for a family of four using 10.5 gallons of water per day at 115 degrees Fahrenheit. This project comes on the heels of legislation approved last year in Chile authorizing government subsidies of between 20 and 100 percent of the cost of Solar Thermal installations in new residential buildings.

Granted, the vast majority of Americans are far better off economically than the Chileans who will benefit from their government’s Solar Thermal program. But the desire to save money by reducing energy costs has strong appeal across all cultural, economic and national boundaries.

The installation cost of a Solar Thermal system is quite reasonable when you consider the long-term financial benefits. Sure, it may take a few years for the energy savings a new Solar Thermal system provides to equal the cost of installation. With a minimum 25-year lifespan though, these systems continue paying back long after they’ve paid for themselves. No matter what country you’re from, that is a sensible proposition.

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Posted in Global Solar Water Heating | No Comments »

A Win-Win For Apartment Building Owners And Tenants

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Estabrook 5Most people have spent some stretch of time living in an apartment building. If you’ve ever rented an apartment, you know that noisy neighbors, shared laundry machines and crowded conditions can be downsides to apartment life. But having the freedom to move out as soon as a lease ends helps make such inconveniences worthwhile. And as a tenant, you also don’t have to worry about the large amounts of money required to keep an apartment building operational.

Unlike tenants, apartment building owners see their buildings as long-term investments, with long-term costs. Building owners, for example, must frequently pay the entire building’s monthly water-heating bill. Every time a tenant cooks a meal, does laundry or uses the bathroom, that’s money out of the building owner’s pocket! And the more people there are living in the building, the higher the owner’s costs.

Water-heating can account for a large percentage of an apartment building owner’s monthly energy bills. Solar thermal systems reduce energy bills, insulate owners from rising natural gas prices and help owners go green by using the sun’s energy, rather than electricity or fossil fuels, to heat the water used by tenants. A solar thermal system can produce 60% to 80% of an apartment building’s hot water load, and also help differentiate the property among environmentally conscious tenants.

For apartment building owners and tenants, solar thermal is a win-win!

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Solar Water Heating and Life Cycle Costing

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Hayes 1When considering the purchase of a solar water heating system, it is important to consider Life Cycle Costing as opposed to just the simple payback of a system.   Solar water heating systems are designed to last for many years and if you just look at the time it takes to recover your initial investment through your energy savings you miss out on the long term financial benefits of the system.

It is true that a solar water heating system will cost more than a traditional water heating system when it is first purchased.   But have you considered the cost of the energy that will go into operating the traditional hot water heating system over its operating years?  If you take that cost into account plus the inflation of energy prices, a traditional water heating system looks very costly compared to a solar water heating system that will pay for itself and bring you energy savings for years to come.

Bob Ramlow, a noted expert on solar water heating, gives an excellent summary of life cycle costing as well as his take on how you can go solar for free hot water.   And don’t forget that a homes value increases by $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills according to The Appraisal Journal.  So a solar hot water system that saves $200 per year would add $4,000 to the value of the home.

So instead of paying the utility company for the energy to heat your water, why not invest that same money in a solar water heating system from SunWater Solar that can bring you excellent financial returns? And you can feel good about your investment because you are cutting down your carbon footprint and doing your part to save the environment.

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Solar Training Program Featured In Solar Today

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

RichondBUILD: Alberto, Adrian, and DarrylSolar Today, the magazine of the American Solar Energy Society, recently wrote an article about Daryl Horne who has been gaining solar installation experience working transitional jobs at SunPower, SunWater Solar and now as an installer at SunEdison. Horne is a graduate of the 12-week RichmondBUILD Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Skills & Solar Installation Training program.

SunWater Solar was pleased to have Daryl work with us on our Richmond Firehouse #4 project that supplies solar heated domestic hot water to the fire station.

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